New Study Finds that Being Healthy is Good For You

by Mulligan Stu on Jun 6, 2008 3:48 PM EDT

Here' s the "no duh" story of the day: A new research study has concluded that being in shape can help you play better golf. Or rather, that being out of shape can cost you strokes.

Does walking the course help you play better golf? Many traditionalists argue that it does. I'm not necessarily a traditionalist (I love tradition when the tradition in question is a good one; otherwise, bring on the new), but everything else being equal, walking rather than riding in a cart can help keep your head in the game, can help with your rhythm, can help you see things on the course better and therefore, maybe, make better choices.

But not if you're a tub of goo. If you're a tub of goo, walking rather than riding is probably just going to wear you out, which is going to start killing your swing. And that's exactly what the new study concluded:

Researchers studied seven recreational golfers, who typically average a score between 80 and 95, who walked while carrying a weighted golf bag during a simulated golf game. The one female and six male golfers walked 6 miles in total in 1-mile increments. Before the first mile, and after each subsequent mile, each player hit 20 tee shots, totaling 140 tee shots for the round.

Researchers found that over time, the golfers were less able to properly transfer weight to their front leg on a swing, resulting in less club head velocity that could affect how far the ball would travel. The study also showed that over time, the angles of the front knee and ankle at the top the swing changed, a development that could affect a shot's accuracy.

Don't let that stop you from walking, though. In fact, walk more. Use your golf game to help you get into better shape. And if you're not in good enough shape now to walk 18 holes comfortably, then walk the front nine and ride the back. If you're playing with partners who insist on a cart, then walk one hole and ride the next, walk and then ride.

Ease into it, improve your conditioning, play better golf in the long run.

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reactions ? Beuller ? Beuller ?

so – what was everybody’s SECOND reaction to this wonderful piece of scientific research ? (good lord – Freud did more case studies than this before concluding that we are all sexual deviants !)

Personally, my second reaction was “I sure hope none of my tax dollars went to fund these rocket scientists…or their institution.”

“I think many golfers are realizing that their bodies are the most important tool they have in the golf swing…” This was my favorite line. “MANY” ?? So the rest of us, however they were definining “many”, are too dumb to know that being in shape is a help to playing better golf and that fatigue is bad ??

These people might end up in Colorado predicting hurricanes. Be afraid – be very afraid.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jun 6, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

researchers from where?

U.S. News & World Report did a less than responsible job not reporting who did the study. Was it a standalone study or part of something larger? The lack of detail suggests the magazine published a PhD candidate’s dissertation.

by dianemarie on Jun 7, 2008 8:14 AM EDT reply actions