Performance coach Leisbeth Pauwels sees it all the time: Golfers don’t take hydration seriously. If you’re not drinking enough, you’re putting your body at risk. Dehydration causes headaches, can make you feel dizzy, and fatigued. These physical symptoms are hard to miss, but before your body starts to show it’s in trouble, there are subtle mental symptoms that appear first.
“Hydration is very overlooked,” Pauwels, who works with LPGA and LET golfers, says. “It affects focus and concentration a lot.”
If you get dehydrated on the golf course, your game is going to suffer.
“If the body gets into a state of dehydration, which happens quite fast, it can affect clubhead speed. Your body will be more focused on ensuring it’s operating at a minimum level instead of optimizing for golf,” Pauwels explains.
Pauwels often sees average players realize they’re thirsty, then chug a bottle of water to try to compensate for the fact that they haven’t maintained their hydration throughout the round. There are two problems with this. First, if you’re waiting until you feel thirsty, you’ve waited too long. You’re already experiencing the effects of dehydration. Second, you’re going to feel uncomfortable after chugging a lot of water. Pauwels says it’s hard to feel athletic or strong after inundating your stomach with a large amount of liquid all at once.
Instead, you need a hydration plan. Pauwels recommends players integrate sips of water or an electrolyte drink into their normal routine.
“Take a few sips every time you write your score down, or each time you take your glove off,” Pauwels says. Drinking smaller amounts consistently throughout the round will keep you hydrated and more comfortable.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
