The modern-day golfer has a support team of nutritionists, therapists, their caddy and various mentors to optimize their playing ability during a championship. Their training regime, as with many professional athletes, is focused on building up levels of energy, strength and flexibility. While the average amateur will not usually have the time to put in the same level of off-course training, they can benefit from the following key pillars of on-course performance optimization techniques that the pro golfers use.

Hydration

If you watch any professionals golfing you will always note them sipping water throughout a round. At most tee boxes in a professional championship there will usually be a cooler full of bottled water for the players. One of the caddie’s tasks is to regularly offer their player a bottle of water. The key with staying hydrated is to take sips of water throughout a round at regular intervals. The moment you start feeling thirsty is too late, in scientific terms, as your body is already performing in a sub-optimum manner.

You could use sugar/caffeine drinks but be aware that this causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels that can cause similar peaks and troughs in how you play (for example, over hitting greens on one hole, short putting on the next).

Nutrition

Putting good quality fuel in your car makes it run better. Likewise, the nutritional content of the food you consume prior to/during golfing affects energy levels and performance while golfing. Professionals usually take several small meals a day to maintain consistent energy levels. A favorite choice for the pro golfers would be a small pasta/chicken fillet meal before golfing.

Once they are out on the golf course, the professional golfer ensures energy levels stay topped up by eating fruit (bananas are a favorite due to the fact that they release energy slowly into the blood stream).

Stretches

All athletes use low impact exercises such as Pilates and Yoga and stretches to maintain muscle flexibility and reduce the risk of muscle strain. Staying flexible around the stomach and back for golfers is essential to making the back swing consistent and reducing the risk of muscle strain.

All amateurs should take a few minutes before a match to perform stretches of the lower back and legs to loosen up the muscles. The stretches should also be performed during a round as it will also help stop the back/legs stiffening up as the body becomes more tired.

Awareness

These pillars of sports performance are not ground breaking in what they advise. However, simply by being actively aware of what your body’s aches and pains are telling you while golfing should give you the chance to treat it in the next golfing round.

Feeling thirsty or becoming tired during golf are indications that you are not getting the water and food your body needs. Receiving muscle strain is a sign that your muscles are being over worked and would have a better chance of handling the exertion if you performed some stretching exercises.

Trying to perfect your golf swing at the driving range is one way of improving your game, but you should also look to improve your golfing performance through the use of nutrition, hydration and stretches.

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