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Hung Up On Teeter Hang Ups

December 13, 2014 | By Pete Girotto | Leave a Comment

IMG_20141211_215119_933
Stinky Golfer Pete on his Teeter

As the quest for improving our golf game continues, it has led many of us down some strange paths. Almost as if we are forgetting to take the blinders off and look at the big picture. Many hacks have become obsessed with what I refer to as micro segments of the golf game. It’s like we focus on such minute things we think are a problem with our game that we end up getting something like that plastic stick that goes from our wrist to our club and problem solved.  I’d hate to be the bearer of bad news but…well, you know the rest.

So, about that big picture. It’s quite simple, golf requires the use of our whole body. Back, arms, legs, core and even our head (I know, hard to believe). Why not do something that benefits our entire body and in turn helps our entire golf game? That said,  a few weeks ago the good folks over at Teeter Hang Ups set us up with one of their inversion tables. Upon receiving it I couldn’t help but notice its solid build and high quality. Good thing considering I was soon to be suspended upside down.

Luckily, I have not been plagued with chronic back pain. The occasional soreness, tightness or mild temporary pain is pretty much the extent of it for me. However, the Teeter inversion table is not just for those with back pain. In fact, there were studies done (which you can find on their website here) that show the advantages of using a Teeter Hang Ups for overall health. Considering we are golf oriented, improving our overall health can directly help better our game.

When it comes to golf, range of motion is a big factor. Technically, the further back we can load up the more power we generate and so on. That means flexibility. After using the Teeter inversion table for a few weeks there was undoubtedly an improvement in my flexibility and range of motion. Knowing I was getting the Teeter inversion table I hit up a local driving range for a little before and after comparison. Don’t get me wrong I would have preferred to hit the links but in the Northeast the cold weather arrives way before winter’s official first day. Thank goodness for heated driving ranges.

The major differences for me was the increase in flexibility and lack of soreness the next day. Before getting the table, I felt it took me almost a quarter of the bucket to feel “warmed up” whereas after I was good to go after the first few. Another thing I noticed were more consistent fluid swings obviously due to the stretching. Speaking of stretching, it has also helped in everyday life as well. Pretty cool that only after a few short weeks the improvements were noticeable.

If you’re in the market to improve your game and general wellbeing I would highly recommend considering purchasing a Teeter Hang Ups. Not trying to sound like a commercial but a few minutes a day is all it takes. Now, get out there and feel better!

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: exercise, fitness, game improvement, teeter hang ups

Tough Mother Golfer.

August 24, 2012 | By Pete Girotto | Leave a Comment

If you are into fitness,  I’m sure you are well aware of the obstacle course races that are gaining popularity by the day. Even if the extent of your daily exercise routine is getting out of bed, you might have heard of these obstacle course races as well. There’s the Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash, Spartan Sprint, Spartan Beast – the list goes on. What’s great about these races is that along with getting you in shape they are also associated with great causes such as the Wounded Warrior Project.

GolfStinks is very thankful and proud of all the men and woman who serve or have served. We are also advocates of staying healthy (although some of our physical appearances might lead you to believe otherwise) and obviously we love golf. So, what if we were to incorporate golf with some sort of an obstacle course and do it for a great cause? Instead of holding a normal golf tournament, let’s put a spin on things and get our heart rates above dead!

Here’s the basic idea:
  1. We use the Texas Scramble method.
  2. No carts. We give them a day off and use good old fashioned man-power to cart our stuff.
  3. Dump and chase. We take this ice hockey principle and use it on the course. Hit the ball and then run after it like it owes us money.
  4. On the way to your ball there’s a few obstacles that need to be conquered first. Hurdles, a wall to climb and maybe an “Arctic Enema” (an actual Tough Mudder obstacle) for good measure. That gives me the chills just thinking about it, no pun intended.
  5. Everything is based on teamwork. Not so much as who finishes first but making sure your foursome completes the course together.
  6. Oh yeah, skipping obstacles costs you strokes so don’t be cheatin’!
 I think I have a good thing going. It’s in the beginning stages but with a little help and some planning this could fly. Now I’m asking you, the golf community, for some input. If you have any ideas or comments let’s hear them.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Filed Under: Health & Environment Tagged With: fitness, golf, Golf Health, obstacle course, spartan beast, spartan sprint, tough mudder, tournament, warrior dash, wounded warrior

The Truth About Walking the Golf Course

October 6, 2010 | By Greg D'Andrea | 11 Comments

Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day meets recommended standards for health maintenance and wellness. But what about golf? Could golf be considered exercise? Well a research paper now puts to rest this age-old question…as long as you’re walking instead of riding.

Walking the golf course (photo by Greg D'Andrea)
Is walking the golf course really exercise? (photo by Greg D’Andrea)

Now I realize if you walk the golf course, there’s no place to put your beer. I get it. I’ve been guilty of using the cart as a portable keg too.

It’s so much easier to ride out there – no long walks between tees; no feeling like a mountain goat; no fatigue over the last few holes.

Besides, when your doctor tells you to get more exercise, he doesn’t mean to go play golf – at least my doctor didn’t: “Golf is stop-and-go, Greg. You don’t get enough of a workout walking a little, stopping to hit a ball and then walking a little more.”

But golfing has got to count for something, doesn’t it? We’ve posed this question before, in this post, a while ago. But now we actually have some proof that walking the golf course is not only healthy, but it’s also a good way to get some exercise.

A published study entitled “Physical Activity Parameters for Walking Golf Participation: An Analysis of Volume and Intensity” from Mark D. Peterson (Department of Exercise and Wellness at Arizona State University) has provided us some interesting findings.

Mr. Peterson set-out to prove that the volume and intensity of activity while walking 18-holes could be pinpointed by using modern technology. He began by recruiting healthy men between 18 and 30 years of age at a local, average-sized (6,605 yards) golf course in Mesa, AZ. Each participant was required to walk 18-holes (from the same tee-box) while wearing an accelerometer, a pedometer and a heart-rate monitor. In addition, each participant had a GPS logging device attached to the back of their hats.

Each device recorded a different variable for the study. For example, the accelerometer recorded the “intensity of ambulatory physical activity,” which could then be measured against established standardized categories such as sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous activity. Meanwhile, the pedometer was used to calculate total steps taken during the round and the GPS measured total distance traveled. The heart monitor measured heartbeats per minute.

Mr. Peterson then took the data he had collected and measured it against recommended standards for health maintenance and wellness: “It has been recommended for health maintenance and wellness that individuals attempt to accumulate 7,000 and 13,000 steps, and/or 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, on all or most days of the week.”

Mr. Peterson’s data revealed walking the course EXCEEDED these recommendations.

On average, data showed the participants’ number of steps taken were at the higher-end of the spectrum (12,197 steps). Particularly striking, Mr. Peterson’s data shows that the majority of activity while walking on the golf course was bucketed into the category of “Moderate/Vigorous” activity (e.g. on average, the golfer spent 105.4 minutes of the total 182 minutes on the course doing moderate to vigorous activity). In addition, results showed that participants’ heartbeats exceeded 100 beats per minute more than 65% of the time. A copy of the study can be requested HERE.

While it’s true that walking the golf course results in fluctuating activity, it also appears true that the majority of that activity is exceeding the recommended standards for health maintenance and wellness. Hear that Doc? Golfing not only isn’t hurting my health, but it’s actually helping keep me in shape! Now I wonder what the opt-out clause on my gym membership contract is?

Despite the fact that Stinky Golfer Greg may have taught his doctor a thing or two about golf and exercise, he is in no way, shape or form qualified to be giving medical advice. Always check with your physician before using golf as a substitute for real exercise.

Filed Under: Health & Environment Tagged With: activity, exercise, fitness, Golf Health, heart rate, mark d. peterson, walking the golf course, wellness

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