Golf has long been my sport of choice.
It’s a game to be enjoyed playfully and it will entertain and make us healthier when played correctly. But it’s also a game that requires multiple skills. These skills that can be learned through some of the most popular Winter Sports.
Snow skiing —
Snow skiing, like golf, is a sport you can enjoy at any age or level of health. You don’t have to be strong to ski down the slope, gravity does the work. It’s footwork fundamentals that help build speed, accuracy and control. If skiers initiate action from the upper body instead of solid grounding, that control goes away. The golf swing is also built from the ground up. Golfers often struggle because they try to control the club with their hands and arms instead of from solid footing.
Basketball —
NBA star Steph Curry loves to play golf. As a kid his dad taught him to use superior footwork to outplay his opponents on the basketball court. His feet do the hard work and leave his hands free to use a soft grip and light pressure on the ball. It means he can maneuver and quickly release the ball before a defender can attack. In my 30 years coaching and 55 years loving golf I’ve learned it’s those same skills Curry learned early on the basketball court (solid, powerful footwork and a light, relaxed grip) that work the best on the golf course.
Hockey —
Ice hockey and golf are as similar as they are different. In both, the mastery and speed of the shot is all about simple physics. Hockey players use a stick shaped like a golf club. But the two instruments are weighted in reverse; the hockey stick has a light head and heavy shaft, the golf club has a heavy head and a light shaft. The advanced golfer lets the heavy clubhead drop and feels the force naturally accumulate at impact for an effortless fast swing. The hockey player uses the force of muscle to push the stick and slap the puck with speed to achieve their desired shot.
Carolina’s PGA Teacher of the Year, Doug Weaver is the Director of Instruction at the Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy. He conducts “Where Does the Power Come From?” This free interactive clinic and demonstration takes place every Monday from 4-5 p.m. at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course. Volunteer for a free lesson and some will win prizes! Call (866) 455-6890 or go to www.palmettodunes.com for more information.
