Just Registered!

Hello All,

I just registered today - although I have been browsing the site for a while. I first came across it last October and never bothered to register until now.

Since my background is in fitness, I have primarily been browsing the fitness and psychology forum. I have been in the fitness industry for nearly 20 years (makes me feel old!) and focusing on golf-specific fitness for about the last 10. In those 10 years I have worked with PGA professionals (nobody too famous), scratch golfers, low handicappers and high-handicappers. I have also worked with some of the best instructors in Houston and the surrounding area - so I feel confident I can add something of value here.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Dr Brian

Hi Dr. Brian,
Welcome to the site. I am fighting with two different games presently. At the range, 300+ drives and perfect irons, on the course, unreliable striking and shanks. I am trying so hard to use the positive mental approach but it is so hard to accept this when I know I have a great game in me. From you r experience of working with pros etc, can you see any other solution for me?
Thanks,
Robert

Robert,
Thanks for asking. I don't know how much assistance I can offer. I think we all suffer from that. Even Tiger refers to Ranger Rick! I'm not much of a psychologist, but I do know that simulating practice as close to real time will help and practicing shots that make you better will help too. For example, when you practice putting practice lag putting and from 3 feet. Don't worry so much about the in-between. When you practice lag putting, try to get them within 3 feet. When you start knocking down those 3-footers, you'll feel better. Same thing goes for chipping when you miss the green. Work on getting those shots within 3 feet.

That will knock strokes off your game quicker than anything. Greg or one of the other pros or even Ian might be able to add more or correct what I've added - but this is where I'd start.

If you can hit 300+ on the practice range, swing at 80% on the first tee. This will help your nerves and you'll hit the fairway more often. You could even hit 3-wood or long iron. You'll still be just as long, if not longer, than your playing partners. And, hitting from the fairway is much better than the alternative.

Brian

hi doc, welcome to gto
im about to start training at the local gym to lose a little weight and strengthen the muscles linked to the game.
my query is maintaining the age specific maximum heart rate when doing cardio work on the treadmill,bike,rowing machine or cross trainer.if the scale for instance says my MHR is 129 is that the figure to maintain for the duration of the excercise?

Hi slater170,
Thanks for your question and the welcome. First of all, congratulations on starting an exercise program. It's good for your health and it will help your game, too. Unlike most people, I don't prescribe nor recommend training based on heart rate (HR). I think it's too variable and sensitive to too many things. For example, what you eat or drink, your hydration levels, your stress levels and any medication you may be taking can all alter your HR. With that being said, it's difficult for me to answer your question with the information you provide. Most of the machines in the US have a ranges based on age. So if the machine says your MHR is 129, that would mean you are 91 years old. Are you? If so, I'd like to make it to your age! I suspect, however that 129 is a percentage of your MHR. And if you're not 91, you should try to keep your exercise HR as close to this value as possible.

I hope this helps. If not, please let me know.

Brian

hi doc
got all my figures mixed up.
the last time i was in a gym they didnt have all this hi tech stuff!LOL
anyway im 1.72m tall and weigh in at 79 kilos and had my 43rd birthday yesterday. in the main ive been blessed with good health and fitness in my life but im getting to that age where you gotta work a little harder anyway i digress my MHR is 177 and so i calculate that the target heart rate is approx 143. is that the figure to maintain for the whole of the 20 minute session?
or could you suggest some other method

__________________
cheers slats
"Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle"

No problem and happy belated birthday. The target HR of 143 must be from 80% of your MHR, correct? If so, when you want to train at this intensity, stay as close to this level as you can. Because this is high intensity, you probably won't be able to maintain it very long. If you haven't been active consistently over the last 6 months or so, I'd check with your doctor before exercising this hard. Alternatively, you could exercise within a range. For example, 60-80% of your MHR. For you, this would be 106-143. When you get tired, just slow down a bit.

If you'd like to exercise at a moderate intensity - 50-70% of your MHR, follow the guidelines below. I used these in research projects when I was a professor at the University of Houston. They are well-accepted. See your doctor first, if you are:

1. Male and over 45 (you are right at the cusp)
2. Have 2 or more of the following:
   • family history
   • current smoker
   • are hypertensive
   • have high cholesterol
   • are type II diabetic
   • are more than 30 pounds (~15 kgs) overweight
   • or have been sedentary (no exercise at all) for 6 months or more
3. Have heart or blood vessel disease or something else not listed here.

Ultimately, you are the best judge of what you can do. These are just recommendations. I would encourage you to visit your doctor before performing anything too strenous, particularly if you have any of the above.

If you do have any of the above and just don't want to see your doctor, go easy and build up slowly.


I hope this helps. If not, let me know.

Brian