Playing against the world’s best golfers on the PGA Tour requires extreme mental and physical conditioning. During the 2009 season, my conditioning allowed me to make the cut in 24 out of 25 tournaments, finish 16th on the PGA Tour’s money list, and represent my country on the victorious U.S. President’s Cup team. To achieve these results and this level of consistency requires that every aspect of my golf game run on all cylinders.
The most notable change that has occurred in professional golf in the past decade is the necessity for players to maximize their physical skill sets. The fitness trailer that travels with the PGA Tour is busier every year as players attempt to maintain or gain an edge over their peers. Since starting to work with my good friend, Dr. Craig Davies, a few years ago, I have paid more attention to the fitness, nutrition, and physical side of my game. During tournament weeks, I make sure to warm up effectively for about 30 minutes prior to both my tournament rounds and pretournament practice sessions. I also make sure to spend the appropriate amount of time each day when I have finished play on my fitness regime and preventive physical therapy. My weekly program during the season is as much about increasing my performance as preventing injuries. As we all know, golf is a repetitive and stressful sport that can create a great deal of wear and tear on the body if you do not take care of yourself properly. Whether you are talking about professionals or weekend amateurs, it is not uncommon for at least one of the players in a foursome to use pain relievers to help him through a round. If you take care of your body, you should not have to rely on pain relievers.
While it is important to focus on golf fitness during the season, the off-season is when I have the chance to really make major changes to my physical skill sets. I think this is an important concept for both the amateur and professional player, especially those who live in colder climates and are not able to play golf during the winter. The off-season is the perfect time to really focus on your golf fitness and make changes to your body that will help develop your game in both the short and long term.
Golf Anatomy does a great job breaking down the various skill sets (balance, mobility, stability, strength, and power) and injury prevention exercises into simple-to-follow progressions. I have worked with Dr. Craig Davies for a number of years now, and many of the exercises you see within the pages of this book are the very same ones I have used in my own development. I encourage you to pay specific attention to the form you use during the application of these exercises and remind you not to rush through them. These exercises have made the difference in my game, and they can for you, too.
Hunter Mahan