Finding the right trainer can be challenging, but they are called “personal” trainers for a reason. Trainers are there to guide you to your personal fitness goals safely and effectively and to do so; they also need to fit with your personality. Finding a competent golf fitness coach is an even tougher task due to the lack of availability.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of personal trainers in America will jump 24% by 2020. As the field increases, clients will need to do more research to find the right trainer to fulfill their needs.
Below we will suggest the 6 best rules to follow when researching a golf fitness trainer. There are numerous trainer out there to choose from but only a small percentage are the right one for you. Keep these 6 qualities in mind when doing your research for your trainer. WWW.MYTPI.com is a great place to start when looking for a golf fitness trainer in your area.
- Assessment
Any good trainer knows the old saying, ”If you do not asses, it is just a guess”. With that being said, upon your first visit, your trainer should have you fill out a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire or PAR-Q, discuss your long and short term goals and administer a complete physical assessment. The assessments is a very important tool in how to build a safe and effective plan of attack. The TPI Golf Fitness Trainer offers a very in depth 16 point physical assessment that can identify the restrictions in the body that can adversely affect the golf swing. Without conducting an assessment the trainer has no idea where to start your program, and any exercise prescribed there forth, is just a guess.
- Patience
Patience is the key to a good client-trainer relationship. Trainers should understand that what works for one client may not work for another. Trainers should also be able to find a comfortable pace for their clients. Some clients may progress at a faster rate, while others may require more coaching and assistance. There is no cookie cutter plan that fits everyone a good trainer finds the right pace for the individual.
- Communication
Your trainer will not be with you at all times during the day or during your round so they should be able to explain things to you on the phone and teach you how to do complete these tasks without physically being present through every workout. A good trainer should also be able to give you “homework” so you can stay on the program between your scheduled sessions such as a pre-round routine to have you warmed up prior to a workout, range session or round of golf.
- Professionalism
While it’s important to maintain a close personal relationship with a client, there also needs to be a level of professionalism. A trainer might carry your water or get you a towel if need be but they should remain focused on the task at hand, your fitness goals. Cell phone calls and texting should remain at a minimum. If a personal call or text is totally necessary, then permission to do so should be asked. Lastly, the clothes your trainer wears should be simple and preferably a staff uniform. The attention should be on the client, not on what the trainer is wearing…. or not wearing to show off his or her physique.
- Education
Trainers should be able to show you an appropriate fitness certification for their area of expertise. To
become certified, personal trainers must pass an exam through accredited organizations such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and in our case TPI (Titleist performance Institute). Most exams cover exercise physiology, program design, nutrition, and functional anatomy. Each certification will offer different areas of expertise but they are usually up-to-date with the latest fitness trends and research. The trainer should also assure the client that they do not and will not teach golf, they are just there to fix the physical issues so the PGA professional can do their job more efficiently. Many trainers try to be a “jack of all trades” but, sadly most are masters of none.
- Personality
Once you have established that you want a trainer, you can start looking for them. A good way to research a trainer is to reach out to a few via the internet and see who offers a complimentary fitness evaluation to help you get acquainted with the trainer. WWW.MYTPI.com offers a directory of its certified professionals as well as their credentials that can be close to your home or office. As a client, you want to feel comfortable and trust that your trainer has your best interest in mind. You should ask for references and testimonials, most trainers will be flattered to show you the good work that they have done in the past. Call the references so you can get a feel for the type of commitment the trainer will have toward helping you achieve your goals.
For any additional questions or comments please feel free to contact me via email at James@Coregolfperformance.com