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I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been asked this
question during my travels around the country and world on the
golf circuit; "Sean, I am looking for a golf fitness trainer in
my area, what do you suggest?"
Finding a golf fitness trainer for you, simply takes a little
knowledge and time on your part.
Bottom line there are thousands of fitness experts, personal
trainer, instructors, and conditioning coaches available to you.
Some are more qualified than others to help you improve your
golf game. Lets first off take a look at some general
qualifications to look for in candidates.
The golf trainer's education would be the first thing I would
consider. In the world of personal training and fitness, there
are no educational requirements, governing bodies, or state
boards. Essentially, anyone can hang a sign on their front door
and call themselves a "personal golf fitness trainer". It's
unfortunate, but unqualified people are training people every
day.
A highly qualified golf fitness trainer will likely have a
college degree in the field of kinesiology, biomechanics, health
sciences or a related field. There are many other organizations
that accredit trainers too. These organizations provide intense
educational programs providing the trainer with certifications.
Accreditations from the National Strength and Conditioning
Association, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and American
Council of Exercise are highly regarded within the field. I
would suggest looking for a golf fitness trainer with a degree
in the field and at least one additional certification from the
above organizations. This tells us that they have taken the time
to become more specialized and better educated.
The Proof is in the Pudding
Experience within the field is absolutely critical. First look
at the trainer's general experience and dig deeper. In general,
I am talking about how long they have been in the industry. Are
they just starting out or are they a seasoned veteran in the
field? What areas of the industry have they worked? Have they
worked only in the health club setting, have they worked in a
collegiate or professional athletic environment, or experience
directly related to the golf industry?
I would look for a golf fitness trainer with some experience in
athletics. A trainer with experience in competitive athletics
understands the demands on your body under competition, whether
it's the weekend round with your friends, the club tournament,
or the Masters for that matter.
Go to the Right Mechanic to Get Your Car Fixed
Now I don't know about you, but if I had an engine problem with
my car, I probably wouldn't go to a motorcycle mechanic to get
it fixed.
Would you look for a personal trainer that specialized in let's
say, youth football, to help your golf game?
Most trainers in the industry usually have a repeat client base.
The client base can tell you a lot about the trainer's area of
expertise. The trainer's cliental base could be very specific,
for example working with elderly individuals or with athletes
only. Other trainers may work with numerous types of individuals
from young children, homemakers, to the budding collegiate star.
More than anything a trainer's client base gives you an idea if
they have experience working with someone like you, and if they
fit your individual needs.
I would suggest looking for a golf fitness trainer that has some
experience working with someone like you. For example, if you
are Nationwide Tour player, I would probably suggest looking for
a golf fitness trainer who has experience working with
professional athletes. The experience of working with
professional athletes is only going to help with the interaction
between the two of you.
Can't We Just Get Along
Outside of education and experience, the final area to consider
is the trainer's personality. Some personalities will work well
with you and others will not.
To get the best results for you, you must find a trainer that
you are comfortable with on a professional and personal level.
This will allow for the training sessions, development of your
program, and the relationship to be a positive experience for
both. Remember, you must trust the golf fitness trainer and this
requires a level of comfort with them.
Overall, I suggest taking some time on the front end and
interviewing a series of trainers. This will allow you to
compare and contrast all of the criteria we've discussed, and
help you make a decision you feel good about.
Remember, choosing the right golf fitness trainer for you can
mean the difference between reaching your goals on the golf
course or not.
Sean Cochran
About the author:
About the Author Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf
fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour
regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson.
He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf
swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the
website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him
at support@bioforcegolf.com.
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