How to improve your golf swing with SAID

Augusta National and the Masters is less than 2 weeks away. If I had to guess most every player in the field is working on their game, fine-tuning it for those four magical days at the Bobby Jones designed course in Augusta. I also imagine many of you are getting your games in shape for the upcoming golf season. A principle that I think could help you get ready for this season is called the SAID principle.

Probably the question that first comes to your mind is the title. What in the $%@%@# does SAID mean and what is it relevance to the golf swing? The reality is that SAID stands for a principle that is a very important principle if you want to hit the golf ball farther.

Let us first define SAID. This is a term referring to the principle of “specific adaptation to imposed demands.” This principle states that the body will adapt to the demands of a training stimulus, but will not adapt beyond the scope of that stimulus. (NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal, pg. 18 August, 2005)

This principle pertains to developing the body’s level of fitness in relation to any sport of activity. For example, if I were to perform a bicep curl with a 25lb. dumbbell 15 times. The curl could be difficult in the beginning, but over time it would get easier and eventually, I could crank out 15 repetitions with no problem. This is a result of my body adapting (muscles getting stronger) to the resistance placed upon my body by the dumbbell.

Now here is the kicker, if I continued to only lift a 25 lb. dumbbell over the period of a year. What do you think would happen? I like to use the phrase “diminishing returns” to explain the outcome. Once the body adapts to an external resistance, the body plateaus and does not get stronger. At this point, it can even get weaker!

Now how does this pertain to golf? Think about it for a moment. Greater distance off the tee seems to be a burning desire of every amateur playing the sport. Amateurs go to great lengths to hit the ball 20, 10, or even 5 yards farther. Now, if an amateur’s club head speed is somewhere around 85 mph, how is that club head speed going to improve? One way is improvement in your swing mechanics. This will allow for greater efficiency in their swing, thus allowing for more energy to be inputted into the club head.

Let’s assume you have fairly efficient swing mechanics. How are you going to increase your club head speed (remember, club head speed stays the same even when you buy a new driver)? Some way or some how you are going to have to develop greater club head speed. What is the best way to increase your club head speed? A golf fitness program will achieve this goal. This is where the SAID principle comes into play.

If you have never developed a level of golf fitness, your body is set at a certain level of power generating capabilities. Until you force the body to increase it’s power generating capacities through the SAID principle, your club head speed will stay the same. A golf fitness program will place resistance on your body, forcing it to adapt and improve its power capacities. The end result will be greater club head speed, and that can equate to longer drives.