GOLF LESSONS LEARNED OR RECALLED FROM BOXING

Spencer Maus
Jul 27, 2017 · 4 min read

For over 40 years I have been an avid golfer. By chance, I met Paige Hopkins and her husband. They were opening a boxing club in downtown Evanston. I was curious if boxing would have a positive or negative impact on my golf game. With a primary goal to get back in shape, and find a stress release, I joined the TITLE Boxing Club in Evanston. Here is what I discovered about the relationship of golf and boxing.

Warm-up

Before playing golf, it is important to warm-up muscles and joints. Typically what I see are players warming up by swinging a golf club, and taking time on the putting green for maybe 10 to 15 minutes (mostly on the putting green). I have learned that is not be enough.

Before a TITLE Boxing Club — Evanston boxing class, the warm-up session is 15 minutes. Warm-up includes calisthenics and stretching legs, arms, shoulders and neck muscles. I have taken some of the warm-up and stretching exercises to golf course.

Proper Stance

The stances for golf and boxing are very different. And each require a perfect, stance for success. In golf the proper stance is shoulders square, a wider stance for longer clubs (driver, long irons), the back shoulder slightly dipped, weight on the back leg, and the ball properly positioned in the stance.

The “grasshopper” stance has the shoulders vertical to the heavy bag or opponent. The back foot slightly outside of the stance. Hands are up to protect the face. Weight is on the proper foot to allow for a pivot into the punch. As you switch from a cross (farthest hand and leg to the target) to a jab (closest to the target), weight must be shifted to allow for a pivot to the back or forward foot depending on the punch.

Head (chin) down

Recently, I had my best 9-hole score in years. The stance and pivot were great. And I kept my head down, eye of the ball. On the second 9, my score was disastrous. My stance and hip turn were perfect. The problem was not keeping my head down. I wanted to see my magnificent, soaring golf ball headed for the green. By not keeping my head down, my great shot turned into a “worm killers.”

In boxing you must keep you chin down to help protect your face and body. With the gloves covering you face, having the chin down allows for quicker movement of the hands and arms to protect face and body. With that one change, I could protect and throw a good counter punch with power.

Move your hips for power

I used to focus on rotating my hips for almost every golf shot. Over time I forgot this important motion. Using the hips is imperative. The rotation of the hips adds power to the swing, and a much longer and accurate golf shot. Just watch a golf pro hit a tee shot. His/her hips rotate at impact of the golf ball.

In the boxing classes, the trainers emphasize the rotation of the hips for power. This triggered a “bell” in my head. During warm-up for golf, my practice swings now focusing on hip rotation. In my last round, I had my best, 9-hole score in years. I hit longer, more accurate shots.

Have a coach/trainer

When I play golf, my golf partner always points out my mistakes, offers suggestions and applauds when I hit a good shot. He will look at my stance and let me know when it is good and not so good. He does all of this with my permission. And like a good playing partner, I do the same for him with his permission.

At the TITLE Boxing Club, I have worked with two great coaches (Mike Itter and Jay-R Escalante), and five great trainers (Anthony Do, “Knockout” Collins, Richard Muhammad Saheim and Alexandra “Alex” Kramer). During the private coaching sessions, Jay-R and Mike stop me when I am doing something wrong, and acknowledge when something is done correctly. And during the classes, there is always another trainer helping those correct mistakes and providing encouragement.

PR/IR/Media, digital marketing, content creator. Early adopter & coach on #LinkedIn. Enjoys golf. auto racing, sports. Lived on the east & west coasts, Midwest.

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