Increase Your Daily Non-Exercise Activity to Boost Performance

By James Fanara, CSCS

 So, you took another lesson, bought the latest driver model and changed ball brands. But not much has changed.

 Maybe you made some improvements, but your game is essentially the same. And you still find it difficult to make the adjustments that are supposed to fix your swing.

 If that’s you, the performance improvements you want won’t be found in the latest clubhead technology or the same traditional technique advice your local club pro has been given for the last 30 years.

 The secret to improving your game and all athletic performance is improving movement quality.

 That means improving the way you move every day, not just the way you move on the field, court or golf course.

 Why is movement quality so important to athletic performance?

 If you move better, athletic techniques become easier, and performance improves. And most importantly, injury risk is reduced.

 Unfortunately for many recreational golfers, especially as they age, movement quality deteriorates. It declines for a variety of reasons. One of the big reasons is that many people move less as they age.

 Non-exercise daily activity is very important.

 That’s why non-exercise daily activity is so important. Activities like cutting the grass, raking the leaves, cleaning the house, washing your car, doing home improvement projects, and taking a dance class are important to maintaining your movement quality. Even sitting on the floor when you’re watching TV counts. A standing desk won’t hurt either.

 Sure, exercise is important. But the correct type of exercise is EVEN more important. But most people don’t exercise that much if at all, especially in relation to the hours of the day. Even if you hit the gym for an hour each day, that’s still only seven hours a week.

 And most people’s workouts include very few movement quality enhancing components.

 That’s why we need to move more all day, every day.

 As with so many things, it’s what’s in the details that are so important.

 What are the components of movement quality?

 What are five important components of movement quality? 

• Mobility
• Stability
• Strength
• Balance
• Reflexes

 All good coaches emphasize these five key components of movement quality.

 But let’s add pain free movement and health to the top of the list.

 The list should start with staying healthy and injury free. If you’re injured, in pain or battling a chronic illness, your movement quality suffers, your quality of life suffers, and your golf swing suffers.

 No clubhead innovation or swing tip will do much good when you’re sick or in pain, this is especially true for older golfers who are sedentary and have pre-existing conditions like back pain.

 That’s why at Golf Training Hacks improving performance starts with improved health and movement quality not swing tips and technique advice.

 If you move more every day, your movement quality will improve, and your golf performance gains will become easier.