Why caffeine can raise your golf game

If you’re worried coffee will give you the shakes over those three-footers, research suggests the opposite. A recent US university study showed noticeable improvement in golfers who consumed caffeine supplements before the round and after they made the turn. The amount of caffeine was equivalent to about one cup of coffee. The study found a shot of caffeine led to an increase in driving distance (five metres) and greens in regulation (10 per cent) and a decrease in scores (2.5 shots per round) when data was compared to a group taking placebos. “Science has shown that caffeine blocks the actions of adenosine, which promotes feelings of tiredness and lethargy,” says sports nutritionist Matt Jones (not the Aussie golfer), who works with golfers on the European Tour.

“From a performance perspective, caffeine is known to increase endurance by as much as 10 per cent, significantly reduce perceived exertion, and improve measures of mental skill.”

If you’re wondering if you can get your caffeine elsewhere, such as from soft drinks (Coca Cola, etc) or from supplemental pills, you can, but you’re missing out on coffee’s other benefits, Jones says.

It contains antioxidants and flavonoids, which are thought to promote good health. Routine coffee consumption is also associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and liver diseases and was recently cited as helping reduce the recurrence of prostate cancer.

Drink one cup of coffee (ideally without sugar/sweetener) before the round and another at the turn, but only after consulting your doctor as they may advise against it based on your medical histoy. And remember that it takes nearly an hour before the caffeine takes effect, but the benefits can last as long as six hours. And if you’re worried about coffee’s reputation as a diuretic, the water content in a cup of coffee counters the dehydrating effects of the caffeine, Jones says.


One test to check your iron play

 

The Core The Core

Most golfers can get into a decent address posture over the ball, says fitness guru Ben Shear. And most people can rotate their torsos back and forth while standing upright. “But can you rotate and maintain your address posture?” he asks. “If you can’t, this might be the main reason you hit a lot of fat and thin shots.”

To see if you can rotate your torso while maintaining your address position, sit with your torso upright. Hold a club across your chest so it’s parallel to the ground, and squeeze a pad between your knees. Flex forward, then side bend and try to rotate your torso in either direction. You want a 45-degree turn (the shaft pointing between parallel and perpendicular to the ground) while maintaining a bent-over posture. Struggling? Time to work on your oblique muscles.