(Scroll to the bottom for the workout video!)
Reading this, you’ve likely noticed your swing isn’t what it used to be. Maybe you’re losing distance off the tee, struggling with consistency, or feeling unsteady as you shift your weight. One culprit? Balance. A FitGolf Performance Centers, we’ve seen it repeatedly: golfers are held back by declining balance.
The good news? You can fix it- and unlock a better swing in the process.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- How improving your balance can improve your golf game
- Why balance naturally fades as we age
- The science linking balance to club head speed
- 4 simple exercises you can start today to get back on top of your game!
For your reference, we’ve created a free downloadable workout guide to walk you through the exercises in this Balance workout. Click the button below for your guide with pictures, instructions, and tips for these exercises!
How Improving Balance Will Improve Your Swing
Think of balance as the foundation of your golf swing- much like the concrete slab under a house. When it’s solid, everything else (power, speed, consistency) stays stable, even under pressure. When it’s shaky, the whole structure collapses. In the golf swing, balance allows you to transfer weight smoothly from your back leg to your lead leg without wasting energy.
For golfers over 50, poor balance often shows up as swaying, falling out of posture, or an inconsistent follow-through, costing you distance and accuracy. By strengthening your ability to stand firm on one leg at a time, you’ll maintain control throughout your swing, hit the ball straighter, and enjoy the game more. Whether you aim to beat your friends at the club or win that next tournament bet, balance is your secret weapon.
The physiological reasons we lose balance as we age...
Balance isn’t just about willpower- it’s physiology. As we age, several factors erode our stability:
- Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia): After 50, we lose muscle mass and strength at an accelerated rate, especially in the legs and core- key areas for golf stability.
- Joint Wear and Tear: Years of swinging clubs stiffen hips, knees, and ankles, limiting your range of motion.
- Neurological Decline: Here’s where proprioception comes in. Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense its position in space- like knowing where your feet are without looking. It’s controlled by tiny receptors in your muscles, tendons, and joints that send signals to your brain. With age, these receptors dull, and past injuries (think that old rotator cuff tear or knee surgery) make it worse. The result? You wobble more, especially on one leg, and yours wing suffers.
At FitGolf, we’ve worked with thousands of Philly-area golfers who didn’t realize their balance was fading until they tried standing on one leg for 10 seconds- and couldn’t. The fix? Targeted exercises to wake up those proprioceptive pathways and rebuild strength.
The link between balance head and club speed...
Want to add 20 yards to your drive? Balance is the key to unlocking club head speed. Here’s why:
- Energy Transfer: A balanced swing lets you shift your weight efficiently, channeling power from your legs through your torso and into the club head. If you’re unstable, that energy leaks away- think of it like a wobbly hose spraying water everywhere but the target.
- Rotational Power: Golf is a rotational sport, and your ability to rotate your hips and shoulders entirely depends on a stable base. Better balance means bigger, faster turns- and more speed at impact.
- Fatigue Resistance: Poor balance forces your body to work harder to stay upright, tiring you out by the back nine. Stronger balance keeps you fresh, you’re still crushing it on the 18th hole.
Our Golf Performance Evaluations at FitGolf often reveal how balance issues sap club head speed in golfers over 50. The golfers who commit to fixing it? They’re the ones outdriving their peers again.
Exercises for Golfers to Improve Balance
Ready to rebuild your foundation? Our latest golf fitness video includes four exercises designed for golfers like you. Start with these at home, and watch your swing and confidence come alive.
Take the Next Step with FitGolf
These exercises are just the start. At FitGolf Performance Centers in Conshohocken, we’ve helped golfers turn back the clock on their golf game. Our Golf Fitness Training Program begins with a 2-hour Golf Performance Evaluation- think of it as an MRI for your swing- pinpointing exactly how balance and other limitations are holding you back. From there, we craft a custom plan to get you swinging stronger, longer, and pain-free.
Want to try these exercises at home?
Download our FREE Balance Workout Guide below. It’s your step-by-step ticket to better balance, more distance, and a swing your buddies will envy.
Let’s get you back to better golf- because here at FitGolf, we believe your best golf is still ahead of you.
If you try these exercises and you find them to be too challenging or uncomfortable, do not continue, until you have consulted with your physician. All exercises for golf should be customized to your needs after a proper evaluation.
Come In and See Us
Want to take your golf to the next level? Our FitGolf® Trainers are experts at working one-on-one with you to tailor a training program to meet the specific needs of your body and help you achieve the results you are hoping to see in your golf.
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