Dehydration is Costing You Strokes

Let me ask you an honest question: how much water do you drink when you are on the golf course? In a regular golf round, you are losing fluids by the second. Every minute you spend golfing, the humidity, physical exertion, sun exposure, sweating, and water evaporation from your skin are rapidly dehydrating you. What if I told you that you are giving up precious strokes by not drinking enough water.

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research studied the motor and cognitive skills of 7 low-handicap golfers. Each player was given a random club and was asked to hit 30 balls at a designated target. The cognitive test required the players to estimate the distance to the target, while the motor test evaluated how close to the target the players hit their balls.

These tests were performed while the players were hydrated, and again when the players were dehydrated by restricting their fluids for 12 hours. When dehydrated, all golfers showed impaired motor skills, as measured by their off target accuracy and shot distance. Their cognitive skills, measured by estimating the distance to a target, were also impaired compared to their tests while being hydrated. Different studies have found similar results both in golf and other sports! 

Sometimes the best performance enhancers are sitting right in front of our faces. How much fluid to drink on the golf course depends of the weather and your body weight. Aim to drink at least a liter of water per hour while you are on the course. Sports drinks are a good option too, but be aware that consuming too many of these drinks will significantly increase your calorie and carbohydrate consumption. Stay away from sodas and juices. Due to their high sugar content they can be hard for your body to absorb. Wear sunscreen and SPF protective clothing. Last but not least, stay away from the ultimate dehydrator: alcohol. 

Hope this easy to follow trick helps improve your game this weekend! Drink up my friends! The difference between a bad round and a good round can be as simple as just a few sips of water per hole. 

To learn more about the study listen in this article click here.

Carolina Romero. Fit Golfer Girl. All Rights Reserved