Golf Instruction Article
On hitting the ball longer for senior golfers

Here's an article I originally wrote for a local newspaper. It addresses Seniors' concerns about losing distance.

More Distance for Seniors
by Mark Blakemore, PGA Professional

         

Learn to hit it longer in person with the author of this article and website at PGAProfessional.com Long Drive Schools Located in the east bay area of San Francisco Or if that's not possible get the author's 4-volume series of paperback books covering the entire game in detail, including "Hitting it Longer." The "Your Golf" series Learn more...

I have been teaching golf for over 15 years and in that time I have given many lessons to seniors. The most common thing that older people seem to want from lessons is more distance. It's typical for people to assume that an inevitable part of aging is the loss of strength, flexibility, and speed, and therefore, a loss of distance. That's true, to some degree, if you have injuries or lead a sedentary lifestyle. But if you stay active the effect of aging can be minimal, and there are many things you can do to increase your distance even if you are getting older.

One thing you can do is to improve your level of fitness (strength, flexibility and endurance). My recommendation for improving strength is to get started, and be consistent, on a weight program at the gym. I see many older people working out in my gym every day, being very consistent and improving their fitness. You don't need to lift weights like a bodybuilder to increase your distance. A general and moderate strength training program will work wonders. There are lots of good fitness trainers to instruct and coach you if you don't know how to get started -- ask around. For improved flexibility (which is even more important than strength) I recommend Yoga. Taking a yoga class will teach you correct breathing and make you feel great too! For endurance the best bet is good old-fashioned walking -- the farther the better. Don't forget, whenever undertaking a new program of exercise make sure your health care professional knows what you're planning to do and has given the OK.

In addition to physical conditioning, golf lessons are important. Lessons will help to make your golf swing simpler, more efficient and more repeatable. Lessons from a quality golf professional will also give you the correct "swing concept," or mental picture and feeling, of the swing. Good mechanics and the right swing concept go a long way toward increasing your distance.

Finally, it's necessary to have equipment that is fit to you personally if you want to maximize your potential. The most crucial ingredients of custom-fit equipment are shaft-flex, lie angle, swing weight and overall weight, club length and grip size. There are other variables that have an impact as well. A golf professional can fit you for a set of clubs in just a few minutes.

Just because you're getting older doesn't automatically mean you're going to hit the ball shorter. Get started on the things I've mentioned and then forget about it. Before you know it, more distance will creep into your game and you'll be hitting it farther than ever. Please feel free to contact me for a lesson if you're in the San Francisco bay area. Or, better yet, enroll in one of my private Long Drive Schools -- they're for everybody.