Golf Tip of the Day - Late Round Fatigue

If you typically play a round of golf and suffer from a lot of mis-hit shots late in the round, you likely need to address some fitness issues.

Golfers who typically hit a draw often find those draws turning into a duck hook later in the round. Golfers who typically hit a fade will often start to lose those shots further to the right. The likely culprit when this occurs late in the round is fatigue in the lower body. When the lower body tires, the upper body takes over, and the mis-hits kick in.

Conditioning is the key. It is most important to get the legs in good shape. The legs are the foundation of the golf swing, and if they start to falter, you have little chance at consistent ball striking. If you are physically capable, I highly recommend a routine similar to the Plyometrics routine of P90X. This routine will both strengthen your legs and provide stamina and cardio benefits. Adding this routine to your fitness program once each week will prove quite beneficial.

In addition to the legs, it is necessary to work on the core muscles. Strength in the core muscles will allow you to maintain your posture in the swing. The core muscles include the small muscles in the legs and hips, abdominals, obliques and lower and middle back. Find a routine that works on these muscle groups and perform it three days each week.

Again, if you find yourself hitting weak shots late in the round, get started on your fitness!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com