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How come golf is so knackering?

JustOne

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
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www.justoneuk.com
The full swing takes about 1 second, you'd probably hit about 40 of these in a full round along with a few chips and lots of putts.... so about 40seconds of flat out excercise. Pulling the trolley doesn't seem too hard and neither is walking a mere 4 miles, so why is it so knackering?
 
It isn't. I am older than you, and will happily play 36 or more. Recently I have even started carrying again (provided I don't need a brolly, or waterproofs).

Try giving up the tabs, and take up running.
 
I'm even older than Murph and I've just played 5 rounds in 6 days in very strong winds - fresh as a daisy and out playing at 8 tomorrow.
 
The full swing takes about 1 second, you'd probably hit about 40 of these in a full round along with a few chips and lots of putts.... so about 40seconds of flat out excercise. Pulling the trolley doesn't seem too hard and neither is walking a mere 4 miles, so why is it so knackering?

I'm paraphrasing / quoting Paul Chek: Golf is a highly athletic event. Amateur golfers are achieving about 90% of peak muscle activity when driving. This is equivalent of lifting a weight that can only be lifted 4 times before total fatigue. You're hitting 30-40 shots with comparable intensity. That's comparable exertion and muscle exertion with other sports, whose participants train for it :)
 
Can't say I have ever been knackered after a game, usually I'm wanting to go out again as I know I can do better than that!
 
The full swing takes about 1 second, you'd probably hit about 40 of these in a full round along with a few chips and lots of putts.... so about 40seconds of flat out excercise. Pulling the trolley doesn't seem too hard and neither is walking a mere 4 miles, so why is it so knackering?

Ever thought you might not be fit James ?:p
 
The full swing takes about 1 second, you'd probably hit about 40 of these in a full round along with a few chips and lots of putts.... so about 40seconds of flat out excercise. Pulling the trolley doesn't seem too hard and neither is walking a mere 4 miles, so why is it so knackering?

Yes but do you walk a mere 4 miles???
Taking your waywardness off the tee into account, I reckon you could add another 2 miles or so to that.
Plus some of the terrain you walk over must be pretty knackering.
 
Also at this time of year, on some courses you may have half the fairway attached to your footwear............

I agree, its hard work. Then again, being sponsored by Silk Cut and Magners, I am hardly known for my fitness!
 
As someone who carried for 4 rounds in the Longest Day Challenge and regularly plays 36 in the summer I'm laughing at the notion its hard work. I play twice as many shots as James ina round and will clearly still be more refreshed at the end. Cut down on your porklife and get some excercise
 
I am 51.
Been playing & practising since July, sometimes I will play & practice for anything up to 8 hrs in one day.
The most I have played is 27 holes per day for 3 consecutive days then rested for a day before playing again.
I have lost a stone in weight since I have been playing.
 
i dont find it knackering, but i find injuries from other sports play a big part in why im not 100% fresh after 18 holes. as a kid i broke both my hips, at 18 wrecked my knee, and i do suffer with lower back issues, all these issues stem from motocross. Yes i do have an electric trolley but at 32 i refuse to use it. if i cant carry a bag and play 18 holes a day now, what im i going to be like when im older.... i have to admitt though that 36 holes in one day carrying really knocks it out of my knee, and im expecting bad news next time i visit my consultant.
 
As an ex Motocrosser myself, both my knees are shot to pieces, my left wrist and a couple of my fingers joints on the left hand generally ache most of the time from major bike abuse and my right shoulder normally screams for a rest after hitting 80 or so balls. So generally 18 holes is my limit, the dog will get a walk when I get home, then I'm finished, hello sofa.
 
I'm not exactly puffing and panting after 18, but I'm not that interested in going around again and even if I did go out again I doubt that I'd manage to put a decent round together. I find that as I tire my back starts to go and I can no longer hold my height through the swing.

Even after 75 balls at the range the other day I was pretty much finished.
 
I do find thinking of all the good reasons why It wasn't my faults that I hit a bad shot menatly tiring (mud on the ball, someone spoke 3 fairways away, in a divot) - 90 of those a round takes some doing (sometimes more but rarely less)

However I always try to retain enough physical strength to lift a few heavy pints post round so I must be fairly fit still.
 
Golf is not knackering for me. I don't get tired after playing. A five mile walk carrying a light bag of kit interspersed with a few swishes of a club should not tire you out. If it does, it is your level of general fitness and not the game that is the reason.


I am pretty fit so would not expect to feel tired at all after golf. I play squash about 4 times a week and am county standard so get a proper workout every time. Squash is the best game there is for fitness as when you play at a decent level, you burn 1600 calories per hour.

In fact, Squash is the best game there is full stop!

Stop smoking, get in shape then have two games of squash a week would be my advice to anyone who finds golf a physical challenge. After 6 months of this, golf will not make you feel tired! Either that or you will be dead and won't care anyway!
 
If you look after yourself on the course by keeping yourself hydrated and eating fruit then you will not feel as tired. You will find that a lot of golfers are not physically tired it is more their brain that is tired from being dehydrated. Drinking a 6 pack of coke on the course and a mars is not exactly the best way to keep your body running.
 
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