Watching the tournament rounds of today’s LPGA
players is more exciting than ever. Will it be
Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam or Suzann
Pettersen? Perhaps there is a newcomer looking
for their chance to make a mark in women’s
golf. Or a player who has been struggling
lately, but is now ready to regain their place
at the top of the leader board?
Is today’s female golfer really that different
or are the top players simply using new
strategies? One of the secrets may lie in
increased drive distance. In 1998, Annika
drove the ball 246 yards in average driving
distance. When she reached her pinnacle of
domination, her average distance was closer to
268 yards. Since undergoing a full scale
assault on fitness with the help of her
personal trainer, she gained over 20 yards in
new found distance.
Is she the lone ranger in women’s golf or the
wave of the future? Back in 1998, if an LPGA
player drove the ball 250 yards, she was in
the top 36 players in her field. Today, a
player who drives the ball 250 yards won’t be
able to break in the top 90 players.
Now, take a look at a side by side comparison
of Lorena Ochoa and Suzann Pettersen. In 2004,
Lorena had average drive distance of 264.2 yds
(10th place) while Suzann was in 74th place
with 251.9 yds. Today, Lorena is in first
place with drive distance of 279 yds. Suzann
also rounds out the top 5 with drive distance
of 270 yds. Interestingly, all three players
are committed to excellence in all areas of
golf with a given interest in fitness.
In building a better body and a better swing,
here are three areas where female golfers can
seek improvement.
Stability
The most important rule in a golf conditioning
program is to work and develop strength from
the core region of the body outward. A strong
trunk allows forces to be transferred
effectively from the legs to the upper body.
It also enables the body to withstand those
forces without breakdown. Stabilization comes
in many forms for the golfer including
postural stabilization, trunk stabilization
and joint stabilization. A strong and stable
body allows the golfer to maintain the spine
angle throughout the entire swing.
Strength
Strength comes in many forms with regard to
the golf swing. Strong back muscles allow the
golfer to endure the explosive movements in
the swing. Strength in the trunk region
or “core” area of the body produces stability
and helps to generate power. Combined muscle
strength produces balance and coordination.
Strong ligaments and tendons also prevent the
joints from going beyond their range of
motion. Physical strength often promotes
mental acuity and toughness as a
result.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the single most important
physical characteristic likely to influence
your golf swing. A tight body creates
restricted motion in the swing and produces
injuries as a form of compensation. Keep your
body capable of moving through a full range of
motion so it doesn’t become a limiting factor
in your performance. While women have a
tendency towards ample flexibility, this is
not always the case.
Today’s female golfer knows that hard work
creates results and translates to a better
position in the playing field. If you are
looking for ways to take yourself to the top
of the leader board, then place the needs of
your body at the top of your priority list to
make a definitive difference in your game.
