Firstly, I hear you ask, what is Physical Profiling? Well, basically it is assessing an individual’s fitness for golf.

When Tiger Woods exploded onto the golfing landscape over 10 years ago there were only a few tour pros who knew what the inside of a gym looked like. Obviously pros like Gary Player have been advocates of physical fitness for decades; however, the majority of tour pros now see conditioning as a prerequisite. They are trying to gain any advantage possible. Moreover the right training will help avoid injuries and prolong their playing career.

Now I am sure you are wondering - How can it help the ordinary amateur golfer?

With the help of a 15 point physical profile (developed by Paul Darby, a physiotherapist of some 30 years standing including with the FA and Wolves) an individual’s strengths and weaknesses can be accessed with the long term aim of helping them condition themselves and realise their golfing potential.

“It’s about identifying needs of your sport and matching your body up to it,” says Paul who has worked closely with former English Golf Union coach Keith Williams and a number of players on the European Tour including Peter Baker and Ian Woosnam. The 2006 Ryder Cup captain doesn’t immediately strike you as an athlete, but the Welshman had a perfect body for golf according to Darby. Darby continues - physiologically Woosie’s body was suited to golf. He’s a very good water skier and if you think about the skills required for that - flex, balance, and posture – they’re similar to the demands of golf. He also had some of the best abs I’ve come across in golf – it’s just they were covered in six inches of fat. For example, one client who benefited from Darby’s conditioning was Adam Hunter who was referred to him by top coach David Leadbetter. Darby identified that Adam had no control of his mid section or abs strength. From his profile he knew that was the area he needed to address to overcome the technical problems he was having with Leadbetter. Adam worked hard in the winter on abdominal control and power and he went from journeyman pro to winning next year, beating Darren Clarke in a play-off for the Portuguese Open. According to Darby, Adam is a classic example. He had a technically good movement and a good swing but his body was not in the right shape to get the best from it. He didn’t produce any power. His power source didn’t complement what was being done technically.

Research has shown that there can be a difference between the physiological capabilities of a player and what their coach is asking them to do.

Don’t worry I won’t be asking you to run on a treadmill or do anything too strenuous. I will simply access you following the 15 point profile. For example, test one is called the -

Sit and Reach Test
Sitting down with legs outstretched and holding a club out in front of you, the person has to stretch as far as they can towards their toes. To pass you’ve got to get to your toes, to be good you’ve got to get past your toes.

Typically a scratch golfer will be plus four inches past their toes while Sergio Garcia can reputedly reach nine inches past his – Tiger 14!

Most handicap golfers want to improve and so rather than going out and spending £300 on a driver or continually looking somewhere else for improvement, look at your own body instead. Maybe the answer is there to begin with and through some fairly uncomplicated exercises you can improve.

Please contact me and I will be only to happy to arrange an appointment.