What Can Be S.A.I.D. About The Golf Swing?
Probably the question that first comes to your mind when you
read this title is: what is S.A.I.D. and how does it help my
golf game? The reality is that S.A.I.D. is very connected to
your golf swing and is a very important principle if you want to
hit the ball farther and lower your scores.
Before introducing S.A.I.D. let us discuss improvement in the
game of golf. Improving your golf game requires developing
several disciplines. Generally speaking you must develop proper
swing mechanics, practice every aspect of the game (putting,
short game, chipping, pitching, short irons, long irons, fairway
woods, and driver), develop your course management skills, play
practice rounds, create understanding for the nuances of the
game, develop confidence, and finally develop your body.
Understand that the entire list of golf disciplines works as a
unit to improve your golf game. No one facet can be eliminated
from this list without having an effect on your overall
improvement. For example, if I were never to practice putting,
how well would I play? I may play great from tee to green, but
when it comes to putting, look for my scores to go through the
roof.
The last discipline mentioned was your body. Quite often this is
the forgotten aspect of improving your golf game, but it is
equally important. Let me ask you a question. What swings your
driver? Some answers may be your swing. In reality, your body
swings the club. Yes, your body swings the club, not the other
way around. Developing your body in relation to the swing allows
for a foundation to be created. This foundation is where you are
able to develop the proper mechanics of the swing.
If your body does not have the needed flexibility, balance,
coordination, or power to swing a club, how well are you going
to swing a driver? Not very well. If your body is weak and
inflexible developing an optimal swing will be next to
impossible.
The development of the body in relation to the swing is where
S.A.I.D. comes into play. S.A.I.D. refers to the principle of
“specific adaptation to imposed demands.” This principle states
that the body will adapt to the demands of the training stimulus
but will not adapt beyond the scope of that training stimulus
(NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal, pg. 18, August, 2005).
Did I loose you in that last paragraph?
Let me explain. This principle pertains to developing the body’s
level of fitness in relation to any sport or activity. For
example, if I were to perform a bicep curl with a 25-pound
dumbbell 15 times the curl could be difficult in the beginning,
but over time it would get easier and eventually I could crank
out 15 repetitions with no problem. This is a result of my body
adapting (muscles getting stronger) to the resistance placed on
my body by the dumbbell.
Now here is the kicker, if I continued to only lift a 25-pound
dumbbell over the period of a year what do you think would
happen? I like to use the phrase “diminishing returns” to
explain this situation. Once the body adapts to a resistance,
the body plateaus and does not get stronger. At this point it
can even get weaker!
Now how does this pertain to golf? Think about it for a moment.
Greater distance off the tee is always a desire of every amateur
playing the sport. Amateurs go to great length to hit the ball
20, 10, or even 5 yards farther. They will buy new drivers, new
golf balls, new anything! Now if an amateur’s clubhead speed is
somewhere around 85 mph, how is that clubhead speed going to
improve with a new driver or new ball? The answer is it will not.
Hypothetically, let’s assume you have fairly efficient swing
mechanics. How are you going to increase your clubhead speed?
(Remember clubhead speed stays the same even if you buy a new
driver.) Someway or somehow you are going to have to generate
greater clubhead speed.
Increasing the efficiency with which you swing the club is one
way. But the efficiency with which you swing a club has an end
point, and once that end point is reached it won’t go any
farther. What is the other way by which you can increase your
clubhead speed? Implementing a golf fitness program into your
routine can help.
A golf fitness program will develop the “foundation” to improve
your swing mechanics. This type of program will develop your
flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, and endurance
capacities to improve your swing.
Additionally, it can develop greater clubhead speed. Clubhead
speed is a result of power development. Power development is
contingent upon your swing mechanics and body. Improving the
power outputs of your body will enhance your clubhead speed. And
greater clubhead speed equates to greater distance on your
drives.
If you have never developed a level of golf fitness, your body
is set at a certain level of power-generating capabilities.
Until you force the body to increase its power-generating
capabilities through the S.A.I.D. principle, your club head
speed will stay the same. A golf fitness program will place
resistance on your body forcing it to adapt and improve its
power capabilities. The end result will be greater clubhead
speed, and that can equate to longer drives.
Looking for a golf-specific fitness program to improve your
clubhead speed? Look no further than my manual Your Body & Your
Swing. This program is filled with golf-specific flexibility,
balance, strength, endurance, and power exercises to enhance
your golf swing. My program implements the S.A.I.D. principle
with the goal of improving your scores and your driving
distances