Take Advantage of the Off Season

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	Off Season
	Golfers: Take Advantage of Your Off-Season by Elaine Crosby, LPGA Tournament Division
	What do pros do (and what can you do) to stay in shape in the off-season? First, many pros will tell you they take a break from even thinking about their golf games. They like to step back and clear their minds after so much competition. I have always tried to take at least a month away from the sport each year. During this month, I like to let my body rest and rejuvenate itself. It’s a great time to let those nagging injuries heal. I might continue some light workouts during my month off, but only those that wouldn’t aggravate any injuries. Having rested sufficiently for a month, the following month is a great time to start a conditioning program. Most of the LPGA pro’s use this time to strengthen muscles and work on cardiovascular conditioning. In addition, working on flexibility can be a great benefit when you are ready to hit the links in the spring. While doing such physical training, I recommend you swing a golf club for 5-10 minutes each day to keep those golf specific muscles in shape, while building supportive muscles in the back, shoulders, arms, and legs. Another step that an inside-bound golfer can take during the off-season is to work on specific parts of the swing or putting stroke. You can do this inside your house, garage, or at a workout facility. Repetition is the only way to make changes in your swing or stroke. That is why you hear about pros that spend hours on the practice range and putting green. They know how much practice is needed in order to keep their games at peak performance. I suggest that players go to their teaching professionals near the end of the season and set goals for swing improvements before next season. Teaching professionals have countless drills that they can give you to help accomplish swing changes. I like to work with a mirror in front of me. This allows me to track the change and make adjustments. What we feel and what is really happening can be quite different. If you happen to have a hitting net in your basement or garage, try setting up a video camera and review your progress occasionally. Many northern locations now have indoor golf facilities. Golf domes are popping up all over the country, and they are a great way to keep your game in shape. Most of the domes have LPGA/PGA teachers that can help you with your swing. These lessons can be invaluable if you are serious about making changes by next year. I caution you that hitting off mats can be hard on your body, and can give you false impressions of your ball contact. Though the mats are increasingly getting better, they still don’t have the give of turf, and it is possible to injure yourself with too much repetitive hitting. The other disadvantage of mats is that you don’t realize when you are hitting the ball slightly fat. The club will slide on the mat and make it impossible to feel hitting behind the ball. Spring will come and you can’t figure out why you keep hitting it slightly fat, but in reality you practiced that all winter. This is why I suggest taking advantage of the teaching professionals and using a video camera on occasion. Summary Stay active and participate in other sports. Strengthening your body, improving cardio endurance, and increasing flexibility cannot only improve your golf game, but make you confident in your abilities to improve. Use the winter to practice specific areas of your swing. If you are trying to get used to a new grip, pick a club up everyday and make sure that your grip is correct; you will be surprised how quickly it feels natural. Or if you are working on your posture, look in the mirror everyday standing in a correct golf posture, and again you will be amazed how quickly this will become second nature. Find a good teacher – it’s as important as all the practice in the world. That is why all tour players rely on someone else’s eye and knowledge to keep taking them to new levels. Have a great winter, and see you on the links next summer! ELAINE CROSBY – LPGA Tournament Division Born: 6/6/58 Birmingham, Mich. Residence: Naples, Fla. Rookie Year: 1985 Status: Non-exempt Career Victories (last): 2 (1994) Career-Low Round: 64 Career Earnings (rank): $1,543,122 (48) LPGA Career Holes-in-one: 3 Education: University of Michigan (Business Administration) 5’8 1/2", brown hair, blue eyes...Started playing golf at the age of 20...Credits Jim Flick as the teacher most influencing her career...Raised in Jackson, Mich...Member of the LPGA Executive Committee from 1992-94...President of the LPGA Tournament Division in 1994...Non-voting member of the LPGA Executive Committee from 1997-98...Enjoys long hikes with dog 'Puck' and University of Michigan football...Qualified for the Tour on her third attempt. In June 2000, Elaine Crosby founded FINDaLESSON.com, a web site featuring PGA/LPGA teaching professionals from across the United States. She invites readers to visit the site to locate a pro near them, browse the golf tips and learn more about the many teaching pros available in the directory who can give them a great lesson. PGA/LPGA teaching professionals interested in joining FINDaLESSON.com can do so for free by filling out the on-line enrollment form available on the home page. Or call 1-877-553-7766.