Brandon Smith's Golf Fitness

Flexibility. Width. Distance

2011-06-12T19:26:00.007-04:00

Here is a quick video golf lesson to add some power and distance to your game.

Make sure to stretch both sides of your body!

Brandon Smith
Golf Fitness @ The International

Are You a Modern Day Golfer?

2011-03-08T12:17:00.002-05:00

Are you a modern day golfer? Do you want to play all the new equipment and take advantage of all the cutting edge technology that is available to you? Do you want to improve, gain more distance and shoot low scores? If so, I have news for you...........

You're not giving yourself a chance!

The Modern day PGA Tour player has flexibility and is a well rounded athlete. Sir Nick Faldo has mentioned how every player is in shape these days and that being fit is the number one difference he has seen this season.

You can't be a modern day golfer if you are not in better shape.

I spent 3 straight days at a national golf expo located in the northeastern part of the county, that has been covered in snow for the last three months. I must say, I was not shocked by what I saw, but I certainly was surprised.

This golf expo had everything a golfer could ever want, from discounted greens fees to shiny new golf clubs.

Here is what I saw......

The majority of people in attendance were over weight, drank beer all day (yes, they served beer at this event!!) and spent most of their time in the "demo area" hitting ball after ball. Retailers made a bunch of money selling 400 dollar drivers, and golf courses sold hundreds of discounted rounds.

What I didn't see was enough traffic in the "fitness" section of the expo, Even after commentators mention fitness during every round of a PGA Tour Event!
This is a big problem! There is no way you can take advantage of all the great advances in golf club technology if you are not working on your physical game.

The golf expo featured golf fitness experts willing to give a free physical evaluation and explain the importance of using a foam roller for recovery after a round. Very few people went to the fitness section of the expo.

The new equipment is designed for the young guns on the PGA Tour. If you want to play the same gear they use, you better start a flexibility program ASAP!! Have you seen the Dustin Johnson commercial where he hits a 3 iron 250 yards? Most of you would be lucky to even hit that club square, let alone get any distance out of it. Johnson is an athlete. He has the NUMBER ONE physical component to his game that many of you lack. FLEXIBILITY!

If you want to be a better player and really take advantage of all the great equipment being offered, start a flexibility program.

Make it easy on yourself and just start with some very basic stretches EVERYDAY. Spent 5 minutes a day, then spend 6 the next day and 7 the day after that. The point is, do SOMETHING everyday to improve your flexibility.

Something is better than nothing. If you are willing to spend crazy money on new clubs and maybe gain a yard or two, then you can certainly start a basic flexibility program. More flexibility will eliviate pain, provide more range of motion in your swing and it will make your lessons more valuable because you will actually be physically able to make the kind of swing your instructor wants.

If you need help starting a program, please contact me HERE and I will help you out.

Flexibility is the number one component you need for your physical game. You can't even begin to work on strength and power unless your body moves better.

Contact me now and lets get going on a program.

Brandon Smith CSCS

Is This a Good Golf Workout?

2011-01-10T19:00:00.005-05:00

Is this a good golf workout for you?

There are several workouts "designed" for golf and for golfers, but I don't recommend that you try this one.

http://www.golf.com/golf/video/article/0,28224,2041190,00.html

However, there are some very good points here as well, which we'll get into later.

Reasons not to follow:
1. To Risky-why try to balance yourself on a ball, especially while holding weight? All it takes is a quick lack of focus or one wrong move and you're on the ground with a hand or wrist injury!

2. Exercise Selection- You can only do so much that is actually going to help your golf game while on the ball.

3. Ground Reaction-When you kneel on the ball you eliminate any benefit you can get from the ground reaction forces.

4. Core Work-yes, you must stabilize your core to get on, and stay on the ball, but there are much better (and safer) options for core work.

Tim Maxey (former Strength Coach of the Cleveland Indians) one of the first Strength Coaches I've ever worked with, told me that "baseball players run, hit and throw with their feet on the ground, so we are going to train with our feet on the ground". Golfers play from the ground up, and actually use the ground to develop power, so try to train as much as you can with your feet on the ground.

Natalie Gulbis is a very good athlete (and very marketable too) which is why I question why she is on that exercise ball. It might be good for her modeling career, but could instantly crush her golf career.

Now to the good points. Natalie begins her workout with a bunch of flexibility work through her hips. Very good. She also does plenty of plank work (best, and safest move for your core). Although I don't agree with her entire workout, there are some good points that all golfers can follow.

Brandon Smith CSCS
Golf Fitness Expert

2010-12-09T10:56:00.003-05:00

Hello Golfers.

If you had the chance to watch Golf Channel's 12 nights at the academy, I'm sure some of you were a little confused by Sean Foley.

Sean is the coach to Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan, Sean O'hair, Stephan Ames and Tiger Woods. His approach is very much rooted in bio-mechanics and strength & conditioning.

On his episode, Sean kept referring to the ground, and how using your feet and the ground together was the genesis of clubhead speed. Sean is talking about a concept call "Ground Reaction Force". Unless you went to college and studied bio-mechanics or physics, I'm sure you have not heard the term "ground reaction force".

Here is the simplest definition I can give you, courtesy of Wikipedia.
Ground Reaction Force- refers generically to any force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it. For example, a person standing on the ground exerts a force on it (equal to the person's weight) and at the same time an equal and opposite ground reaction force is exerted by the ground on the person.The use of the word reaction derives from Newton's Third Law, which essentially states that if a force, called action, acts upon a body, then an equal and opposite force, called reaction, must act upon another body.The force exerted by the ground is commonly referred to as the reaction, although the distinction between action and reaction is completely arbitrary and the expression ground action would be, in principle, equally acceptable.

What does this mean to your golf swing? Well, basically it means that a good swing starts with good footwork. To further help with the concepts of the golf swing, I want to introduce you to my golf instructor, Adam Kolloff.

Check out Adams website and take a look at some of the video and still photos of swings, that show weight shift and footwork, causing a reaction in the ground sending energy back into your body. Adam has a method of teaching that uses ground reaction forces. He refers to it as THE MOVE.

By doing "the move", you are putting force into the ground without even knowing it. If the move is done correctly, you apply force to the ground with your feet and legs first. The ground then pushes back at you, allowing you to generate speed in your hips, torso, arms and finally send all that energy into the back of the ball.

In my personal practice, I work on the MOVE in between sets during my workouts. If you read Adam's book, you will see exactly how I apply the move to my workouts.

Everything in your golf swing starts with your feet. Sean Foley was explaining that he has all of his clients hit balls with no shoes on. Be careful when doing this for the first time and take smaller swings until you "feel" what is going on with your body. This is also why I like to have my clients workout barefoot. Again, be very careful if you try that at home! Your feet receive tons of information from the ground and then relay that information to the rest of the body.

So my recommendations are:

1. Watch Sean Foley's episode on Golf Channel

2. Read Adam Kolloff's book "Finally Down the Middle"

3. Hit ball bare foot

4. Workout barefoot (not in a public gym)

Good luck and stay Flexible

Brandon Smith CSCS

Add Some Power

2010-09-30T09:45:00.002-04:00

Add some power, before, during and after your next round

It takes dedication and hours of hard work to develop a great swing, and overall sound golf game. What doesn't take hours of mental and physical preparation is eating well.

Food is the best way to add natural energy to your game. When you don't eat well, it's like putting low octane gas in a high performance sports car. Your body is the sports car! You must treat it the right way to produce the power and energy you need to perform and practice.

The easiest way to gain energy is to eat well and to eat Breakfast!! Don't skip breakfast just because you have an early tee time

Eat right when you wake up. Eating breakfast replenishes your bodies food supply from a night of fasting (you fast when your body is at sleep). Skipping breakfast is like driving your high performance sports car on empty. Also, your body breaks down muscle when you sleep. Not good!

Here is an example list of energy foods that everyday golfers can easily add to their diets and golf bags during a busy season.

Energy Foods

1. Fruit (apple's specifically) easily carried, and found in just about every store, even truck stops on lonely highways.
2. Yogurt (low or non-fat) easy to travel with and full of vitamins. Add nuts or berries to enhance flavor.
3. Tuna- Get it in a wrap or eat it right out of the can. Tons of protein for lean muscle!
4. Sunflower seeds- chomp on them while walking to your next shot! good source of fiber and energy, just don't spit the seeds on the greens!
5. Bananas- Easy to travel with and quick to eat. Provides potassium which helps maintain muscle function.

The list goes on and on and on, but these 5 foods are all readily available, can be eaten anytime of day and are cheap to buy. Add these foods into your pre-and post round meals and fuel recovery and add some energy during your next round.

Stay Energized

Brandon Smith CSCS

Strength & Stability

2010-09-14T08:16:00.006-04:00

Ask any golf instructor in the game and they will all agree that 99% of all amateur golfers need to be more stable over the ball and maintain good posture.

This exercise, "Stability Bar Pull" will help address those two areas that are weak.

Maintain your posture and don't let the weight twist your hips. This is also a great way to train your core!

Pay attention to all the details when lifting weights and pay extra attention to your body position.

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

14 Nutrition Rules to live by

2010-08-18T11:09:00.003-04:00

You are what you eat! What a true statement that is. My good friend Joe Howley has laid out some guidelines that I recommend you follow.

If you want more energy, weight loss, great looking skin and to feel better I suggest you try as many of these recommendations as possible.

Joe is an expert in supplementation and organic nutrition. Here is his list:

1. Eat every 3-4 hours
2. Eat protein with every meal (when possible)
3. Consume Quality Whey Isolate Protein
4. Include essential fats with every meal
5. Eat higher quality foods
6. Try to plan meals ahead of time
7. Take in PLENTY of WATER
8. Stay in a Positive frame of mind
9. Take your 90 essential nutrients everyday
10. Take enzymes, probiotics and phytonutrients
11. Get Vitamin D & Calcium
12. Consume foods high in Antioxidants and high ORAC score
13. Stay away from Genetically Modified Food (corn is about 90% modified)
14. AVOID FAST FOOD!

It will be difficult to do everything on this list all at once, but try to do as many as possible. Over time, you will feel much better, have more energy and be 100% healthier!!

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
Golf Fitness Expert

Are Golfers Athletes

2010-08-08T20:28:00.003-04:00

Well? Are they?

It's been debated before, but it's worth asking again.

When I watch golf on T.V. I tend to think golfers are athletes. The game has changed. Others before him have tried to better themselves through fitness, but Tiger Woods took the ball and ran with it. Now everyone is doing it. When I watch T.V. now, I see young players who have a caddy, swing coach, mental coach and now many (if not most) travel with a personal strength coach. Golfers are now being tested for performance enhancement drugs, something that would have been laughed at 15-20 years ago.
You will find a fitness trailer at every single tour event. You will see massage therapists and nutritionists. Are golfers athletes?

I think the golf swing is an athletic move. Are golfers athletes?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. As a professional strength coach, I want to know how you feel.

Brandon Smith CSCS

Video lesson: Add more Distance

2010-07-01T21:04:00.006-04:00

Add more Distance. The three most used words in golf!! Everyone wants it, but not everyone can get it.

Below is a short video lesson from instructor, Adam Kolloff. Here he shows a technique to gain more distance.

Be warned: You will need great flexibility in your thoracic spine (middle back) to get this move down and bomb it down the middle!

I will show the video now, and post some great thoracic rotation exercises next week, so check back often!!
Enjoy the video!!

Click Here! to see more great tips and drills from Adam Kolloff, and check back here soon for your thoracic spine flexibility and mobility drills!

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
Golf Fitness Expert

5 Proteins for better Performance and Power

2010-06-28T12:26:00.004-04:00

Here is a short list of quality proteins for optimum performance.

Your nutrition is the most important aspect of your game. It is one of very few variables that you can control. You can't control the wind, speed of the greens or height of the rough, but you can control what you put in your body.

Proper nutrition is the pinnacle of the "Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better" philosophy. Many people have a very hard time eating properly.
Here are 5 quality protein sources that you CAN incorporate into your diet tonight. Also,these are some of the best "done for you" nutrition programs around.

1. Chicken/Turkey Breast
2. Almonds
3. Salmon/Haddock
4. Organic Eggs (my new favorite!!)
5. Tuna

Of course there are several other great sources, but try to get all of these or at least some of these into your regular diet now. They are readily available and can be eaten at all times of the day.

BONUS- here is the best "done for you" nutrition program around.This is so fool proof, even I can follow it. Remember, any "change" to your lifestyle will take at least 4-6 weeks to yield results, so whatever you plan on trying, give it a chance.

Add some power to your game with quality protein!

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

Mid Season Form?

2010-06-10T09:28:00.003-04:00

It's that time of season again........the time where most people begin to experience nagging injuries that cause pain and compensations in the swing.

It's about mid-golf season here in New England and many of the hardcore golfers have been out beating balls since late March, (myself included)!!

We are now in mid-June and many of you are experiencing some pain and discomfort caused by golf swings, walking the course, practicing and playing you have done since March, all without proper preparation and recovery!

Most people complain of pain in their lower legs, hips and hamstrings. One of the easiest ways to eliminate that pain, and prevent it from coming back is to use a simple device called a "foam roller". Simply walking the golf course will do damage to your body because of all the terrain change. Your foot, ankle and hip an constantly in different positions that your body is not accustomed to. If not treated, this is the beginning of an injury.

Like I said before, I'm one of those golf nuts who was out on a range in late March swinging the club in cold temps. The difference is, I use a foam roller everyday as part of my routine.

I begin every workout (as do my clients) with a foam roller. The foam roller is easy to integrate into your workouts and also travels well so you can bring it with you on the road.

Using the foam every time you practice or play, will help eliminate some of those nagging injuries and allow you to play pain free!

The game of golf is hard enough....Don't make it any more difficult by playing in pain!

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

The DeadLift

2010-04-28T12:33:00.003-04:00

Hello Golfers,

It's only April here in New England and I'm hearing way-to-many people say that they have no time to workout because it will interfere with golf!! NOT TRUE!

I'm sure many of these people are the same people who very rarely break 80 (or 100 for that matter) and have nothing left in the tank at the end of the season. This usually leads to an injury, which leads to more excuses!

Scroll through some of my other blog posts for reasons why in-season workouts are important to your game.

O.K. There is one exercise that you can squeeze into your busy schedule. You can do this exercise in the gym, on the road or at home.

The DeadLift:
I'm going to tell you why the Deadlift is one of the best exercises you can do.

1. It's one move with multiple muscles being used (we call this a multi-joint movement). The lower body, mid-section and upper body all get a benefit from the deadlift. Your Hamstrings, Quads, Hips and Butt obviously have to work pretty hard, but as you look closer you will see that your lower back, upper back, shoulders and even your forearms are getting hit pretty good too.
2. Because the deadlift is a multi-joint movement, it can be done if you are pressed for time at the gym or are busy traveling for work. Only have 30 minutes to workout? No problem! Spend some time with the deadlift and you will see gains in strength and power, plus stability (lower back and abs must stabalize during the movement). You will gain yardage!!

3. The deadlift can be done using a barbell, holding dumbbells, trap bar or medicine balls... leaving you no excuse not to try them!

Training your body with big movements is time efficient and multi beneficial.
Remember, please seek advise from your physician before attempting any type of physical exercise.

Brandon Smith CSCS
Golf Fitness Expert
www.strengthofyourgame.com (Coming Soon)

Don't drink that Poison

2010-04-26T16:12:00.002-04:00

Energy is what we all want. Here's how to get some that is actually good for you. Find out why this is a healthy energy drink that will benefit you from the first hole through the 18th!

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.strengthofyourgame.com (Coming Soon!)

Why you must Workout In-Season

2010-03-20T16:20:00.008-04:00

Many people stop training once their season begins. Big mistake! Did you know that it takes as little as two weeks to begin feeling the effects of de-training.

Here is a common misconception among golfers "I'm going to walk 18 and carry my bag all season". Again, I'm sorry, but carrying your bag and walking will not cut it. You might as well kiss all of your hard off-season work goodbye if that's your in-season game plan. Plus, companies are making bags that only weigh 3.5 pounds!! Gimme a break. You sound like the muscle heads at the gym who think walking on a treadmill counts as doing legs!

The reason you must continue to workout during your competitive season is quite simple: There is no way you can possibly maintain your off-season gains. Think about this....Spring training in Major League Baseball begins in February. They play games throughout March and the regular season runs April-September, and if you make the playoffs, through October. Add it up, that's 9 months of baseball.

I know from first-hand experience that in some organizations it's mandatory for players to lift 2x/week throughout the season. Again, there is no way you can maintain all of your off-season efforts.....even through your golf season.

Your in-season workout will look dramatically different from your off-season workout. The volume and frequency will decline, while still maintaining a high intensity level. Also, once your season begins, your golf skill work and practice time should increase.

An in-season program should be done 2-3x/week, depending on how much you play.

Take an honest look back at past seasons and think about how strong you felt in March and how tired, weak or injured you felt in September/October.

If you want to be as strong on the 16th Tee box as you were on the 2nd tee box, you must workout in-season. If you do not continue with a golf fitness program and you play frequently, you will break down physically. It's the nature of the sport. Golf is one-sided, rotational and lends itself to over-use injury.

Here are some exercises you can do during your season to stay strong and injury free.

Do 2 sets of 25 reps. You can use bands, free weights or bars. Remember, always consult a physician before beginning any physical activity. These exercises are for demonstration purposes only

Doing a simple, in-home workout 2-3 times per week will improve your performance on the golf course and allow you to play pain free! Click the link and sign up for your 3 month golf program!

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

GolfRite Performance Center

Golf Specific

2010-03-09T16:00:00.005-05:00

Here is a great video showing how Vijay stays at the top of his game. I'm sure that many of the young guns on tour don't train like this! Contact me at GolfRite Performance @ The International if you want to start training like this.

This is a very specific motion for the golf swing. This is the type of training that should be done pre-season. Make sure you do both sides of the body (golf is a one sided movement).

"Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
GolfRite Performance Center
Scratch Golf School

What's better for Your Game

2010-02-19T16:02:00.002-05:00

Cardio Endurance vs. Muscular Endurance

What’s best for your game

Is golf a sport and are golfers athletes? O.K. big can of worms, I know. I believe that golfers (even the recreational ones) are athletes.

All athletes need to train their bodies to perform their specific skill. Depending on the sport, a different mode of training will be necessary.

Many golfers believe that if they go out for a 3 mile jog they have improved their golf conditioning. Well, it’s half true. That three mile jog did improve their cardiovascular conditioning, but did very little to help their golf game.

Think about this, the average round of golf can take anywhere from 3-4.5 hours. During that time you actually spent only about 30-40 minutes of actual physical work. The rest of the time is spent chasing your ball and waiting on the tee box. So, spending the majority of your training time on cardiovascular activity is not where your focus should be.

I want you to focus your training time on muscular endurance. Muscular endurance is the continued contraction of your muscles over time. To put it simply, in order to be as strong on the 16th tee as you were on the 2nd tee, you need to have good muscular endurance.

Here is a very simple way to add muscular endurance training into your program.
Let’s take a great golf exercise like the dumbbell bent over row. Instead of lifting heavy weight (there is however, a time and place in your training regimen for heavy weight training) a low number of reps, we are going to lower the weight and add more reps.

To find a good weight, try this. The next time you do that dumbbell bent over row, select a weight and ask yourself this question, “can I lift this weight with great technique 8 times”? If the answer is “yes” add more weight and repeat the question. If the answer is “NO” select a lighter weight and try again. You are now finding your 8 rep max. Once you have found a weight that allows 8 reps, you are ready to go. I suggest starting out at 25-30% of that 8 rep max weight as your starting point. If you are new to training, or a de-conditioned, start with a lower percentage. Here it is in simple math.
8 rep max=10 pounds, 30% would equal 3 pounds. SO you would do your first set with 3 pounds.

The repetition range during muscular endurance training is going to be somewhere in the 20-25 range. So, back to our example; you will take 30% of your 8 rep max and lift that weight for 25 reps! This will not be as easy as it sounds! You will get a good muscular endurance workout.

Like I said earlier, every program should involve periods of heavy training. For golfers, try adding muscular endurance training into your program about a month before you play your first round of the new season.

Remember, golf is a sport and athletes must train!

“Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better”

Brandon Smith CSCS
GolfRite Performance Center
Scratch Golf Schools

Say Good bye to The Off-Season

2010-02-11T11:04:00.002-05:00

It’s mid-February here in New England, but golf is on the minds of many! That’s the good news. The bad news is, your off-season has just about come to an end. Let me explain.

Many New England golfers will be gearing up to drive to Cape Cod or the south shore to play golf in early March. I refer to those guys as the crazies! Anyway, if you plan on starting your season in mid-March, your off-season is over. You are now in what’s called “pre-season” in training terms. The off-season and pre-season training routines are very different. Your off-season is the time to take care of any nagging injuries, get stronger, develop power and prepare a game plan for the coming season and the Pre-season is time for skill work.

Your off-season training regimen should consist of non-golf related movements and a periodized training program should be used to build strength and power. If you did not train during your “off-season” it will be difficult to squeeze in the proper strength and power workouts. Here’s why. The first thing the hibernating New England golfer is going to do is hit as many golf balls as possible a week or two before they go play. Most golfers will have an unprepared body (and golf swing) and expect great results right out of the box. When the results don’t come, they will hit more balls trying to figure it out and end up with an injury that will bother them all season. And they wonder why they never improve!

Improvement begins in the off-season with physical training. The pre-season is used to fine tune golf specific moves, like chipping technique and your putting stroke. You do not want to spend the pre-season trying to find your swing; that’s something you handle in the off-season.

Pre-season golf training will begin to “look” more like golf and focus on specific moves that your body will perform on the course throughout the season. This is another reason it’s difficult to play catch up and do off-season workouts during the pre-season. Your golf swing will suffer!

What happens during the pre-season?

-Work will remain intensive and focus on core stability, balance and achieving proper flexibility.

-Weight work will begin to taper off from heavy weight to moderate weight or even very light weight depending on when your season begins. You will however, return to heavy weight training for mini cycles during the season. I don’t necessarily agree with all the principles of “maintenance”. I believe you can continue to get stronger during your competitive season in a well structured program.

- Workout frequency and volume (sets, reps, and weight) will decrease as golf specific practice time increases. So instead of training 5x per week, you might back it down to 2-3x per week and spend more time practicing.

So, if you have not worked on your physical game at all during the off-season, don’t worry, all is not lost. Postpone the start of your season and spend two or three weeks doing some basic strength work, but do not try to fine tune your golf swing or hit tons of balls during this time. After those 2-3 weeks of strength work, begin to focus more on core, balance and golf movement skills.

By giving yourself a later start to the season (by a matter of weeks), you will be a little stronger, more flexible and have a better chance for success and you will actually play a little better!

“Move Better, Fell Better, Play Better”

Brandon Smith CSCS
Golf Fitness Expert
www.golfrite.com

PS Read this Ebook and learn about your golf swing and how to fix it mid-season without sacrificing good play.

Pebble Beach

2010-02-09T16:14:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know this is a golf fitness blog, but I'm heavily involved in picking winners on the PGA Tour.

At my place of employment, GolfRite Performance Center we are engaged in a season long battle to see who is the best picker out there!

Now, people love to pick Phil at this event. He usually wins an event on the west coast, but not this week. Everyone seems to love Dustin Johnson this week as well. He played well last week, so he's out. My buddy Adam picked Steve Striker last week, and won, so it's a sure bet he won't win two in a row. Mike Weir has has success here, but Canadians should just play hockey, so I'm not picking him.

I'm going with a guy who many of you wouldn't recognize, even if he was sitting next to you on the bus. My pick for the AT&T Pebble beach Pro Am is Matt Kutcher. Who? Exactly! He has been quietly playing well this season and I feel Pebble is a great place for him to notch a win....or at least a top ten!!

There ya have it, my pick to click. Matt Kutcher

PS here is a great exercise that you should be doing. Watch this video of veteran Tour Player, Vijay Singh.

Do these to help your back swing and follow through.

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

Flex Appeal

2010-01-19T10:01:00.008-05:00

Flex appeal...some guys got it....some guys don't.

O.K. having great flexibility is not as glamorous as being sexy, but there ain't nothing sexy about double bogeys and scoring in the high nineties!

Improving your flexibility is hands down the easiest and fastest way to improve your game.

First, better flexibility will improve how your body feels. It's impossible to enjoy a round of golf if you are in pain. Second, if your body feels good then your mind will feel good, increasing confidence! Third, having good flexibility will make it easier for your body to recover after a round of golf. Think about how you feel when you get out of bed after your clubs four-day member-guest tournament. My guess is you are in pain.

Thoracic Spine. Hips. Lats. Shoulders. These are the 4 major body parts you can work on now.

Having great flexibility in the thoracic spine is HUGE! Your T-Spine is located right in the middle of the hump in your back when you are slouched over.

Does this look like you......................................................................................

Bad T Spine flexibility will have a negative impact on your posture and your rotation (two essentials in a good golf swing)

For starters, try using a foam roller to begin working on your spine.

PB Elite Foam Rollers

Hips-The hips are a trouble spot for just about every amateur golfer under the sun. Hips require both internal and external rotation for golfers. right handed golfers internally rotate their right hip on the back swing. Many amateur golfers can't get here.............................

Lats- The most important muscle to have great flexibility in. The lats contribute to "width" in your swing. This is the main muscle that creates "coil" in your swing as well. Mix in tight lats with poor posture and you have a recipe for poor golf.

Lats make up the "V" shape look. Make sure your lats are "long & Strong" and you will create width and better coil in your swing.

Stretch your lats daily.

Shoulders- Just like the hips, your shoulders go through internal and external rotation. A right handed golfer needs to have great external rotation in the left shoulder for a full follow through.

Notice the position of the left shoulder. Massive ex. rotation.

The hips, lats, shoulders and T-spine all play a huge part in the golf swing. Make sure to do SOMETHING everyday that improve your flexibility.

You can use training aids such as foam rollers, or a stretch out strap, or a piece of dedicated stretch equipment like a StretchMate.

Try to stretch for at least 15 seconds and never move to the point of pain. If something hurts, stop!

Increasing your flexibility in the key areas will have an immediate impact on your golf swing, making the $400 dollars you spent on a new driver worth every penny!

Pick to Win

2010-01-13T12:19:00.003-05:00

O.K. here we go with the first full field event of the season! I'm pretty happy with my top 5 finish last week (O'hair finished T4), but now it's time to step it up.

The PGA Tour rolls into the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii is the host course for this event, so sit back, put another log on the fire and watch Zach Johnson roll onto victory (or at least a top five!).

Picking the defending champ seemed to work last week for my friend Adam, so I'm going to test that theory this week and give Adam a taste of his own medicine!

Johnson is pretty reliable when it comes to hitting greens, which is key for me when playing in the winds of Hawaii. Get it on the green Zach, and roll it in the hole!!

Enjoy the Sony Open this week...between NFL Playoff games of course.

----------------------------
Leave a comment with your pick and see how you stack up!

PS Try this body weight fitness routine while watching golf on T.V. During commercials, get on the floor and hold a plank position for the length of the commercial. Once the commercial ends, stand up a do body weight squats during the next commercial. Stretch your hamstrings during the following commercial.

Enjoy~

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.golfrite.com

First Win of the Year

2010-01-05T15:39:00.002-05:00

O.K. as promised, I will deliver expert picks for the upcoming 2010 PGA Tour season.

The first event begins this Thursday, Jan 7th from sunny Hawaii!! I'm coming right out of the box with Sean O'Hair. He seems like an obvious pick to me. The kid is smooth as silk and should win a few times this year.

My buddy Adam, from scratch golf, says Geoff Ogilvy is the pick, but nothing could be further from the truth. Even though he went wire-to-wire last season for the win!

O'Hair currently sits at 6th on the money list, and finished 5th in the Fed Ex Cup standings last year. O'Hair also had the low final round of 65 at Kapalua last season.

Who do you like? Leave a comment and see how you stack up.

Happy picking,

Brandon

How To Play Scratch Golf

2010-01-02T11:44:00.002-05:00

Do you want to play Scratch Golf in 2010? O.K., maybe not scratch...my goal is to break 80 on a regular basis.

I have two great resources for you to check out if you want to play better this coming season and for years and years to come.

First, visit Scratch Golf School and read all that you can! Adam Kolloff is a fine young instructor that has a great take on the golf swing and makes playing the game as easy as possible. You will learn something new every time you look at his site.

Second, visit GolfRite Blog and read what an old veteran has to say about playing the game! Skip Guss has played, and won, several local and sectional tournaments and even qualified through Q-School for the PGA TOUR plus has played in The U.S. Senior Open.

Both instructors will show you how to "PLAY" the game, not just how to swing a club.

Do yourself a favor and check out their sites and read all that can......you will learn something new.

Have a great 2010 season

Brandon Smith CSCS

It's almost here again

2009-12-29T16:53:00.002-05:00

I can't believe the PGA Tour returns Next WEEK!

January 7th, 2010 The Plantation Course · Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii The PGA Tour Begins again!!

Last year I attempted to pick a winner for every tournament...needless to say, it didn't go well.
After an off-season of training and working in the gym, I'm ready to begin my predictions again!

What will this season bring?? I don't know! What will it be like without Tiger? Who will step up and fill his spot as #1? Who do you want to see step up? Who will win the 4 Majors?

Leave me a comment with some of your picks!

Happy New Year, and thank goodness the Tour is back!

~Brandon

Time to get Heavy

2009-12-16T14:09:00.004-05:00

I like all things heavy. I love heavy metal music, lifting heavy weights and if Coors made “Coors Heavy” I would probably drink that too!

The point is, do not be afraid of heavy weights. The old myth is: lifting heavy weights will bulk me up”. Not true, unless you strive to be Mr. or Ms Olympia! You do not have the time, focus, energy or extreme discipline to get bulked up like the guys in the magazines. I’m not saying that to be mean. I realize that you have a job, possibly a family and other commitments that will keep you out of the gym more often than you are in it!

Lifting heavy has its place.

Many books have been written on this topic, so I’ll keep it short and easy to understand.

Some benefits of lifting heavy weights:

Increase lean muscle mass and strength

Increase resting metabolic rate, meaning you will burn more calories while at rest

Support bones (especially for Women) and connective tissue, possibly protecting you from injury.

Change your body composition, increasing confidence and the way you feel

It’s important to know when to lift heavy. You do not want to do a heavy workout two days before the club championship!

A good training program should continually change, based on time of competitive season and your overall fitness goals. The weight lifting principle of change is called periodization. The Wikipedia definition is: Periodization is an organized approach to training that involves progressive cycling of various aspects of a training program during a specific period of time. It is a way of alternating training to its peak during season.

This means heavy weights and heavy training sessions need to be cycled into your program at certain times during your training.

Heavy weight training is a must in any program. Find a local Strength & Conditioning Coach and have them develop a safe and effective program for you. Sit down and discuss your playing schedule, tournament schedule and overall training goals and get heavy weights into your program. Lifting heavy weights will improve your game.

Brandon Smith CSCS

Sometimes You Have to Cheat

2009-11-24T10:11:00.004-05:00

The Holiday season is here, so I know you are going to cheat. It starts in November and ends at the New Year. The potential to get into bad habits is huge. Don't let it happen. Your diet depends on what happens over the next 4 weeks!

I want to help you cheat during the Holiday's. Click HERE for the best way to cheat this season.

Sometimes it's good to be a cheater!

Brandon Smith CSCS

http://www.golfrite.com/

Can You Move Like This?

2009-11-20T13:58:00.011-05:00

Much like Real Estate it's,

Rotation, Rotation, Rotation!

Most amateur golfers that I work with can not rotate like this. In most cases the main problem is shoulder tightness and lack of mobility in the upper back (T-Spine).

The good news is, you can work on shoulder external rotation and upper back mobility with some simple stretching moves and a piece of foam!

These photos show extreme flexibility and the ability to externally rotate the shoulders. (For a right handed golfer, your right shoulder externally rotates on the back swing and the left shoulder is in external rotation on the follow through).

Here is an example of external shoulder rotation. This stretch can be done several ways, even without a Stretchmate. The cartoon on the right is another example.

If you want to improve your rotation, a good place to start is with your shoulders. Because many people sit at a desk and type on a key board all day long, they never really get their shoulders in external rotation. Typing, texting and playing video games are all examples of internal rotation.

Using the same example (sitting at a desk all day) many people develop poor posture and rounded shoulders and upper back.

A very simple way to help that situation is to use a foam roller across your upper back.

Click HERE for more info about foam rollers.

Place the foam across your shoulder blades and slowly roll forward and back. Keep the foam in the area of your shoulder blades, not letting it get to low, or up onto your cervical spine. Reach across your body with both hands. Spend at least 30 seconds rolling on your back.

Work on both areas (Shoulders and upper Back) and you will begin to rotate better! Click HERE to get your own Golf Fitness Programs.

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.golfrite.com

Inside the PGA Tour Fitness Trailer

2009-11-17T14:19:00.003-05:00

Here is a very quick video of what is inside a PGA TOUR fitness trailer. Scroll below video for more detail.

The inside of this trailer looks just like my basement (except for the PLASMA T.V.!) The point is, you do not need a bunch of equipment, or a fancy health club to get the job done.

Guys on Tour are playing for millions of dollars every week and this is some of the equipment they rely on.

WHAT YOU SAW: Various dumbbells, stretch out strap, med balls, foam rollers, tubing, basic treadmil, TRX Band, Stability balls and balance devices. Click on Photos below for more info about each.

All of these tools are perfect for home use. Please leave a comment and let me know if you have any questions.

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.golfrite.com
www.globalgolfexperts.com

Playing Golf is a Pain

2009-11-10T10:43:00.003-05:00

How do feel after playing a round? How do you feel the next day, or the next few days after? Do you have constant pain, nagging pain or just flat out pain?

The first rule of the winter golf season is...eliminate pain! It's very difficult to play golf with pain and it's even more difficult to take lessons and practice while in pain. You will not improve because you will continually compensate for the pain, causing other swing faults! This cycle will continue until your correct the problem.

When the off-season or winter season rolls around, the first step you should take is to eliminate pain. Find a great strength coach or golf fitness expert and go to work.

Some causes of pain are: weakness, imbalance, asymmetries, poor flexibility, poor technique and poorly fitted equipment. The good news is, all of these are easily corrected with the help of a qualified strength coach and a PGA golf Professional.

There are some great tools that will help you alleviate some of you pain.
Remember, it is highly important that you consult your physician before engaging in any physical fitness programs, or trying any exercises I may have recommended. This article is not intended to treat or cure.

Some tools that assist in the process include: Foam Rollers, Stretch Out Strap & Massage Stick. (click on photos for more details) All of these pieces are incredibly easy to use and also are easy to travel with.

Recovery from a long golf season is key. If you can eliminate pain and improve the way your body feels, you will have more productive practice sessions and lesson time.

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

http://www.golfrite.com/

http://www.globalgolfexperts.com/

How to hit down

2009-11-07T13:12:00.001-05:00

Here is a great video to help you hit more solid iron shots. You can even practice this drill indoors!

Get what you need!

2009-08-14T12:13:00.001-04:00

Get the very best equipment from the best in the business!

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS

Casual Water

2009-07-29T10:29:00.002-04:00

Hydration

I get questions all the time about water, although, most questions are about staying out of it while on the course! It's the middle of summer where I live, so I think this is the perfect time for an article about hydration.

Water is the most abundant, yet overlooked, substance in the body. Your body's fluid status is a fragile balance, so much so, experts rank water second, only to oxygen, as essential for life. Water plays a vital role in all bodily processes by providing a universal medium for chemical reactions, lubrication, nutrient delivery, waste disposal, heat dispersion and temperature regulation. Exercise significantly increases fluid loss which can reach levels of up to 4 liters per hour during heavy work-outs.

A loss of body mass through dehydration as little as 2% significantly impairs performance (Armstrong et al 1985) which emphasizes the importance of the maintenance of hydration, especially during exercise.

But how does dehydration affect the body? And how does the body recognize it has a problem with fluid loss? Blood plasma is 92% water, and therefore, dehydration reduces the volume of blood in the body which makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body and deliver oxygen to working muscles.

Exercise feels harder as your body's systems aren't working as efficiently as they do with good hydration. As dehydration progresses, nausea and vomiting may be experienced and by 5% reduction in total body weight, performance has dropped by 30%. Fluid loss greater than 5% creates weakness, confusion and dizziness leading ultimately to coma and death if fluid isn't replaced immediately. That's a little scarier than dumping a shot into the drink!

The World Health Organization recommends drinking 6 to 8 large glasses of water a day, but this is only to maintain normal fluid balance. This does not take into account the extra fluid demands of exercise and playing 18 holes in the heat and humidity. Drink at least 8oz of water before exercise or your tee time to ensure fluid levels are up. Continue to take in as much water as you can during exercise or activity.

To the majority of recreational exercisers thirst is viewed as an indicator that they need to drink or they will become dehydrated. In fact, thirst is a sign that the person is already dehydrated; also the thirst mechanism tends to be depressed during exercise which increases the level of dehydration before thirst is sensed. This is why fluid replacement should be considered before, during and after physical activity rather than relying on thirst to determine when the body needs fluid.

If exercise lasts for less than an hour the body should have sufficient electrolyte and carbohydrate supplies to maintain optimal performance. Therefore, for short periods of exercise water is just as good as sports drinks. Exercise that lasts for over an hour (GOLF is 4+ hours) a drink with electrolytes and carbohydrates will aid performance by supplying additional energy. Contrary to popular opinion a relatively small amount of sweat is salt (0.2 to 0.4%) therefore unless the climate is extremely hot or the activity is over an hour in duration, additional salt should not be necessary. There is always a tendency to think that water is plain and that additional ingredients will improve taste. However, in actual fact, water is the best fluid you can choose for exercise of an hour or less in duration. If you think water is just water then think again. It is worth considering what type of water to use.

Types of Water

Spring: Comes from an underground source and must meet Drinking Water in Containers Regulations and can be treated if necessary.Purified: Can be drawn from any source and can be artificially processed and chemically treated to make it drinkable.

Tap: chemically purified and on average, recycled 9 times. When bottled, tap water may be termed 'purified' or 'table' water.

Practical Recommendations for Fluid Replacement:

Drink one tall glass of water at every meal, plus one glass between every meal. If you follow this plan, you will be drinking 5 glasses of water throughout the day, and with about 2 cups of water per glass, this equals approximately 10 cups of water. Another plus to drinking water before, during, and after your meals is that it helps you feel satisfied while consuming less food and consequently, fewer calories. Liquid allows your food to expand while you eat, curbing your hunger. It also helps you eat slowly, which is an important tactic for eating in moderation. Don't rely on thirst! Drink before, during and after any physical activity. Get into the habit of taking on fluids during training as well as competition.

Keep a bottle of water in your golf bag, or in your cart, and re-fill it often. It is also important to realize that many foods we eat contain water. Fruits and vegetables obviously contain water, which gives them their juicy nature. Along with your bottle of water, bring an apple along to eat during your round. Other foods, such as cooked rice and grains, dairy, casseroles, and soups are all rich in water, which again, can help you feel satisfied while consuming fewer calories and fending off excess body weight.

The best way to stay hydrated is to follow a schedule for hydrating your body, which will date back to a few hours before your tee time, but needs to be followed• Begin drinking fluids on a regular basis, 2-3 hours before your activity.• Drink 250ml 15 minutes before exercise or tee off• Drink 250ml every 15 minutes during exercise, or sip your water bottle regularly during play.
So, looks like we don't have to avoid water on the course after all!
References:American College of Sports Medicine (1996) advise on fluid intake. Armstrong et al (1985) , Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, 17: 456-461Davis & Brewer (1997), Journal of Sports Sciences, 15(1):44-45

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.golfrite.com
www.globalgolfexperts.com (launching soon!)

More Mid Section Myths

2009-07-27T08:39:00.002-04:00

Just got back from the gym where I saw 7 different people wasting
their time on ineffective ab training.

And that's really sad. After all, almost everyone goes to the gym
to get a flat stomach, but 90% of people are doing the wrong
workouts and will never achieve their goals! As golfers, having a flat stomach is nice, but we need a strong, stable mid-section!

In fact, most people make these 3 ab workout mistakes...Check out
this article by Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS, and author of dozens of
workouts in Men's Health Magazine...

Myth #1 - You Have to Do Hundreds of Crunches and Sit ups To Burn
Fat and Get Flat Abs

If you rely on boring, back-breaking abdominal crunches and sit-ups
to burn belly fat, you'll never lose the ugly belly fat covering
your abs. Also, remember that doing those traditional "floor crunches" will only promote bad golf posture.

TIP: To work your abs hard, use total-body abdominal exercises
instead, such as stability ball rollouts and stability ball
jackknives.

Myth #2 - In Just Four Easy Payments of $29.99, You Can Buy a
Miracle-Working Six Pack Ab Machine From a Late-Night informercial

Ha! I wish one of those abdominal exercise contraptions worked half
as good as the so-called "experts" say, but infomercial gadgets
don't burn belly fat or flatten your abs (they only burn your money
and flatten your wallet!). Just like some terrible golf training aids I've seen!

TIP: To get more fat burning results in less workout time, use fat
burning interval training three times per week for 20 minutes. Perfect for "in-season" golf training!

Myth #3 - You Have to do Ab Workouts Everyday to Get Six Pack Abs

Not true! In fact, one of the secrets of top fat loss trainers is
to drop boring, repetitive ab exercises and replace them with
total-body abdominal exercises you only need to do for a few
minutes three times per week.

TIP: Use resistance in your ab exercises, such as cable crunches,
using a weight that allows you to do 10-15 reps per set, and train
your abs only twice per week.
Click Here for some great Ab workouts

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"
Brandon Smith CSCS

********************************************************************

Golf's Most Valuable Fundamental

2009-07-23T12:40:00.002-04:00

One of the parents of a student of mine asked me the other day, “what is the most important fundamental in golf”? A hard question to answer, to be sure, as all of us might have a differing opinion. When asked that question, I had to think about it. What is the one fundamental that all golfers must grasp?

My answer: it’s not a swing thought, rather an understanding. Knowing how club path and club face impacts ball flight is a fundamental all golfers need to understand. It is from this understanding that all instruction starts.

So, why does a golf ball fly the way it does? Why does a golf ball start left of the target, but end up to the right of the target? Vice versa, too? Let’s discuss further.

All golf shots have three characteristics: height, initial direction and curve. For this discussion, we will focus on initial direction and curve.

Initial Direction

All golf shots can start: to the left…to the right…or at the target. What determines initial direction? Simply, the path in which the club travels as the ball is struck.
Initial Direction (direction club travels just prior to and just after impact):
A Path which finds the club traveling from Outside-to-Inside the target line:
- For Right-Handed Golfers: ball starts LEFT of the target
- For Left-Handed Golfers: ball starts RIGHT of the target

A Path which finds the club traveling from Inside-to-Outside the target line:
- For Right-Handed Golfers: ball starts RIGHT of the target
- For Left-Handed Golfers: ball starts LEFT of the target

A Path which finds the club traveling On the target line:

- For both Right-Handed & Left-Handed golfers: ball starts ON the target line

(Note: in all cases, center contact is assumed)

Curve

Curve is determined by the angle of the clubface at impact:
At impact, with the clubface in the Open position (toe lags behind heel):
-For Right-Handed Golfer: ball curves to the Right
-For Left-Handed Golfer: ball curves to the Left

At impact, with the clubface in the Closed position (toe in front of heel):
-For Right-Handed Golfer: ball curves to the Left
-For Left-Handed Golfer: ball curves to the Right

Once again, all swing instruction starts from knowing these fundamentals. Study, learn and practice these fundamental alignment and swing path drills. A little practice with these drills and you will better understand swing path and how to “work” the ball.

For more great tips, lessons, video fitness tips, equipment discussions and forums, join www.globalgolfexperts.com (Launching soon!)

Skip Guss
PGA Professional
http://www.golfrite.com

Everybody Wants Some

2009-07-15T13:13:00.000-04:00

Golf and Fitness are so similar it’s crazy.

Every single golfer I know wants one thing: CONSISTENCY!

If you want to improve your health and fitness, you also need consistency.

You can’t practice one week, then take two weeks off. The same holds true with fitness. You can’t workout one week and slack off for two weeks. You can’t eat well one week and expect to lose weight. You need a consistent plan.

A consistent golf game requires consistent practice. You can’t go to the practice range and pound a bucket of balls using just driver and expect your short game to be there when you need it on the course.

Develop a consistent practice routine on the range. Visualize a hole on your favorite course and play it on the range. This advice has been given thousands of times, but it works. Use driver if that’s what you tee off with and then hit your second shot with the club you would use for the second shot on the course. Keep that routine going until you’ve “reached” the green. This system will ensure that you hit different clubs and different shots while practicing and not just pound the driver with no thought process, also creating consistency throughout your bag.

A consistently healthy body requires consistent workouts. The best way to do this is to set a realistic fitness goal. If you live in the Northeast, like I do, and have a short golf season, you want to maximize the time you have to play. This will most certainly push a workout to the back burner if you have the choice of playing or working out. Instead of forfeiting your workout, set a goal of doing shorter duration workouts during the golf season. Make it a point to accomplish two total body workouts per week. Get one of the workouts done between Monday and Wednesday, and then try to get the second workout done between Thursday and Saturday. This will put you on a “loose” schedule and allow you to maximize your playing time and still keep in shape during the season.

Consistent warm up routines, practice range routines and workout routines will result in more consistent play: something everyone wants!

Visit these quality sites if you need help with your golf game or golf fitness routines.
www.golfrite.com
www.fitnessgenerator.com/smithfit
www.globalgolfexperts.com (launching soon!)

See you on the Green!

Brandon Smith CSCS

Get fit before you get fit

2009-06-30T14:12:00.001-04:00

Don’t be fit for compensations

Your current set of golf clubs may be set up incorrectly, causing you to make compensations in your set-up position; usually resulting in poor posture, either in a C-spine or S-Spine position.

Poor posture is one of the most common set-up and swing killers found in amateur golfers. Working with Golf Fitness professionals to correct posture issues and other compensations, will enhance your fitting experience and ensure that you receive the best possible equipment for your game.

Golf Fitness professionals will work to improve your overall flexibility and range-of-motion in the trouble areas that usually are effected by poor posture; Hips, T-Spine and Shoulders. Don't get fitted for equipment if you suffer from posture induced compensations. Work with a professional to get your body working better before you buy new equipment.

Improving these two important components of your “physical game” will improve your club head speed and golf ball speed. Club head speed and golf ball speed are also major influences when being fit for golf clubs, as they will have an impact on what material and shaft weight you should have. the best part about more club head speed and ball speed is MORE distance!

Improving your physical performance has a great impact when being custom fitted for equipment, so Get fit before you Get Fit.

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.globalgolfexperts.com (launching soon)
www.golfrite.com

Poor Posture

2009-06-25T13:28:00.002-04:00

Fact: Posture is a key fundamental to making a consistent and powerful golf swing.

Fact: The majority of amateur/recreational golfers have poor posture.

Posture is the foundation on which your swing is built.

Why do so many players, who love playing golf, have poor posture, and what is the cause?

The best way to examine the cause of poor posture is NOT to look at the golf swing itself. In most cases golf does not cause poor posture. Playing golf will make poor posture worse, but generally, it is not the main cause. The cause usually lies in what you do for a job, what hobbies you have and what kind of workout routine you follow.

Most everything we do is in front of us, requiring us to reach. For example, sitting in a car and reaching for the steering wheel, or sitting at a desk and typing all day, while our head and necks are cranked forward looking at the screen. Doctors lean over patients all day long. Kids play video games and send text messages all day long. The point is most things we do on a daily basis require us to sit, or reach in front of our bodies.

Follow this daily scenario and see if you fit the mold:
You wake up and shower. You walk downstairs and sit down to eat breakfast (or you’re always late and get right into your car). You drive to work where you sit at a desk for 8-9 hours. You go to the gym where you sit on a bike and other pieces of exercise equipment for 45-60 minutes. You sit in your car and drive home, where you sit down and eat dinner. After you eat, you sit in your favorite chair and watch T.V. You go to bed and repeat this cycle the next day!

This is an example of where poor posture comes from. Yes, I know you go to the gym, but sitting on equipment doesn’t count! The gym creates problems for people with poor posture and poor workout routines. Most people who go the gym want instant gratification. You want to see results for the time you spend in the gym. The fastest way to results is to work on muscles that are visible in the mirror; therefore most people spend a great amount of time working on their chest, biceps, Abs and shoulders. All of these muscles are in front of us! These muscles are fun to work and can be seen in the mirror, giving us satisfaction when we see them change. Overworking these muscle groups is a great way to further contribute to poor posture. This is what’s known as “upper crossed syndrome”. This term basically means the muscles in the front (chest) are tight and muscles on the backside of the body are weak and overly stretched.

There are several ways to improve your poor posture. First, find yourself a qualified Strength & Conditioning coach. Pass by the clip board holding personal trainer. Second, PULL more than you PUSH. Pulling involves using muscles on the backside of your body that are not scene in the mirror, therefore, less fun to do.

Here is a small example of exercises you can do that will improve your posture and the way you swing the golf club.

Wall Slide
T,Y,W,L
One arm Cable Row
Dumbbell Cable Row
T-Spine Foam Roll
X-Pull
Lat Pulldown
Planks

Visit strengthcoach.com for great video examples of these, and many other exercises that will improve your posture and your game.

Poor Posture is a huge contributing factor to lack of distance and a number of other swing flaws. Improve your posture and your golf swing will follow.

“Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better”

Brandon Smith CSCS
http://www.golfrite.com/
Brandon@golfrite.com

Golf Fitness Magazine

2009-06-19T09:52:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone,

I hope you are enjoying the rain soaked U.S. Open!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'm know a contributing writer to Golf Fitness Magazine Blogs!!

Check out the site. It has some cool stuff that will help your game. Feel free to leave me a comment or ask your Golf Fitness questions and I'll get them answered!
http://tinyurl.com/l7cpds This link goes directly to my page

This Link will take you to other golf fitness headlines http://tinyurl.com/ldov5c

Check'em both out and leave me some feedback!!

See you in the fairway!

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon
www.golfrite.com

Nutrition for Energy

2009-06-18T13:36:00.003-04:00

I'm a huge believer in eating for energy and recovery from workouts.

Playing a full round of golf is a long day, 4-5 hours! If you do not eat before you play or only shove down a hot dog at the turn (I don't care how good they might taste!) you are doing tremendous harm to your body. You need to stay energized for all 18 holes!

You need to eat before, during and after your round and ALWAYS have water on hand! Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink.

Eating for energy will also give you some residual results as well! Besides being able to play 18 holes without getting hungry or feeling sluggish, you will also experience the loss of body fat! How nice.

Combine eating for energy, body fat loss and a great workout program and you just might become dangerous!!

Here is a great resource where you can receive a FREE 7 day downloadable sample meal plan. I even downloaded my own meal plan this week! http://tinyurl.com/mxlctu

Proper eating and nutrition is such a confusing topic, leave it to the pros who have everything all planned out for you.

All you have to do is shop and eat....no thinking required! http://tinyurl.com/mxlctu

Get your free 7 day sample menu now and you will fell 100% better on the course

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better.....EAT BETTER!!

See you in the fairway!
Brandon
http://www.golfrite.com/

Think Better, Part 5

2009-06-09T11:30:00.001-04:00

….Final part of interview with sport psychologist, Dr. Grayson Kimball.

Brandon: O.K., we’ve gone over practice strategy, how to practice and to bring practice to the course. Now that we are in-season and golfers are playing in club tournaments and Monday qualifiers many players find themselves in the lead of a tournament, but end up finishing poorly. How can a player who is in the lead, stay in the lead?

Grayson: Typically golfers who find themselves in the lead of a tournament fall victim to the mental mistake of playing “not to lose”. Playing “not to lose” is passive. By playing a more passive or defensive game, a golfer is creating the expectation of failure. This is a negative mindset that is a recipe for disaster as golfers begin to lose control over their play. Further, a golfer who is playing “not to lose” is really hoping their opponent will make mistakes which would allow them to win. This is a stark contrast to a golfer who “plays to win” and maintains complete control over how they are playing. Tiger Woods is the best example of having a “play to win” mindset. When Tiger is in contention on Sundays, he stays with his game plan and lets the other competitors play “not to lose”. Staying in the moment and focusing on the process of playing successful golf is an essential key to having a “play to win” mindset.

Brandon: Great stuff. We saw the “play to win” mindset this past weekend at the Memorial tournament, where Tiger kept playing his game and let his opponents play “not to lose”, which resulted in another win for Tiger!

Remember; check out www.gtksports.com for more information about sports psychology and how Dr. Kimball can help your game!

“Move Better, Feel Better, THINK Better, Play Better”

Brandon
www.golfrite.com

Think Better Part 4

2009-06-05T11:15:00.002-04:00

Part 4 of my interview with sports psychologist Dr. Grayson Kimball….

Brandon: O.K. We have talked a little about practice and being on the driving range, now let’s take it to the course. I play with some guys who always seem to be saying “what if” while on the course. I guess I do it too. “What if” I just punched out to the fairway instead of going for the miracle shot, or “what if” I laid up instead of going for it? These are two common sayings I hear while playing. Grayson, what can you say about the “What if” moments?

Grayson: Like many other sports, Golf is a game that lends itself to foolish errors, setbacks, mental lapses and failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes, but mistakes will happen while practicing and playing. Players that have a mental edge or who have been through sessions with a sports psychologist have learned that mistakes will happen and they have accepted the fact that mistakes will happen as part of the learning process.

Brandon: So knowing and accepting that I might have a blow up hole or make a bad decision is part of the learning curve?

Grayson: Yes. It is common for golfers to get hung up on the actual mistake and start going through the “what if” cycle. The reality of the situation is that the mistake did happen and nothing is going to change what has already happened. The more a golfer dwells on a mistake, the more likely they will repeat it. The best part about golf is that you always have to hit the NEXT shot! The best way to overcome setbacks is to think about WHY the mistake happened and HOW you can fix it so it doesn’t happen again.

Brandon: Good, so I can finally forget about that bad drive I hit two seasons ago!?!

Grayson: Yes, better late than never. Figure out why the mistake happened and start working toward how to fix it.

Check in later for the last part of this interview with sport psychologist Dr. Grayson Kimball.

To learn how sports psychology can improve your game log on to www.gtksports.com

“Move Better, Feel Better, THINK Better, Play Better

Brandon
www.golfrite.com

Thinking Better, Part 3

2009-06-04T15:45:00.001-04:00

Thinking Better, Part 3

….Continuing on with my interview with sports psychologist Dr. Grayson Kimball.

Brandon: What should the goal of “practicing” be?

Grayson: The goal of practice has to be specificity. When someone takes a golf lesson they are working on something specific to their game. It might be part of the swing, or a specific type of shot, like chipping for example. When you go practice, focus on the main point of the lesson. I’ve overheard golf lessons given by PGA Professional Skip Guss at the GOlfRite Learning Center, where he told his students to not even worry about making contact, rather, focus getting the club into the proper position.

Brandon: So make your practice as specific as possible?

Grayson: Exactly. Don’t just get the range and hit ball after ball after ball. You are not actually working on your game. Focus on the one main point of your last lesson and use your valuable time to practice more productively.

Brandon: I hear Skip say “have practice plans” all the time. We try to make practice time more productive for our clients, so we tell them NOT to book another lesson until they have practiced at least twice since their last lesson.

Grayson: That’s a great approach to take if you want to improve. As a general rule of practicing, have an actual plan of specific goals. You will find that practice becomes more useful and you will see improvement with less aggravation.

Brandon: That’s great advice, because I see tons of people just smashing balls at the range without actually working on anything specific.

So, have a plan and work the plan! If taking the club back correctly was your lesson focus, then don’t worry about making solid contact. Focus on taking the club back correctly on every swing, regardless of the outcome of the swing.

Click Here for some awesome drills and tips and make your practice time more productive!

To reach Dr.Kimball, and explore your “mental” game, log on to www.gtksports.com

Move Better, Feel Better, THINK Better, Play Better!

Brandon
www.golfrite.com

Thinking Better, Part 2

2009-06-02T11:48:00.000-04:00

Hello Golfers,

I hope everyone is setting time aside for your in-season workouts!

O.K. here we go with part 2 of 5 with my interview with sports psychologist, Dr. Grayson Kimball.

Brandon: Why is it that many people can practice golf with ease and make great swings on the range, but seem to lose confidence the moment they get on the course?

Grayson: Many golfers whom I’ve helped over the years found it much easier to perform during practice sessions than during competition. The reason has to do with perceived pressure.

Brandon: Do golfers put more pressure on themselves because golf is an individual sport, rather than a team sport where one player can rely on another player to help out?

Grayson: Yes, golfers feel like they are alone on the course. They don’t have a teammate to back them up; therefore they are responsible for all their actions.

Brandon: So what is the big difference between practice and competition on the mental side of the game?

Grayson: Practice and competition are different only if the golfer chooses to think it’s different. Golfers must realize that they are using the same clubs, possibly playing on the same course, and maybe even playing with the same people they practice with. When preparing for a competition, take some time to think about why you practice well and take that mentality onto the course. Thinking about how and why you are successful can help bridge the gap between practicing well and playing well.

Brandon: Thanks Grayson. More great stuff from Dr. Kimball coming soon!!

Click here for more information about Dr. Kimball and how sports psychology will get you thinking better on the course!

Move Better, Feel Better, THINK Better, Play Better

Brandon
www.golfrite.com

Think Better

2009-05-30T10:27:00.003-04:00

Hello golfers,

While I’m training my clients physically for better performance on the golf course, we often spend time talking about our golf swings, faults in our swings, corrective measures for our swings and our mind set during a round. I’ve noticed that since the season has begun here in Massachusetts the discussion has turned to aspects of the mental game. I can help my clients physically, but I’m not an expert when it comes to sports psychology. Luckily for my clients I know an expert in the field of sports psychology!

Let me introduce you to Dr. Grayson Kimball. Dr. Kimball is the President of GTK Sports, a leading sports psychology consulting firm in New England. Grayson is certified sport psychology consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sports psychology Registry.
Dr. Kimball consults with an array of Olympic, professional, collegiate, youth, and recreational athletes and serves as the sport psychology coach for several high-performance junior tennis academies, golfrite learning center and numerous endurance training groups in the Boston and New England area.

Dr. Kimball is an adjunct professor at Northeastern University, Mount Ida College, and Newbury College and has been featured on ESPN2, Fox 25 Morning News, Sports Radio 1510 The Zone, WBZ Radio, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, and the New York Daily News.

I recently conducted an interview with Dr. Kimball to address some of the needs that my clients were bringing up during our workouts.

Here is part one of a five part interview between Dr. Kimball and myself.

Brandon: Grayson, thanks for spending some time with me today. Now that the season is underway, many of my golf fitness clients are preparing for tournaments, club championships, matches between friends and neighboring clubs and member/guest events and work related golf outings. One central topic that seems to always come up is the question about first tee jitters, especially during tournament play and playing with a co-worker or boss. How do you help clients with the first tee jitters?

Dr. Kimball: Getting the butterflies or jitters prior to teeing off is a common occurrence for golfers (Elite and Amateur alike) and a question that I’ve dealt with a lot. I begin answering the question by stating that feeling nervous is actually a good thing! Feeling the butterflies is a good indication that you are excited and ready to perform. Take this feeling as a positive, not a negative. Turning negative feelings into positive feelings takes practice, patience and self-talk. If you step onto the tee box and you’re feeling nervous, keep reminding yourself that you are prepared, feel good and are ready to go.

Brandon: What can you tell golfers who interpret nerves and jitters as negative feelings?

Dr. Kimball: There are many golfers who interpret their anxiety as a sign of weakness which can lead to worry, doubt and unneeded stress. Any unneeded stress will certainly have a negative effect on your golf swing. I help my golf clients by explaining that managing stress on the course requires you to view your nerves as being facilitative rather than debilitative. Like I said before, the feeling of butterflies or nerves is a good indicator that you are prepared and ready to perform. Use that indicator by reminding yourself that you are prepared and keep a simple, positive mindset. Keeping one simple thought and positive mindset can turn nerves into a source of strength and set the stage for a successful round of golf.

Brandon: Thanks Grayson. I’m sure my golf fitness clients will enjoy and appreciate this interview. How can my clients contact you if they would like your help?

Grayson: I can be reached at info@gtksports.com please let your customers and clients know that they can place GOLFRITE in the subject line of the email.

O.K. guys, there is part one of the interview with sports psychologist Dr. Grayson Kimball. Check in daily as there is much more of this interview ahead, where we discuss Practice, mistakes/failure, playing not to lose and much more!

Remember, place GOLFRITE in the subject line of your emails to Dr. Kimball. He can be reached at info@gtksports.com

Move Better, Feel Better, “THINK” Better, Play Better!

Brandon Smith
GolfRite Learning Center
www.golfrite.com

The Two worst expressions in Golf

2009-05-27T10:58:00.004-04:00

The two worst expressions in golf are:

1. Keep your head down

2. I think my swing feels pretty good

1.From a golf fitness stand point, keeping your head down is a terrible thing to do. Most recreational golfers believe they must keep their head down after they hit the ball. From a golf lesson stand point, that is fundamentally wrong.

Instead of thinking about keeping your head down, think about following the ball with your head after you make contact. If you keep your head fixed on the ground you loose your ability to rotate and get onto your left side (for a right handed golfer). If you don't finish your swing and get onto your left side, you are sacrificing distance and possibly developing bad habits, like not releasing the club or flipping the club at impact. A double whammy is to have bad posture and keep your head down!

2. When your swing feels good it's a sure sign that you have fallen back into bad habits. If you are working on improving bad posture, your set up position should feel different and maybe uncomfortable at first. If you start feeling good in your set up again, chances are you have reverted back to a bad habit. However, after time and practice, you will eventually "feel good" in your set up.

It is easy to fall back into bad habits because it's the feeling we know best. The easiest way to make sure your swing REALLY feels good is to have a lesson 2x per month with a PGA Professional who uses some sort of video technology to view your swing. The camera doesn't lie!

Remember, if you're concentrating on keeping your head down you are leaving yards on the table and if your swing is feeling O.K. then you should get in for a lesson!

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon
info@golfrite.com

In-Season Importance

2009-05-26T11:56:00.002-04:00

If you want long lasting effects from your practice sessions and golf fitness workouts, YOU HAVE TO STICK TO THEM!!

One key word in golf is “consistency.” If you want to play well every round, you need to be consistent. Part of becoming a consistent player is to practice and work on making shots, not just hitting balls. You have to turn trouble shots into “go-to” shots. The same holds true for your golf fitness routine! You have to turn trouble spots into strength.

To see the lasting improvement you desire, you must stick to your golf fitness routine. Golf fitness is a major part of every professional’s routine and it should be a part of yours! I know that free time is at a premium for most people, but you can find the time to work on your Physical Game.

There is no way you can sustain all the gains and progress you made during your “off-season” program during the long golf season. Every practice ball you hit and round you play is breaking your body down. Once you begin breaking your body down through practice and play, you leave the door wide open for injury and bad habits to appear. You can not and should not abandon your golf fitness routine in-season!

Even if you can only devote five minutes of concentrated effort to your workout and recovery, you are one step ahead of the game. I realize that during the season you want to play and practice, but you must find time to workout!

One good way to improve your physical game during the season is to focus on your flexibility and recovery. Spend five minutes everyday, regardless of whether you play or not, and stretch. Use your foam roller for five minutes after every round and practice session. Spend most of your time focusing on your shoulders, thoracic spine, hips and hamstrings.

If you can stay committed to an in-season recovery and flexibility routine you will find yourself Moving Better, Feeling Better, Playing Better.

Don’t waste all of your “off-season” effort. Make a plan and stick to it during the golf season and you will see the results you want!

Brandon Smith
www.golfrite.com

Finish Strong

2009-05-20T10:23:00.002-04:00

If you were ever feeling down about yourself or your golf game, watch this video now! http://www.ncfinishstrongmovie.com/4

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get out there and play!

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith
www.golfrite.com

Great Recovery

2009-05-11T16:55:00.011-04:00

Great Recovery
Hopefully you don't hear “great recovery” too often on the golf course. If you do, it usually means you've been in the woods, or you've been having a very tough day. I do want you to add "great recovery" into your golf fitness training program.

Recovery is something that should happen at the completion of your round of golf or your workout.
It seems like a lot of personal trainers are lacking the recovery aspect of training. Trainers and strength coaches spend a lot of time beating you up in the weight room, but what is being done to recover from those workouts?

As the great Manager, Lou Brown once said "even tough guys get aches, pains and muscles pulls".

Do you stretch after your round of golf? Do you eat the proper foods after your workout? Do you get enough sleep at night? Do you drink enough water (I'm guessing no!) during the day?
A good strength program should contain some sort of recovery. Some great strength programs are so good that they include recovery at the beginning of the workout, typically called prep work.

Here are four easy recovery strategies that you can incorporate into your program today.

Stretch after you play golf- many of you overlook this important aspect of training. Instead of finishing your round and heading straight for the 19th hole, take 5 minutes and stretch...then go have a cold one. You might even notice your back pain going away when you stretch after you play.
Foam Roller/ Stick- this is one tool that every athlete, or active adult should have in their home! The foam roller is the next best thing to getting a massage. When used correctly, foam can alleviate pain, prepare muscles and tissue for activity and correct knots and trigger points through self myo-fascial release The Stick is small enough to travel with as well. For more great uses of The Stick and Foam Rollers.
Proper Nutrition-start with the basics here, for example, make sure you eat foods containing protein after your workout. A quick tip is to drink chocolate milk!! Milk has a good portion of protein and is convenient, which makes it perfect after a workouts.
Sleep/Rest-sleep is a huge part of the recovery process. I'm not a sleep expert, so I don't know if 8 hours is too much, or not enough, but I do know that I feel better when I'm rested. Try going to bed at the same time every night, and try waking up at the same time in the morning. You will begin to feel better and be more energized.

Try some of these strategies and will see improvement!

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon Smith CSCS
www.golfrite.com

It's O.K. to Cheat

2009-04-30T17:27:00.006-04:00

Let me be the first to tell you that it's O.K. to cheat sometimes (I'm talking about diet here!). I've been doing this program from Joel Marion, and so far I like it. I feel like I can stick to it and I'll see results soon.

You can check it out for yourself here Click Here! . Don't be afraid of the website. Read through everything and decide for yourself.

This is a "real world" nutrition plan that contains food you will actually enjoy eating. You don't have to eat a handful of raisins and 7 almonds for lunch and then wash it all down with a table spoon of cottage cheese!

If you are looking for a new nutrition program, I recommend you try this one. Click Here!

Remember this "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done".

Once you join the cheaters program, leave me a comment and let me know how it's going.

I'm always here to help!

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

-Brandon

Get better NOW

2009-04-28T14:19:00.008-04:00

Practice Secrets of the Pros

How You Can Use Training Rods and Improve Your Game!

If you've ever been to a professional golf tournament, you've probably seen the bright, plastic rods sticking out of players' golf bags and spread out all along the practice tee.

With millions of dollars at stake every weekend, these world-class players are relying on simple pieces of fiberglass to maximize the effectiveness of their practice sessions.

Now, for the first time, GolfRite instructor and PGA TOUR veteran Skip Guss brings these drills directly to you—so you can take YOUR game to the next level!

Click Here! to see what all the buzz is about and grab your copy today!

Get drills and tips you won’t find anywhere else!

As part of GolfRite’s Instructional eBook Series, How To Use Training Rods & Improve Your Game provides step-by-step, easy-to-understand drills that you can use to work on every facet of your game, anytime, anywhere. These are the same drills that PGA TOUR players use to keep their swings in check and their names on the leader board.

Find out how you can use training rods and build solid fundamentals from tee to green, including:

Set- Up: Alignment, Ball Position
Full Swing: Swing Path/ Swing Plane
Short Game:Chipping/Putting

Practice makes perfect...but it also makes permanent. So make sure you're practicing the 'Rite' way, with TOUR-proven training rod drills from GolfRite. They work, and they will help!

Click Here! to grab your copy today!

Brandon Smith

http://www.golfrite.com/

What will make me stronger

2009-04-22T12:15:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone,

I received an email from a high school athlete asking me what exercises would make him stronger. A very broad question and difficult one to answer. It's difficult because the "strength coach" and "functional training" part of me wants to do an assessment, and find out how this kid moves. He gave me a little back ground saying he bench presses and does squats 3x/week. Oh boy!!

I responded to him by saying he needs to have an assessment done with a qualified professional, like the guys here strengthcoach.com, then congratulated him on at least training his lower body (many high school kids neglect it all together).

As far as advice, I suggested he changes from doing the "traditional" back squat to a front squat.
Without getting too technical, here's why:

The front squat is much safer. You do not have to place weight across your back and step away from the rack. Secondly, it's much more spine friendly!! For more in-depth discussions on spine friendly exercises check out strengthcoach.com and sign up for only one dollar!! I also recommended he join strength coach. The front squat also promotes better squatting technique.

The back squat is an easy exercise to perform incorrectly, which leads to injury and bad movement patterns. If you do the front squat incorrectly you will end up face first on the floor!

My final recommendation was to hire a trainer (strength coach) to design a better lifting schedule and program. Benching and squatting 3x/week is a great way to create bigger problems!

A good strength coach will design a set, rep and exercise selection scheme to correspond with your year-round playing schedule and physical development.

Squatting will make you stronger, no matter what sport you play, but front squatting is a better choice of exercise.

Keep leaving comments with your questions or send them directly to me at brandon@golfrite.com

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith
Brandon Smith Golf & Fitness
http://www.golfrite.com/

Pre Round Warm Up

2009-04-17T16:10:00.002-04:00

I’ve seen it a thousand times. I’ve seen it on the golf course and I’ve seen it on the driving range. Very few golfers properly warm up before playing or practicing, yet everyone wonders why they never improve!

I’m sorry, but the latest and greatest equipment in the world will not make you play better, it will help a little, but it is not a cure-all.

To play your best golf consistently, you must work on what I call your “physical game”. Your body, not your equipment, is responsible for your swing. If you can not move your body properly, you will have difficulty sustaining a consistent swing throughout 18 holes. Over the course of the round you might make some good swings, most will be bad, and you will shoot the same old score of 97-100.

I know why no one warms up before a round. There are hundreds of “golf warm-up” books, DVD’s and articles that have you doing all kinds of goofy stretches and movements that you would never do in front anyone! To avoid embarrassment and harassment from your golf buddies, you don’t do anything and play the first few holes cold, killing your score instantly.

The goal of any warm up is to increase your body temperature and increase blood flow to the muscles. It is not meant to work on your swing. Tight, cold muscles can not move dynamically. To swing the golf club smoothly and with rhythm, you need to increase your body temperature and begin warming your muscles.

The best way to increase blood flow and warm muscles is to move dynamically, and static (still) stretch. Because most people are in a hurry they skip over the dynamic movement and half-heartedly static stretch.

Examples of basic dynamic movements:
-Shoulder circles, swings (forward, backward & across)
-Leg swings (forward, backward & across)
-Squats, Lunges
-Rotation

Examples of basic static stretches:
-Toe touch
-Standing quad stretch
-Arm across chest
-Standing hip stretch

I will be posting video of these stretches for you this weekend (if it doesn’t rain again!) and show you a couple other easy stretches that you should do before you tee off, hopefully improving your performance and keeping you playing pain free.

Until next time… “Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better”

Brandon Smith
Brandon Smith Golf & Fitness
www.golfrite.com

In case You haven't noticed

2009-04-15T10:01:00.002-04:00

Just in case you have not seen my picks lately, I have two top ten's in a row!! This week I'm going for the win.

This week the PGA Tour heads to Hilton Head S.C. for the Verizon Heritage.

Boo Weekley is two-time defending champ of this event but is not really playing well this season, with a missed cut at the Masters. Sorry Boo, I don't see a three-peat for you.

The popular pick this weeks seems like Jim Furyk, but I see a Masters hangover for him!

I'm putting my money down on Aaron Baddeley. He finished 17th at the Masters, so not quite good enough to have a hangover and was runner up last season at the Verizon.

Aaron has not won on tour in awhile, so it's about time he did something. Get me some much needed FEDEX Cup points this week!

Cheers to my back-to-back top ten's!

Who do you think has a shot this week??

Brandon

The Master

2009-04-06T19:11:00.002-04:00

As you are all well aware, this week is Master's week on the PGA Tour.

We have a lot going on here this week: Tiger is back, Harrington is looking for the 3rd win of the "Paddy" slam, Greg Norman is in the field, Phil was awful last week, and is their any chance that Immelman can repeat??

Unfortunately for Immelman, and everyone else in the field, you will be playing for second place. The Master himself, Tiger Woods, will win this years Masters. I'm predicting a blow out too. Tiger is due.

Too many players have become to comfortable with Tiger out of the field. The Master will reign again!

Not that I'm virtually on fire picking winners ( I had a stellar top ten last week!!) I see Tiger taking this one with ease.

Let's see what happens. Who do you like this week? Leave me a comment with your pick

Brandon

The secret weapon

2009-04-04T10:30:00.003-04:00

I’m going to reveal my fitness secret weapon. Only my personal clients know this secret, and how to use it. Now I’m going to share it with you.

O.K. here we go. My secret weapon is made up of 2 tennis balls and duct tape! That’s it.
Can you believe something so simple is so valuable to me? Many other Strength Coaches in the business use them and love them. I’ve seen very good results in my client’s mobility after using tennis balls.

This simple home-made contraption is used primarily for clients who need mobility work (or soft tissue work) throughout their thoracic spine (you must have complete mobility of your thoracic spine if you want to play good golf).

The tennis balls can be used in place of a foam roller, if you do not have one. Be warned; tennis balls will hurt when used like a foam roller! It will take some getting used to.

Another great use for the tennis balls is to roll them along the bottom of your foot. Sit in a chair, take your shoe off and roll until it feels good! This, along with stretching, feels great after a long day on your feet, long round of golf, or, if you suffer from plantar fasciitis. This secret weapon will bring some temporary relief.

For other great uses of tennis balls and duct tape, visit strengthcoach. Com and sign up for only one dollar! Click banner in left side bar.

So, there you have it. When your golf game has you down, you really can take up Tennis!

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon Smith C.S.C.S

A playing lesson Learned

2009-04-03T13:41:00.002-04:00

A “Playing Lesson” Learned

This one falls under my "play better" category

I am pretty lucky to have the opportunity to work and play with PGA Professionals on a daily basis. Everyday I learn a ton about the game and the swing just LISTENING to Skip give a lesson, while I’m walking by! That alone has improved my game.

My game has really improved on the course too, which is directly correlated to the fact that Skip and I play an occasional round together. Now, when we play, I do not get a formal playing lesson, but I now see how absolutely valuable and necessary a playing lesson really is! We play because we like to and we actually talk business on the course. That isn’t to say I don’t get the occasional “hot tip.” If you are serious about improving, I highly recommend an on-course playing lesson. If you want the ultimate playing lesson opportunity, CLICK HERE

One of the best “hot tips” I received, concerned chipping. I remember it like it was yesterday. I had missed a green with my approach, not a bad miss, but still a miss. Like many, just off the green has always been a trouble shot for me. As we rolled up to the green I couldn't even see my ball, it was down in some rough. Nonchalantly, I pulled my sand wedge and putter from the bag and started walking to where I thought the ball was. Skip asked me what I was doing. Of course, with a puzzled look, I had no idea. Skip told me to always bring a chipping club, pitching club and lob club, regardless of where the ball was. This is his 3 club chipping rule.

The rule is simple: bring three clubs with you when you are around the green. You never know what type of shot you need until you get to the ball. If you bring three clubs you eliminate any guess work and have a better chance to get the ball close to the hole. I now practice my short game with my 60, 56 and 52 degree wedges, as well as my 6,7,8,9 & pitching wedge. I’m now much more confident and comfortable chipping, pitching and lobbing around the green and my scores have gone down. You don’t always have to use your sand wedge to chip with.

So the lesson is: Take at least three clubs with you when you are around the green and when you practice your short game, use just about all of your clubs! If you can do that simple task, you will become more confident with any type of shot and have a lot more success on the course.

"Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better"

Brandon Smith C.S.C.S

www.golfrite.com

P.S. after I received the “hot tip” I chipped to ten inches!!

I "Shell" win this week!

2009-04-01T10:33:00.001-04:00

O.K., I called it last week….If Tiger’s putter heats up, he will win. Well, that baby was white hot last week.

So I’m officially on a roll. Now I have to keep the momentum going. The PGA Tour enters this week at the Shell Houston Open. With this being the last event before the first major of the year, the course is “tricked” up to play like Augusta.

With an Augusta like set-up, the Shell Houston Open has a very strong field full of guys; all looking to prepare for a second place finish to Tiger at the Masters! We’re talking Phil, Vijay, Sergio, Ogilvy, Stricker, Villegas, Scott & Harrington. Wow!

I never feel good about picking Phil because he’s such a wild card, you never really know what he’s going to bring. I’d like to see him do well and bring his best game to Augusta, but he won’t win this week. Everyone seems to like Harrington (he has won the last 2 majors) but he is not playing very well. He could crank it up at any point though, that’s what makes these guys so good.

With all that nonsense said, I’m picking Geoff Ogilvy. This guy is like a silent assassin. He can sneak up on you in a second! With Augusta around the corner, I think he will step up and win this week and be ready for a run at the Masters.

Call Vegas and put this one in the books….Ogilvy for the win!

I can’t wait til next week!!

Brandon

Plank You Very Much

2009-03-31T11:33:00.006-04:00

It’s a well know fact, inside the Strength & Conditioning field, that the crunch is dead. Extensive testing and case studies have been done and it’s been determined that laying on your back and flexing your spine to do a “crunch” is just not recommended anymore.

O.K., we’ve all done crunches. I’ve even had clients do them, until now. Studies show us there is a better way, but what do we do?

Have no fear; the planks (and several variations) are here! The plank is a very basic looking exercise that requires no movement and places no stress on your spine. Don’t be fooled by its easy looks, it’s a killer!

Below is an example of the basic plank position.

The plank is a great replacement exercise for the crunch. Set up and execution are pretty easy. As seen above, place forearms on floor, and place feet and legs into push up position. The goal is to hold steady and keep square to the floor (no twisting).

Again, don’t dismiss this exercise as easy. If you have never attempted a plank before, try holding for 15-20 seconds and do 2-3 sets. If you are more advanced, try holding for 45-60 seconds. Once you manage 60 seconds for 3 sets, try advancing the difficulty by placing your arms on a Swiss Ball. Placing your arms on a ball will add the element of instability, making your core work harder to stabilize your body.

The plank can also be done one-side at a time, as seen below.
Ask anyone who has done a side plank and they will tell you it’s harder than the front plank! Side plank set up and execution are simple as well. Place forearm on floor and make sure elbow is under your shoulder. Place one leg on top of the other and raise hips. Again, a simple looking move, but very effective. Try adding some side planks to your routine.

As mentioned before, there are several variations of the plank. My personal favorite “AB” exercise is the stability ball roll out. You are essentially rolling into a modified plank position. Here is the roll out.

The set up for the roll out is simple. Kneel on a mat, or soft floor, and place hands on stability ball. This is the start and finish position. Slowly and under control, roll out onto the ball.

There are several variations of the roll out as well, so only go as far as you can, comfortably. Once you roll out, try to pull yourself back to the finish position, keeping your hips and shoulders in line. I recommend mastering the front and side planks before you attempt the roll out.

The plank (and its variations) will strengthen your core and save your spine from unnecessary flexion. Try adding planks into your routine, and scrap those traditional crunches from the floor.

Oh yeah, if you don’t think you can get a “six pack,” doing planks think again!

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon Smith C.S.C.S
http://www.golfrite.com/
http://www.brandonsmithgolffit.blogspot.com/

Try This

2009-03-30T08:35:00.002-04:00

I just tried this workout this morning and it only took five minutes!! It was killer and I know you will like it too.

Here are the rules:- Spend 30 seconds on each exercise (set a timer if possible)

- Do as many reps as you can in 30 seconds. If you can't go anymore,just hold the exercise at the halfway point.
- Do not rest between exercises.
- Keep going till 5 minutes is up.
- Count your total reps and try to beat it in the future!

1) Bodyweight Squat
2) Kneeling OR Close-grip OR Decline Pushups
3) Reverse Lunges OR 1-Leg Hip Extensions
4) Spiderman Climb OR Mountain Climbers
5) Jumping Jacks

Print that out and do your workout anywhere you want!

For more of the "Big 5 Fat Burning Workouts", get the full program
here for less than the price of lunch at Subway:
http://golfingfit.turbulence.hop.clickbank.net/?page=0508

Remember, doing something is better than nothing!

Brandon Smith
Brandon Smith's Golf Fitness

The Last "C" Plus a Bonus!

2009-03-27T11:15:00.002-04:00

Concentration

The last of my essential “C’s” of training is Concentration. Concentration is vital to playing better golf and having productive workouts. If you play tournament golf, concentration is must. If you want to break 100 for the first time, concentration is a must. If you want to make progress and see results from your training, concentration is a must.

Here are some keys to better concentration while working out.

1. Don’t have your cell phone anywhere near you! If you are expecting an important call or email, working might not be a high priority. Take the call, then shut the phone off and dedicate time to your workout.
2. Give yourself the proper time to workout. If you’re a busy person, you might have to workout in the early morning hours, like me. Try to find a time that will give you the best chance to succeed. Don’t try to “sneak” away to the gym for a workout if you are busy at work. Your time will be unproductive and your mind will be elsewhere.
3. If you’re in the gym, ignore the T.V. newspapers, magazines and chatty gym employees. Get in and turn everything off around you. If you only have 30 minutes, use them!
4. Don’t read emails or open snail mail, like bills, before your workout. Again, your focus will be on “what else” you could be doing, rather than what you “should” be doing.
5. Hire a strength coach to keep you on track. Working out is valuable time, any for many, time is at a premium. A coach will keep you focused and make great use of your time.

Simply put, to see results in any aspect of golf or fitness, you must concentrate on the task at hand. In golf you must concentrate on your set-up, alignment and swing. While working out you need to focus on what muscles are “firing” and concentrate on proper technique at all times. Loose focus for a minute and you leave the door open for injury or a bad shot, which could turn a good round into a nightmare.

If you can follow my 3 “C’s”, (Commitment, Core, Concentration) you will see great results on the course, and with your personal fitness.

The key to the three C’s, starts with commitment. If you don’t have the commitment, it will be impossible to make gains. You can’t work on your core strength one day, and then take 4 days off. It all starts with commitment.

Once you set a schedule and commit to it, your core strength and concentration will improve. “This domino effect” also leads to a secret “C”!!

The secret “C” is confidence! Once all three essential “C’s” fall into place you will have much more confidence. This new found confidence will permeate all aspects of your life, from how you feel about yourself to how you perform on the golf course!

The bottom line is, if you stick to the “C’s” you will “Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better.”

Stay committed,

Brandon Smith C.S.C.S

How do you bet against Tiger?

2009-03-25T12:54:00.003-04:00

How do you bet against Tiger? It's easy, you DON'T!

While I was doing my ultra-intense golf workout this morning, I was thinking about how terrible I am when it comes to picking winners, top ten's, top 25's...hell, even top 50's!!

This week I'm going to change it up a little. I don't think this approach has ever been taken ans it's boarder line earth shaking.

I'm picking Tiger to win. If his putter heats up, game over, he wins. So with that said, here's my "real" pick.

I'm going to pick Charles Howell III to finish FIFTH! Not 2nd, 3rd or even 4th (sorry Chuck).

All my research shows that long hitters do well at Bay Hill. Charles Howell III has packed on 20 lbs (he must read my fitness blog!) and has been playing well. A fifth place finish would be great for Charles and would give me some much needed FedEx-Cup points!

Let's go Chuck!!

P.S. please don't remind me of how Furyk tanked last week!

The CORE C

2009-03-22T17:06:00.003-04:00

The second essential C to training is "CORE"

I know you've heard the term “core” over and over again, but do you really know where it is? Do you think it's the “6 pack abs” section of your body? Do you do crunches to train your core?

I define the “Core” as the area of your body from mid-thigh all the way up to just below your chest. Wrap that section all around your body and your core consists of: mid-quads,hamstrings, hips, glutes, all stomach muscles, lower and mid back. That's a big section, and consists of much more than the magazine cover “six pack”. The core is responsible for creating and storing energy, allowing our bodies to move on a stable foundation.

The core has been studied for years by many and it's recently been determined that the worst exercise we can do to strengthen it is crunches. So that makes us all guilty of improper and unsafe training. Doing crunches involves flexing the spine. For golfers, this is not recommended, especially if you exhibit poor posture. Doing crunches from the floor will only reinforce bad posture! As you know, I believe posture is the most important fitness element for good golf. What can you do instead of crunches? Well, I'm glad you asked! Through study, it has also been determined that the core is best utilized when it's used to resist rotation. Golfers everywhere must be scratching their heads over this one! Isn't rotation crucial to golf? When you train your core to resist rotation, you are actually going to be able to generate more power. I know, more head scratching. As golfers, you want to create what's called “stored elastic energy”. The more stable you can be while rotating in your back swing, the more energy you can create. More stored elastic energy equals more power!
The perfect exercise for training the Core is the plank. Here is an example:

The plank is pretty basic in execution, but is also very challenging. You want to keep your elbows under your shoulders and set your feet in a push up position. Lift your body off the floor and try to maintain a “flat back” position. Try to hold for 15-20 seconds if you are a beginner and don't hold for more than one minute, even if you are advanced.
There are many variations of the plank, but this is the basic starting position. Master this position before trying a more advanced progression.

Oh yeah, for all you “six pack” guys and gals out there, you can achieve the magazine cover look doing planks. Try them next time you workout and ditch those crunches.

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon Smith C.S.C.S

Transitions to Win

2009-03-18T14:30:00.002-04:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah....I know. I flat out stink when it comes to this. Well, this is a new week and new event for me. there is hope!
Pretty good field this week for the Transitions Championship. The way this season has gone, it's any one's ball game.
I'm ready for a win with Jim Furyk. He has been playing well and finished 3rd at a difficult Doral course.
With my luck Rod Pampling or Charley Hoffman will come out of the wood work and steal one from me, but I'm sticking with Furyk.
Put it in the books, I'm getting a win this week!

Leave a comment with your pick....let's see how well you do.....tough guy!

The Essential C's

2009-03-16T17:01:00.002-04:00

Over the last few months I've been observing and listening to my clients. They come from all walks of life and each of them has a ton going on. After awhile I began developing what I call, the essential “C's, based on what I saw in my clients. Review these often.
Here is the first of the "Essential C's"

Commitment

You can't do anything well without commitment. This applies to everything, golf, fitness & life.
Why do diets fail? Why do you go to the gym for a week straight, then take three months off? Why do you constantly start and stop programs? It's all about commitment. I know that life and busy schedules can get in the way of sticking to a schedule, but if you truly want to see physical results and improve your golf game, you have to make the time and commit to it. Even if you can only workout twice per week, commit to it!
In my case, I have committed to waking up at 5:30 every morning and doing a 30-40 minute workout, and I hate waking up early! After looking at my schedule, I determined that the only time I had to workout was early AM. I struggled to wake up for the first week or so, but I managed. I actually put a little reminder note next to my alarm clock so every time I hit snooze I would feel that note and get up. They say “21” days makes a habit. I agree. I'm now up everyday, no problem. I complete my workout and get ready for my day. I also find that I have a lot more energy and actually look forward to the next day's workout.
If you want to improve your golf game, you better have commitment. If you want to play this game on a higher level, you must practice and let nothing stand in your way. I've had a bunch of kids tell me that they want to play golf professionally, yet they don't practice in the off-season or stick to a workout plan. I know high school athletes have a lot going on with college applications, home work and being a teen, but you still need to commit. Wake up an extra 20 minutes early and work on your flexibility, or turn off the T.V. at night and do a 20 minute body weight circuit workout.
There are plenty of things you can do to get closer to your goals. Leave a note on your alarm clock or circle a date on the calender. Set a goal and achieve it. You can't look back and say “if only I started this three years ago.” You can only look forward and take small steps toward your big goal, even if that goal is to break 100 playing golf or losing 5 pounds.
The easiest way to start is to find a professional to help you with a workout program, diet plan or practice regiment, and COMMIT to it. I promise you will see results.

Leave a comment with your personal success stories or tell me what your next short term goal is!

Stay Motivated,
Brandon
Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Pick a Winner

2009-03-11T09:58:00.005-04:00

This is the only winner I've been picking lately! I flat out stink at trying to pick the winner of a PGA Tour event.
With that said, we enter the WGC-CA Championship, with the strongest field of the season. Tiger is back at Doral, which he owns, and the other 9 of the top 10 are playing as well. This is the first stroke play event of the season that features the top ten in world ranking! Yeah, like I can pick a winner this week!!
If Tiger finishes lower than 27th and Sergio wins, we have a new Number One in the world rankings, so I'm calling upset!!! Sergio wins and Tiger gets knocked out of the number one spot.
At least it will make for some good T.V. on Sunday!

Wish me luck this week!

Brandon

Body Weight Basics

2009-03-09T16:05:00.003-04:00

Many of you have asked me how to start a strength program. You tell me that you have limited time, and limited access to equipment. I say "No Problem."
I highly encourage anyone who is interested in beginning a training program to visit their physician first!
The best way to start a home program is to begin with simple body weight exercises.
Body weight exercises can be done anywhere at anytime, with limited or no equipment. Body weight exercises can be varied in many ways to increase the difficulty of the movement, as you progress.
Here are my top five favorite body weight exercises:

1.Squats-lower body strength and hip flexibility
2.Push ups-upper body (chest, shoulders) strength and core stability
3.Front Planks/Side Planks-core stability
4.Pull ups-upper body (back, lats)
5.Burpees-great total body conditioning

You should have no excuses when it comes to body weight exercise. Do them anywhere, anytime and you will improve. For more information on these body weight exercises, and many more, please make sure you visit strengthcoach.com

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon

It's almost here!

2009-03-08T15:18:00.003-04:00

For those of us living in the North, Northeast, or anywhere else that has snow, don't worry. Spring is almost here!
I know for a fact that most of you have not been preparing to get outside and play a new season of golf. You haven't found a great place to hit some balls or work on your putting, and I'm sure most of you haven't even thought about getting in better condition!
Don't worry, it's not too late.
You can start a great conditioning program anywhere and at anytime. There are a ton of great resources out their that can help you out. Unfortunately, there are many awful sites on line with terrible information. Beware!!
I have two excellent links for you to check out, if you have no time or money to hire a personal coach (left side bar).
One is strengthcoach.com. This is a great resourse filled with the best strength coaches in the world (yeah, I'm on there!) with articles and video to get you going.
The other is called Turbulence Training. This is a great program that you can put into play with no equipment or gym membership necessary. I personally use some of the TT programs. TT also has a great nutrition program to get you started.
Please do yourself a favor and check these out. Getting started is easier than you think!

Move Better, Feel Better, Play Better

Brandon

Working Out is a Waste of Time

2009-03-05T09:14:00.005-05:00

Is this you? Please don't tell me it is!

Why do you spend 45-60 minutes wasting your valuable gym time? D0 you actually like doing "Cardio?"

I say "wasting your gym time" because that's exactly what about 99% of you are doing at the gym (or at home).

How have your results been doing slow, boring, mind numbing "cardio" workouts? Do you even know why you are doing cardio workouts? Is it because most chain gyms are overrun with cardio equipment, or is it because that's what everyone else in the gym is doing? Does your personal trainer stand next to the treadmill for 30 minutes while you walk, or jog? Are you actually paying this person!

If you really have no idea why you are doing cardio, or if you want a better way to get results in less time, keep reading. If you love spending a lot of time on the treadmil, God bless and have fun.

Due to popular demand, world-famous trainer Craig Ballantyne, author of the best-selling program, Turbulence Training, has FINALLY unlocked the vault to ALL of his world-famous fat loss, musclebuilding, and bodyweight workout programs. And he's practically giving them away for less than 10 bucks!

No matter what your goal, he has a program to help you. If you want to do circuits, you'll find it. If you want to use kettlebells and bodyweight exercises, you can do that too. Want to workout in 10-12 minutes? There's a Turbulence Training program that does it! You'll never set foot on a cardio machine again.

But here's my favorite program, it's called "Just Say NO to Cardio"and you can get it for only $9.95. Heck, that's less than a day pass at most gyms!

Try these programs Now. What do you have to lose....another 45 minutes on the treadmil??

http://golfingfit.turbulence.hop.clickbank.net/?page=justsaynotocardio

Let me know how it goes, and please don’t do your boring cardio routine again!

Brandon Smith

http://golfingfit.turbulence.hop.clickbank.net/?page=justsaynotocardio

Classic Pick

2009-03-04T12:40:00.004-05:00

This week the PGA Tours heads east to Florida for The Honda Classic.

I'm feeling very confident this week as I managed to do well in the WCG-Accenture Match Play. Not to brag, but I did pick Paul Casey to make the finals.

This week has another very strong field, with the world #2 player and many of the world's top 20 playing.

I was thinking of Stewart Cink, coming off a strong showing in match play,or even Sergio. In the end I'm stuck on two players. One is tour rookie Webb Simpson, the other is tour veteran, Mark Calcavecchia.

Webb Simpson has done nothing but play very, very well so far on tour, and he has a pretty cool name too! He already has a couple top tens and should fair well in FLorida. Mark Calcavecchia has played the Honda Classic over 20 times, has several top tens and has won it twice. I think the "bear trap" will be to much for Webb.

Because of the Classic nature of this event, I'm putting my hard earned money down on Tour veteran Mark Calcavecchia..... He's a Classic, much like the Honda!

Seek and Destroy

2009-03-02T11:50:00.004-05:00

SEEK AND DESTROY

Not only is seek and destroy the title of a classic Metallica song, the greatest band in the world, but it is also what you should be doing every year, as part of a self assessment for both your on and off course performance.

The off-season is the perfect time to review your golf stats (everyone should keep stats) from last season and see what part of your game needs improvement. Once you identify the weakest part of your game, go practice! Seek and Destroy!

The same is true of what I like to call your "Physical" game. Visit a strength coach and have a physical assessment done. Let a qualified professional find out what may be a limiting factor for you on the golf course, causing poor scores and frustrating rounds.

Do you get tired after the 10th hole, are you sore for days after a weekend of golf, do you have trouble playing consecutive days, do you get the same injuries year after year?

If any of these are "yes", get an assessment done and destroy the weak link in your physical game. You will feel better mentally and physically, and you will most certainly play better!

How great could your game be if you were playing with a healthy body?? Would you score better or hit it further?.......I thought so!

Find out by getting an assessment from a pro. In the words of the mighty James Hetfield....... ................SEEK AND DESTROY.............................

25 Random Things

2009-02-24T17:50:00.001-05:00

There is a massive movement going on in the social networking world called 25 random things. Buckle up, because here come 25 random things about me.

25 Random Things About Me

1. My wife is awesome. She makes me laugh everyday.
2. I actually love my job. I run a golf company and help hundreds clients reach their fitness and golf goals….how cool is that!
3. I can’t sit still for 10 minutes.
4. I’m a full blown golf-a-holic. I think it’s a real disease!
5. I’m not afraid to admit that I watch Ellen every night with my wife.
6. I will do anything for my friends…no questions asked.
7. I really want my brother to finally find something he likes and succeed at it.
8. I refuse to watch the news…it’s to negative.
9. My ultimate celebrity golf group would consist of: Tiger Woods (obviously) Mario Lemieux (my favorite hockey player) Derek Jeter (he will go down in history as the greatest Yankee of all time). I would also like to play golf with Donald Trump, Alice Cooper, Dave Mustaine, Patrick Warburton, Natalie Gulbis, Wayne Gretzky and the list goes on…
10. My Mother’s nickname is slots because she hit a penny slot machine jackpot at the casino! She’s awesome!
11. My Brother’s best man speech at my wedding was the best speech I’ve ever heard.
12. Watching my Dad play baseball at New York Yankee fantasy camp was one of the most fun moments I’ve had. I wish I could afford to send him again.
13. I think Jerry Seinfeld IS funny in person.
14. My favorite movies are stupid comedies like Super Troopers, Caddyshack, National Lampoons Vacation, Beerfest, Superbad…..I think you get the point. Horror movies are my second favorite.
15. My friend Amiee has the greatest laugh I’ve ever heard. She should be in T.V. shows as the person who laughs in the background!
16. I love to play guitar. I can’t read a lick of music and I’m pretty sure I’m tone deaf, but I love playing anyway. Real loud, of course.
17. Speaking of music, Country makes me cringe! LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL!!
18. Speaking of heavy metal, “Old” Metallica is where it started for me. I’ve seen them live well over ten times.
19. I only own one suit.
20. I think Two-and-a Half Men is the funniest show on television, hands down.
21. I try to learn something new about golf and business everyday.
22. Few things are more satisfying to me than seeing the clients I train achieve their goals.
23. I enjoy watching the Three Stooges every Sunday.
24. I want to Putt like Tiger.
25. I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth and try to only surround myself with quality people.

Almost March Madness

2009-02-24T11:32:00.005-05:00

Here are my picks for the final four at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Justin Leonard & Paul Casey.

Stricker is playing well, Leonard has the best birdie average on tour and Casey is a tough competitor, but I think Tiger is going to take this one!

Enjoy the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and fill out your brackets!

Party's Over!

2009-02-20T10:26:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note here:

The party is over on the PGA TOUR!

Tiger makes his long-awaited return on Feb 25th at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship (where he won last year).

I'm not saying he will repeat as champion in his first event back, but the free ride is over for all the first time winners and young players (most are over rated anyway) on the tour. Those guys are great, but Tiger is that much better. He is the greatest competitor in all pro sports and with his return, the natural pecking order will be restored.

Can't wait to see what he does this season!

P.S. I'm betting on 2 majors!!

Oh Canada

2009-02-17T18:19:00.003-05:00

This week's winner on the PGA Tour will be Mike Weir. My reasoning is simple.....

Weir is one of a handful of guys on the PGA Tour who can speak hockey and speak it well. Obviously he can't speak as well as Don Cherry (few can) but he is a hockey guy none-the-less.

I'm a hockey guy, Mike Weir is a hockey guy; so it only makes good sense that I pick him this week. I haven't picked a winner on tour yet, let alone a top ten, so this reasoning makes perfect sense!

Weir has a good record in the past at Riviera Country Club and is playing well so far this season. I still don't see Phil doing much of anything and I don't think Padraig Harrington will contend until the majors begin.

So, from one hockey guy to another...Let's go Mike!

Pebble Beach

2009-02-11T13:06:00.003-05:00

Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. At least I got the name right! As I've seen thus far, I'm terrible at picking winners on tour! So, this week, I'm picking Bill Murray to win!!

I don't even know if he's playing, but I'm picking him anyway! If he can caddie for the Dalai Lama and receive total consciousness, I'm sure he'll do fine at Pebble beach.

I'm not a fan of watching celebrities play golf. I don't care if Kevin Costner is paired with Kevin James, so I'll be watching Davis Love III again this week. He gave me a good opening round last week, but slowly fell off the planet each day thereafter. So, it's in the books, I'm picking Davis Love III this week!

Enjoy this weeks tournament...especially if you have HDTV! There is nothing better than watching golf in HD!

Brandon

I missed....Again!

2009-02-03T11:29:00.003-05:00

Ok, I know. I have missed two cuts out of four tournaments so far! Not very good, but I feel pretty good about my pick this week.

Again, the field is light in the top ten player department, with only 2 guys in the field; Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington.

This field, much like last week, is full of young- up-and comers on tour. With that said, I'm picking an old veteran of the PGA TOUR, Davis Love III. The last time he won the Buick was in 1996, so he's due for a win!

Yes, the Buick is in Phil's backyard and all the experts are picking him to win, but I'm not worried about him contending. The way he hit it last week, I wouldn't be surprised if he really did hit one in his back yard!

So, look for Davis to get me a win and move me up the FED EX Cup ladder.

Here's looking forward to Thursday's openning round!

God I love this game!!

Crazy Long!!

2009-01-31T20:49:00.003-05:00

Want to hit it real, real far, like these guys?!

Check out this new video I found while searching the web.

Click Here! Scroll through the entire page for other short golf video tips!

Have a great weekend.

What's in the bag?

2009-01-29T13:30:00.002-05:00

I receive a ton of questions regarding home equipment and equipment that can be brought on the road.

Here are some examples of space saving, economical equipment choices:

Golf Equipment

A good home gym no longer requires a treadmill! You can get a great workout without the use of big, space devouring equipment. If you want to get in shape for golf; here are some equipment recommendations for you.

-Foam Roller (white log leaning on bag) In my book, this is the number one piece of equipment you need in your house! A foam roller can typically be purchased for around 20 bucks and the benefits are plentiful! This device is used for self-myofacial release and message. Generally regarded as a great recovery tool, the foam roller can be used before and after a long round of golf.

-Bands and Tubing- One of the most versatile pieces of equipment you can own. Bands come in different resistances and can be used just about anywhere. A typical band will run you anywhere from 14-20$

-Stability Ball- Another versatile piece of equipment that everyone should have. Stability balls come in different sizes, generally corresponding to height. A good stability ball will cost around 28 dollars.

-Medicine ball-A great tool that can be used for a ton of exercises. Med balls come in many different weights and sizes. Price will fluctuate with weight, but a five lb ball will be about 30$.

If you just want the basics, this is where I would start. A home gym can always expand with pieces like slide boards, dumbbells, weight vests, balances devices and so on.

You do not need a gym membership to get into shape. I recommend learning some basic body weight exercises and exercises that you can do at home or on the road with minimal equipment. Check out my fitness secrets tab in the sidebar for great body weight routines.

Also, try out strengthcoach.com right now for only a dollar! This is a great site for tons of insight and recommendations from the country's best strength coaches and trainers.

FBR "WIDE" Open

2009-01-27T09:59:00.004-05:00

O.K. The PGA Tour plays on this week at the FBR Open in Arizona. They should re-name this event the FBR "WIDE" Open, as it will be anyone's ball game! This is a very good field at a very exciting course.

We have 4 of the top ten guys in the world rankings and we have the 2009 debut of Phil Mickelson and Stuart Appleby. Mix in FED EX Cup point leader Zach Johnson and recently buffed up Charles Howell III and this becomes a very tough tournament to pick.

Anything can happen down the stretch at the par 3 sixteenth party hole. This could be a make or break hole for a guy with a one shot lead on Sunday. Although Phil will be the fan favorite, I'm not taking him as my pick, even with his 2nd place finish last year. I'm going to once again pick Camilo Villegas to win. I feel he is going to win multiple events this season, and this would be a great one to get first.

There will be plenty of drunk college girls cheering Camilo on; I know I would play well with that kind of support!

As a fan, this is a great event, so If you need to get in touch with me, I'll be on my couch my all weekend glued to the set.

Cheers,

Brandon

I'm Back!

2009-01-26T10:52:00.003-05:00

I'm back from Vegas and what a trip it was! The golf was excellent!! I played two courses that I would recommend to anyone; Royal Links and Bali Hai. I will be back to play them again!

I played well, but more importantly, I felt good physically, after not playing since October. It must be that great fitness program. I'm on! Now that I'm back in the frozen tundra of Massachusetts, I have to wait about 2 more months to play again, so It looks like I have plenty of time to work on my "Physical Game". I really believe that being in good physical condition makes playing the great game of golf a lot easier.

To get started on your own golf fitness program designed by me, CLICK HERE. I promise to get you moving better, feeling better, playing better in no time!! What are you waiting for?

Who's looking out for ya!

2009-01-20T17:02:00.005-05:00

Bodyweight Workout Secrets

Are you sick of how busy the gym is at this time of year?Do you want to use bodyweight exercises to burn fat and workout in the comfort of your own home? If so, then Craig Ballantyne, creator of the Turbulence Training Fat Loss System, has some powerful bodyweight secrets for you.On Saturday, Craig Ballantyne held the 1st-Ever Turbulence TrainingSeminar for an exclusive audience in a secret location in Toronto, where he showed TT users - from as far away as California - his new bodyweight interval training methods. First, he shared his "patented" fat burning bodyweight circuit formula. By combining 8 exercises in a very specific manner, the TTBodyweight Circuits give you...

- the same fat burning boost as interval training

- the same cardiovascular benefits of long, slow cardio

- improvements in your "core" strength

Craig even has some sample bodyweight workout videos up on his site CLICK HERE. (In fact, one of the men at the seminar was a firefighter, and he was raving to Craig about how the bodyweight exercises improved his core strength so that he was able to wear his firefighter gear without getting a sore back. He was thrilled and amazed by the power of bodyweight exercises - and he was a former bodybuilder, too!)But the big TT secret Craig Ballantyne let out of the bag was his new focus on "Timed Bodyweight Intervals". The seminar attendees discovered all of Craig's unique "timed" fat burning bodyweight circuits and supersets that could be done in short bursts, often paired with another non-competing bodyweight exercise to make things even more intense. You'll find out more about Timed Bodyweight Intervals in the TT February Workout of the Month. I can't wait for you to give those a try! After his presentation, he was overwhelmed by requests for theTurbulence Training Bodyweight DVD's, and he made a special offerto those folks in attendance. But he also wants to extend this special offer to you. Go this page to save $100 on the Ultimate Bodyweight Fat Burning DVD Solution:

Your friend, Brandon

Water you doing this season?

2009-01-20T09:45:00.007-05:00

Hydration

I get questions all the time about water, although, most questions are about staying out of it while on the course! It's the middle of winter where I live, so I think this is the perfect time for an article about hydration.....At least it will get me thinking Spring!

Water is the most abundant, yet overlooked, substance in the body. Your body's fluid status is a fragile balance, so much so, experts rank water second, only to oxygen, as essential for life. Water plays a vital role in all bodily processes by providing a universal medium for chemical reactions, lubrication, nutrient delivery, waste disposal, heat dispersion and temperature regulation. Exercise significantly increases fluid loss which can reach levels of up to 4 liters per hour during heavy work-outs. A loss of body mass through dehydration as little as 2% significantly impairs performance (Armstrong et al 1985) which emphasizes the importance of the maintenance of hydration, especially during exercise. But how does dehydration affect the body? And how does the body recognize it has a problem with fluid loss? Blood plasma is 92% water, and therefore, dehydration reduces the volume of blood in the body which makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body and deliver oxygen to working muscles. Exercise feels harder as your body's systems aren't working as efficiently as they do with good hydration. As dehydration progresses, nausea and vomiting may be experienced and by 5% reduction in total body weight, performance has dropped by 30%. Fluid loss greater than 5% creates weakness, confusion and dizziness leading ultimately to coma and death if fluid isn't replaced immediately. That a little scarier than dumping a shot into the drink! The World Health Organization recommends drinking 6 to 8 large glasses of water a day, but this is only to maintain normal fluid balance. This does not take into account the extra fluid demands of exercise and playing 18 holes in the heat. Drink at least 8oz of water before exercise or your tee time to ensure fluid levels are up. Continue to take in as much water as you can during exercise or activity. To the majority of recreational exercisers thirst is viewed as an indicator that they need to drink or they will become dehydrated. In fact, thirst is a sign that the person is already dehydrated; also the thirst mechanism tends to be depressed during exercise which increases the level of dehydration before thirst is sensed. This is why fluid replacement should be considered before, during and after physical activity rather than relying on thirst to determine when the body needs fluid. If exercise lasts for less than an hour the body should have sufficient electrolyte and carbohydrate supplies to maintain optimal performance. Therefore, for short periods of exercise water is just as good as sports drinks. Exercise that lasts for over an hour (GOLF) a drink with electrolytes and carbohydrates will aid performance by supplying additional energy. Contrary to popular opinion a relatively small amount of sweat is salt (0.2 to 0.4%) therefore unless the climate is extremely hot or the activity is over an hour in duration, additional salt should not be necessary. There is always a tendency to think that water is plain and that additional ingredients will improve taste. However, in actual fact, water is the best fluid you can choose for exercise of an hour or less in duration. If you think water is just water then think again. It is worth considering what type of water to use.

Types of Water

Spring: Comes from an underground source and must meet Drinking Water in Containers Regulations and can be treated if necessary.Purified: Can be drawn from any source and can be artificially processed and chemically treated to make it drinkable.Tap: chemically purified and on average, recycled 9 times. When bottled, tap water may be termed 'purified' or 'table' water.

Practical Recommendations for Fluid Replacement

The best way to stay hydrated is to follow a schedule for hydrating your body, which will date back to a few hours before your tee time, but needs to be followed• Begin drinking fluids on a regular basis, 2-3 hours before your activity.• Drink 250ml 15 minutes before exercise or tee off• Drink 250ml every 15 minutes during exercise, or sip your water bottle regularly during play.

So, looks like we don't have to avoid water on the course after all!

References:American College of Sports Medicine (1996) advise on fluid intake. Armstrong et al (1985) , Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, 17: 456-461Davis & Brewer (1997), Journal of Sports Sciences, 15(1):44-45

Quick Update

2009-01-19T09:31:00.004-05:00

Ok, that makes back-to-back weeks I've finished T12 on tour. I'm threatening to crack the top ten! I have a thin 122 FED EX CUP points, so I'm hoping my pick this week can help out.

This week The PGA Tour heads to PGA West at La Quinta. I'm going to keep it simple this week and pick the favorite, Anthony Kim, to win. He had a third place finish last season, so I'm looking for big things this week from Mr. Kim.

I won't be watching much of the action as I'll be golfing in Vegas! Wish me luck.

Tune in tomorrow as I will be delivering you a great article that should help you on the course!

Who Can You Trust?

2009-01-17T20:35:00.003-05:00

It seems that every week a new "personal training" company offers a certification course that you can complete over a weekend, or some guy who plays pretty well says he is a "golf pro".
Many of these training companies and better golfers are looking for a fast buck and will certify or teach anyone who's check clears!
Before I go on, I want to stress that I'm not a personal trainer and I do not even like that classification. Loren Seagrave (terrific track and sprint coach) said to me- You "train" animals and Educate people. I have not forgotten that message. I don't want to train people; I would rather educate you about what I'm doing and why.
O.K. back to who- do- you- trust thing.
Here are a couple of things to look for before you select someone to help you with your fitness and golf game.

FITNESS: Education & Experience- This is huge. Questions you should ask are, What level of education does this person have? They should possess at least a 4 year degree in a field such as: Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Physiology or Biomechanics. How many years have they been in the fitness industry and have they ever worked with golfers? Working with golfers is important, but it is not the be all-end all in your decision making process. What age clients have they worked with? Not a huge red flag, but make sure the person has experience working with kids if you plan on sending your children to them! Is this person likable? This one is important because you will be spending a lot of time with your fitness specialist once you hire them. Can they carry a conversation if you want to talk, and can they shut their mouth if you don't want to talk! What type of certification do they have? I feel some certs are good, but I would look at their education first. Most certifications just show that you can pass a test! Watch out for the "Certification-in-A-Box" type of trainer.
GOLF: How many years has the instructor been teaching? What is the instructors philosophy on the golf swing? Is the instructor a member of the PGA? What is the instructors playing background? Can the instructor play the game at a high level? Does the instructor seem likable? Can this instructor communicate the golf swing to you? Watch out for the "guy at the range" trying to solicit lessons. Chances are, he is not a member of the PGA.

Basically you need to be specific in your question asking. If you do not like the answers you are given, look elsewhere. If you are looking for Golf & Fitness help, make sure the person in question can give you a good reason to hire them!

SHHHHH DON"T TELL ANYONE!

2009-01-17T10:39:00.002-05:00

SHHHHHHHHHHHH! I have a BIG secret for you!

If you really want to make a personal change and feel better, unlock the mystery of fitness and
Check out the fitness secrets link located on the sidebar!

You'll be glad you did!!

Getting Fit Helps Get Fit

2009-01-14T15:06:00.003-05:00

Getting properly fitted golf equipment is an essential component to improving your game. I highly recommend every golfer, regardless of ability, get fitted for clubs.
Now, before you rush down to your local golf shop there is one step you need to take first. GET FIT! Getting in better shape will help your golf swing dramatically; and help determine what clubs will most benefit your game, giving you the best chance to improve.
If you increase your flexibility and range of motion you will be able to produce more club head speed and ball speed (increased club head speed and ball velocity = more distance!). Increasing club head speed and ball speed will have an impact on what swing weight, shaft flex and club head size your driver and irons should be. Working to improve your posture will affect the overall length and lie angle of your clubs, hopefully improving center face contact.
Advances in technology and golf equipment have evolved so fast; you can literally “buy” a better golf game…..for a high price! So why not add value, and get the most out of your new equipment purchase. Develop a better “physical game”!
As always, seek out a qualified professional to help you get “FIT”.

The Tank!

2009-01-13T14:36:00.003-05:00

Week 2 on Tour.

The PGA Tour rolls on this week at the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club. My pick to win is K.J Choi. Choi won this event last year and is looking to defend his title. I like Choi on this course. Waialae is not overly long, just over 7000 yards, and has an emphasis on accuracy. This is a good course for Choi's game. Last week I picked Camilo Villegas to win the Mercedes-Benz Championship, but he placed T12, giving me 60.67 Fed Ex Cup points. My sleeper pick this week is Bubba Watson, who can simply over power a course of this length (if he has any accuracy what so ever!) Well, week two gives me another chance to register a win, or at least a top ten! I'll be watching in primetime ( I love watching golf at night!).

Be on the look out for a new fitness tip later this week. If you need something to hold you over, click on fitness secrets in the sidebar!!

In the Books

2009-01-12T09:11:00.003-05:00

Ok, the first PGA Tour event is in the books. Geoff Ogilvy took the top spot; I picked Camilo Villegas to win, but he finished T12. I almost had a top ten in my first week picking winners. That won't get me far in Vegas, but not bad! Villegas had a tough opening round with the putter, but didn't give up. He might be my pick this week....Who knows!!

Next up is the first full field event on tour, The Sony Open. Stay tuned, I'll have my pick to win and my sleeper pick by Wednesday.

Check out my survey question in the sidebar!

See ya Tomorrow.

Brandon

PGA UPDATE

2009-01-11T14:05:00.004-05:00

Well, today is the final round of the PGA season opener, Mercedes-Benz Championship. My pick to win, Camilo Villegas, is still in the hunt! I'll be watching all the action from sunny Maui in snow covered New England!! Let's go Camilo!

Move Better. Part 2

2009-01-10T11:15:00.010-05:00

Move Better. Part 2

As discussed in part one, the first step to feeling and playing better is to move your body better. If you lack flexibility and/or range of motion, it is difficult to achieve strong, fundamental positions in your golf swing. We have identified 2 problem areas, hips and shoulders, that are usually tight and lack the necessary range of motion, causing you to play less than your best golf!

Each joint in your body has a specific job to do. Strength coach Mike Boyle calls this a "joint by joint" approach to training. This approach basically states that each joint has specific job to do. For example, if your hips do not move properly, then the structure above them (lower back, in this case) will begin to assume the roll of the hips and create motion. We do not want the lower back doing the work of the hips!

Golf is a game of movement. Simple stretches and exercises can be performed daily to achieve better movement. Below are some easy movements you can incorporate into your routine today.

Here is an easy hip movement to start with. This is called a leg swing. As the name implies, all you have do is swing your leg! There are some important steps to follow, however. First, you want to stand arm length away from a wall. Your hands should be placed about shoulder width and height. Once in position, lift one foot off the ground. Pull your foot up toward your shin, and keep it in that position through the movement. Begin the movement by swinging your leg across your body. Start slowly and gradually progress in speed. Try to let your leg swing as freely as possible, while keeping your core stable. This type of movement is called "active/dynamic" movement. This means we are actively taking our joints through a range of motion.

Another option for flexibility improvement is called "static" stretching. Static stretching is the opposite of "active/dynamic" where we do not move through a range of motion, rather static stretching requires us to hold a position for a given amount of time while tendons, muscles and ligaments are stretched. Below is an example of a static stretch for the hip and glute.An example of active/dynamic movements in the shoulder are arm circles. Arm circles are great to do before a workout or a round of golf. They get blood flowing and bring the shoulders through a range of motion. Start out by making small circles, gradually progressing to bigger circles. Circles are to be done both forward and backward.

These examples are very basic, but will give you a good starting point to continue your movement training.

Remember, the best advice I can ever give is to get assessed by a well qualified Strength and Conditioning coach.

Move Better. Part 1

2009-01-07T11:36:00.004-05:00

Move Better. Part 1

The first step to my 3 part Move Better. Feel Better. Play Better system involves movement. In my mind, ALL golfers are Athletes! I don't care if you play once a month, or 36 holes per day, anytime you swing a golf club you are performing a very athletic move. Yes, John Daly is an athlete! When you swing a club you are asking your body to go from zero to sixty, involving many body parts and many aspects of athleticism. Specific aspects of athleticism in the golf swing include: balance, flexibility, range of motion, power, coordination and strength. Show me one athlete who doesn't possess these traits. Again, John Daly is an athlete and shows tremendous flexibility, coordination and balance on every swing.

To begin working on what I like to call the "physical game" (you have the long game, short game and mental game, right!) you have to start working on how well your body moves. You can't dive right into a program and begin working on strength and power first. Doing this will be counter productive and lead to continued frustration on the course. You might get a little stronger, but you will still be inflexible and immobile. So we have to start with movement. As mentioned before, the first step is to see a qualified Strength & Conditioning coach who can assess your current fitness level and needs. If this is not an option, I recommend you visit strengthcoach.com and sign up! As a member of strength coach.com you will have access to hundreds of articles and videos as well as access to a great community forum filled with the best and brightest coaches in the field! You can easily get to sc.com by clicking on the banner located in the sidebar! See, I'm helping you already!

The first phase of movement is flexibility. Flexibility has become a hot topic in the strength and conditioning field again, and has several components. Many training aids and tools have been developed to assist with flexibility as well. To keep things simple, we are going to focus on two areas first; hips and shoulders. The shoulder is an overlooked body part as it relates to golf, and many amateurs neglect it. The hip is the single most important aspect to keep flexible to ensure proper range of motion (followed very closely by the thoracic spine). If the hip is problematic and does not move properly, then the lower back will be called into action. WE DO NOT WANT THAT! Also, hip tightness is a cause of limited shoulder rotation, and as previously mentioned, rotation is the name of the game!

Check in later for part 2, with more details about hip and shoulder tightness as it relates to the golf swing, and easy corrective exercises you can implement into your program now.

Brandon

Season Opener!

2009-01-06T12:55:00.005-05:00

The 2009 PGA Tour season opener is finally here!

I know this is mainly a golf fitness site, but I'm very excited about the upcoming PGA Tour season opener. This season I'm going to attempt to pick the winner of each tournament, and give you a possible sleeper pick as well. So, let's get right into it!

The PGA Tour starts off with the Mercedes-Benz Championship, being played at the Plantation Course @ Kapalua, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. Not a bad place to be in January, if you're like me and live in a climate better suited for Moose than people! This tournament is only for players who won on Tour last season. The defending champion is Daniel Chopra, who defeated Steve Stricker in playoff. I'm going to come out of the gates swinging and pick Camilo Villegas to win. Why? Well here's the deal. This is Camilo's first time playing in this event, and a lot of first timers have won here. Camilo won twice on tour last season, had 3 second places finishes and 18 top tens; not to mention, he played and competed well in all the majors. Plus, Camilo played college golf for the Florida Gators. He should be jacked up after watching Florida win the national title (yeah, I'm picking Florida too!). As for my sleeper pick, I'm going with J.B Holmes. He can bomb the ball and that will be a big advantage playing in Hawaii.

Well, that's it for now. Who will you pick? I can't wait for April so I can pick Tiger to win The Masters!

Picture Perfect Posture

2009-01-05T12:59:00.003-05:00

Al Czervik did not have picture perfect posture!

Flexibility training will improve and maintain posture. If you can't address the ball properly, how can you make a good, repeatable swing? As I've mentioned before, this is where the assessment process begins. A PGA Professional and a qualified Strength Coach will be able to diagnose this all too common problem. This is step one. Poor posture will inhibit a good shoulder turn, both on the back swing and thru swing. Bad posture can stem from a variety of problems, including muscle weakness and muscle imbalance (which will be discussed in future posts), but flexibility is usually the main culprit. Tightness in the hips inhibits rotation, tightness in the hamstrings inhibits rotation and lack of motion in the thoracic spine inhibits rotation as well.

At GolfRite, one of the most common swing faults we see is lack of rotation. So if rotation is a must have tool, then good flexibility is a must have tool as well.

I can't stress enough how important it is to get yourself and your swing evaluated by professionals. Let's begin with better posture and you will be on track to Moving Better, Feeling Better, Playing Better!

Look forward to talking with you soon,

Brandon

Click the Strengthcoach.com tab (located in sidebar) for tons of information about flexibility!

Two rules of golf fitness

2009-01-04T12:30:00.006-05:00

FOLLOW THESE TWO RULES TO BETTER GOLF!!

RULE NUMBER ONE: Improve your flexibility!

RULE NUMBER TWO: SEE RULE NUMBER ONE!

The number one problem I see with the majority of golfers I work with is poor flexibility: or to much flexibility in the wrong areas! Most golfers think they have good flexibility until they see themselves on video during a golf lesson. FYI- taking a video golf lesson with a qualified PGA instructor is something everyone who wants to improve should be doing! For great info on video lessons click HERE. Two things happen when you see yourself on video. First, you see what your swing actually looks like......not feels like! If you think your swing feels good you better rush out and get a lesson quick, because 9 times out of 10 something is wrong. Don't trust feel. You need to see your swing make lasting improvements. Secondly, when you take a video lesson you SEE where you need flexibility improvement! You might have great flexibility in one area of your swing, but not in another. Another reason why you can't always trust feel. I work with Skip Guss, PGA Professional and former PGA TOUR player. We work together (a strength coach and Golf Pro) to make our clients golf lessons 100% beneficial and informative. We educate and instruct all GolfRite clients for maximum results.

The two most common places for poor flexibility are the hips and thoracic spine (middle to upper back). If you lack flexibility and range of motion in either area it will not doubt have an impact on how far you can rotate, and rotation is the name of the game! I urge everyone who wants more information on all things flexibility to visit strengthcoach.com. This is a tremendous resource for not only strength coaches, but for anyone who wants to arm themselves with the most cutting edge information in the field of physical performance. You can get there easily by clicking the link on the side bar.

Here's to getting more flexibility in your golf swings, If Gumby can be flexible, then so can you.

-Brandon

Golf Fitness with Fitness Generator

2009-01-02T21:14:00.007-05:00

I know, I know, late post (especially late on a Friday night!! I've been working hard all day putting the finishing touches on my fitness generator home page. You HAVE to check this site out! GO HERE now to view. Fitness generator is software that allows a strength coach like me to train anyone...including you...from anywhere in the world! You better hurry up and sign up before you look like these guys!!

Fitness generator is economical and convenient. You can use it in the privacy of your own home, or print your workouts and bring them to the gym! If you really want to get in better golf shape this season and transform your game, then get over to my fitness generator site now and look at all the cool things I can do for you.

Take one more look at the photo before you go:)

New Year, Same Results

2009-01-01T10:58:00.002-05:00

Here we are, New Years Day, 2009! If you're like most people you're hungover!! Just kidding.........well, maybe you are hungover today! Anyway, this is the most notorious time of the year for people to make a change, or have a New Year's resolution. The number one resolution is to GET IN BETTER SHAPE! If you want to improve your golf game and get in better shape this season, then I suggest you first check out strengthcoach.com. Click the link in the sidebar! This is a website loaded with information about getting yourself in shape. An easy way to start getting in shape is to get informed. As a Strength Coach myself, I don't train people, I try to educate people and get them understanding why we are doing certain exercises and how it will benefit not only their golf game, but their everyday life. Strengthcoach.com is a great place to start and you can try it out today for only a dollar! If you want better results this season, the second thing you should do is find a qualified Strength Coach to work with you. I don't care who you are, you need guidance, especially when it comes to working out and starting a program. If you try strengthcoach.com you will be able to find a great trainer, no matter what part of the world you live in. Now that you are informed and have found a well qualified trainer, it's time to get started. Visit this blog frequently for great tips and information to get you in great golf shape for 2009 and achieve great results. Happy New Year!

Brandon

Golf & Fitness?

2008-12-31T14:41:00.003-05:00

Do you really want to get better? If so, you better get used to seeing the words "golf" and "fitness" next to each other. Golfers are an interesting bunch; they will search high and low for the next piece of equipment that will magically transform their game. Golf companies have noticed this too, and market all sorts of game improvement equipment, at a hefty price. They make a profit will you still can't break 100! Yes, some of the gear will help you, for example, "get the ball airborne" or "rescue" you from the rough. The reality is, if you take lessons (recommended, click here for more info) but can not achieve good, fundamental positions in your swing, you will be wasting your time and your instructors time as well....and those new clubs will produce the same old boring results.....a frustrating round of golf. The great Steven Tyler from the massive rock band AEROSMITH once said "if you always do what you always done...you always get what you always got." This line should ring true for golfers who have waste time and hours searching for the magic club, and ignore what I call their "PHYSICAL GAME." This blog is dedicated to educating you about fitness and golf . Your body is the most important piece of equipment you have, and I'm dedicated to getting you moving better, feeling better and PLAYING better! Check back often for fitness tips and articles that will benefit your game immediately.