Discover the quickest way to improve your golf game

By Troy M. Anderson,
Contributor

Golfers have a trait that I truly admire: They are always looking for anything that will give them even the slightest edge over their competition. Whether it's the newest ball or biggest titanium driver, they are always on the lookout for ways to improve their game. In light of this, wouldn't it be great to be able to perform a picture-perfect swing or play a round without your back seizing up by the ninth hole? The golf tip I am about to give you has been in front of you all along. You may just have skipped over it while looking for other ways to improve. What I am talking about is losing body fat - specifically abdominal body fat.

Losing body fat is one of the quickest ways I know to improve performance. That extra abdominal fat you may be carrying around with you affects almost everything you do on the golf course, except riding in the cart. Lowering your level of body fat acts as a catalyst to improve flexibility, endurance and power levels. Increased flexibility and endurance, along with maintaining your strength, will allow you to produce more power. This, in turn, gives you the ability to hit the ball farther.

Here are my top five principles for losing body fat to improve performance:

Drink Water: You should drink at least one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day.

Veggie Power: Eat at least four to six servings of high-nutrient vegetables per day, the darker in color the better.

Be Fast: Eat breakfast every day within one hour after getting out of bed. Protein Power: Consume three to five servings of quality lean protein per day, approximately four to six ounces per serving.

Don't Get Caught: Never be caught not knowing what and where you are going to eat next. Plan and schedule your meals just like you would anything else in your daily life. Failing to do this will only lead to bringing on poor-quality food.

Bonus Golf Fitness Tips:

Make Iron Your Friend: Doing resistance training two to three times per week will greatly aid in the removal of body fat and, if done correctly, will help improve performance.

Don't Forget Your ZZZ's: Sleep is of the utmost importance. It helps keep your hormone levels regulated and your body in a ready state to burn fat.

This may sound like the same old jargon that you hear coming from the "diet" industry, but the truth is that losing body fat, especially the abdominal variety, is basic to improving the skills and physical abilities required for golf. As the saying goes, the "proof is in the pudding." If you are looking for a quick and cheap way to improve your golf game (you can do most of this yourself), try losing a little body fat and see what happens. Not only will you improve your performance on the course, but you will get the added benefit of becoming healthier and improving the overall quality of your life.

Troy M. Anderson, B.A., PES, CPT, IACPFT, is the owner of Integrated Evolution, LLC, in Tempe, Ariz. The No. 1 goal of Integrated Evolution is to provide individuals with solutions to their performance enhancement needs. For more golf fitness tips, subscribe to The Evolutionary at integratedevolution.org and download your FREE Reports: The Eight Keys To Golf Fitness Success and How To Build The Perfect Athlete For Any Sport -- GOLF. Troy may be contacted by e-mail at integratedevolution@cox.net or by phone at (480) 227-8090.

Troy M. Anderson, B.A., PES, CPT, IACPFT, is the owner of Integrated Evolution, LLC, in Tempe, Ariz. The top goal of Integrated Evolution is to provide individuals with solutions to their performance enhancement needs. For more golf fitness tips, visit integratedevolution.org.