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Did Tiger’s Over Commitment Do More Damage Than Good?

Tags: body ball tiger

A couple weeks ago, Tiger Woods commented on how Justin Thomas asked Woods, “What did you used to do when you were about my age.”  And Tiger’s response was very Tiger:

“Well, I used to get up in the morning, run four miles.  Then I’d go to the gym, do my lift.  Then I’d hit balls for two to three hours.  I’d go play, come back, work on my short game.  I’d go run another four more miles, and then if anyone wanted to play basketball or tennis, I would go play basketball or tennis.  That was a daily routine.  I’m not doing any of that now.

too far?

Not only does this sound exhausting, it sounds potentially detrimental to a body long term. People debate about the safety of exercise for golfers, but I think it’s hard to determine that in a vacuum. Assessment, technique, programming, training age, etc. all need to be considered. The same program is not beneficial or safe for everyone. Not to mention, individuals can respond different to the same program. I don’t know the specifics of Tiger’s situation, but this seems like an aggressive exercise program for a golfer to me. Even a good tool can be wielded poorly. #gbnyc #livethegame #wherechampionstrain @18strong_ @strongergolf @golficity @parfourperformance @golf_com @golfchannel @golfdigest @superspeedgolf @mga1897 @metropolitan_pga @strengthbystrebel @vtgolfperformance @perform_better @foreplaypod #Repost @pgatour with @get_repost ・・・ The practice routine of a 24-year-old @tigerwoods sounds … exhausting.

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Which brings me to my point.  Most of us have been spending the past off-season trying to remain committed to some workout regiment.  Whether that included weight lifting, cardio, mobility, or some combination thereof, these past few months were the time to really put in some quality work.  But that does not mean you needed to lift every scheduled day or the world would collapse.

As much as I’ve stressed how important it is to remain committed to yourself off-season workout plan, it’s equally important to listen to your body and know when you’re pushing it too hard.  That can particularly important for the average joe since we’re not really moving around during the day.

As a result, there’s nothing wrong with skipping that back lift when your lower back hurts from spending the past 8 hours sitting at a desk.   Instead, lay low and, if it doesn’t bother you that much, maybe work in some low impact stretching or mobility work.

Likewise, with the golf season about to kick off here in the Northeast, it’s equally important to listen to your body the first time you hit the range or golf course and start taking some cuts.  Even if you get in a warmup stretch, there is NO need to go all-out those first few times.  Your body (i.e., your back) isn’t used to making a repetitive motion.

Instead, maybe start those first few range sessions with 25-50 balls at 50%-70% swing speed.  As you get comfortable, slowly ramp it up to 25-50 balls at 85% and eventually 100%.  From there, maybe work up to 75 balls.

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That said, I think it’s worth noting that if you’re at the range with 75 balls, you’re not really maximizing your practice if you hit 50 driver shots and only 25 shots with every other club in your bag.  Since most of us spend about an hour at the range, consider breaking it up into 4 segments: (1) putting; (2) chipping, pitching, and wedge shots; (3) irons; and (4) woods.

Naturally, as you start to find your swing again, dedicate more time to the things that need more work and challenge yourself by aim for specific targets or practicing certain shots (e.g., keeping the ball to avoid the wind or when you need to get out of trouble).  Also, take this opportunity to start to identify your normal miss.

Like I previously mentioned, it can be very helpful out on the course if you know that your driver normally carries 265 and has a tendency to fade.  That way, you’ll know to favor the left side of a fairway when the right side is lined with bunkers or a water hazard about 250 yards from the tee box.

To wrap things up, learn from other people’s mistakes.  Tiger is an incredible player, easily one of the best.  But there’s no reason you should constantly push your body to its limit and unnecessarily increase your risk of injury.  Instead, listen to your body and know when to push it and when to ease up.  The last thing anybody wants is an avoidable injury keeping you off the course.


Cover Image via Instagram



This post first appeared on Golficity - Golf. Made Simple., please read the originial post: here

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Did Tiger’s Over Commitment Do More Damage Than Good?

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