| The golf travel industry is huge. Destination resorts | | | | jet lag. |
| such as Myrtle Beach, Hawaii, Palm Springs, and | | | | Some other of Sensei Sean's helpful hints are |
| Phoenix are springing up all over. Developers are not | | | | regulating your workouts and eating healthy foods. |
| just hoping for the Field of Dreams...build it and they will | | | | Workouts for me get that blood pumping and the body |
| come....they know folks will come. | | | | moving. I don't feel lethargic on the road if I workout |
| Look at business. So many business relationships and | | | | regularly. Now a workout can be something like a |
| transactions are being done on the links. And it's | | | | twenty minute brisk walk or run around the hotel. Just |
| happening all over the globe. | | | | get something into your schedule that gets the blood |
| Certain trips you are able to bring your clubs; others | | | | pumping. Finally, another key to not getting "stung" by |
| times not. | | | | jet lag is what you eat. If I eat healthy meals, my body |
| We are going to talk about how travel affects your | | | | is more alert and running efficiently. If I chow down on |
| body and your swing while playing golf or not playing. | | | | fast food or candy, my body starts to get run down. |
| We will also discuss what can help you with that horrid | | | | Keeping the Golf Game in Shape on the Road |
| jet lag that can easily hinder your performance on the | | | | I am certainly not a swing coach, and the suggestions |
| course or in the board room. | | | | in this article are merely from my personal experiences |
| I write this article from experience. I am currently in my | | | | from traveling on the tour. Some good friends of mine |
| third year on the PGA tour as a trainer. I travel all over | | | | (Rick Smith and Dave Pelz) are some of the best |
| the globe with the tour. So I understand what it is like to | | | | swing coaches in the world. I would suggest taking a |
| "live" out of a suitcase and not have everything | | | | look at some of their videos/articles for specific drills. |
| available to you. Granted, we always have golf clubs | | | | Now I realize that when you are traveling on business, |
| with us, but I have some innovative ways to keep your | | | | time is limited to say the least. And probably more |
| game in shape. | | | | times than not you won't have your clubs on the road. |
| This article is not about swing drills. Rather, this article | | | | So what is the amateur to do? Well, what if I told you |
| will discuss how to keep your swing in shape from a | | | | that it is possible to work on your swing in about 15 |
| more global perspective. Much of the information in this | | | | minutes a day without any equipment? Would that get |
| article is from personal observation, individual trial and | | | | you motivated to do a little work on the road? I |
| error, and some tips from some experienced | | | | imagine you would because I think we all have 15 |
| professionals. | | | | minutes a day to spend on our swing. |
| Jet Lag. It can be a "Killer" on your golf game | | | | We can work on three things without clubs. Number |
| As I write, I am sitting here at the world famous Doral | | | | one, we can work on the mechanics of your swing; |
| Golf and Spa Resort in Miami. Tough duty I have this | | | | number two, we can work on the machinery (your |
| week. This course is host of the Ford Championship | | | | body) that makes the swing go; and we can work on |
| Golf Tournament. I flew in from San Diego last night. | | | | the mind. Putting all three of these entities together is |
| So there is a 3-hour time difference, a 4-hour flight, and | | | | what I feel is a complete training program for your |
| let's just say I got up this morning at 2:30 am Pacific | | | | swing. Forget about one and it's like not including sugar |
| Standard time (5:30 Eastern Standard time). So to sum | | | | in that cake recipe. Yuck! You are leaving yourself out |
| it up, I know a thing or two about jet lag. | | | | of the game. |
| Because I am a personal trainer for Phil Mickelson, I've | | | | I have been given a great series of "mirror" drills by my |
| spent a lot of time researching and developing ways | | | | instructor to work on my swing, and I am guessing |
| to help Phil perform better. That also includes his travel | | | | your instructor has given you something similar. If not, I |
| and getting his body ready for competition. Let us first | | | | know both Rick Smith and Jim McLean have a |
| start at the beginning with the flight. Research has | | | | number of drills that are done without clubs. Just take |
| indicated that whenever you fly the body becomes | | | | a look at the Golf Channel and you can probably pick |
| dehydrated. Why is this so? I guess it has something | | | | up on a few of these drills. The great thing is I can do |
| to do with the cabin of the airplane being pressurized. | | | | these drills anywhere and I do not need any equipment. |
| Drinking lots of water is the first line of defense in | | | | So first off, spend 5 minutes a day in your hotel doing |
| battling jet lag. Drink water before you take off, during | | | | swing drills. |
| the flight, and once you land. Even if you have to go to | | | | Once done with the swing drills, let's work on the body. |
| the lavatory a couple times in flight, your body and | | | | The body is what drives your swing and needs just as |
| your golf game will thank you. | | | | much attention as your swing itself. The pros work on |
| We're talking about water. Not soda, not coffee, and | | | | their body every day, so why can't the amateurs. |
| sorry, not alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body, so | | | | Take the next 5 minutes and do "golf strengthening" |
| when you are in the air you get a double whammy. | | | | drills that train the body for your swing. These |
| Good old H2O. Now what to do after you land? | | | | exercises take no equipment and can be done in the |
| I have found the greatest success in the war against | | | | comfort of your hotel room. |
| Jet Lag is immediately changing to the present time | | | | Finally, spend the final 5 minutes of your training |
| zone. I know it can be tough having to go to bed 3 | | | | session on the mind. Numerous books exist on the |
| hours later than what you are accustomed to, but, | | | | mental side of golf. I bet if you pick one of these |
| believe me, in a day or so it will pay big dividends. I | | | | books up at the bookstore, any number of them will |
| found this to really help. | | | | have daily drills to perform. Perform these drills for five |
| Those are the two biggest tips I found to beneficial to | | | | minutes. |