![\"so-amazon1\"](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2017\/04\/so-amazon1-300x300.jpg\")
Part of golf\u2019s traditional appeal has been that you don\u2019t have to be in great physical condition to play it. And while the game\u2019s culture has been eager to embrace certain aspects of modernity \u2014 sophisticated motion-capture technology and GPS capabilities, for example \u2014 it has until recently remained somewhat behind the curve when it comes to the relationship between pure physicality and performance.<\/p>\n
It sometimes seems like we\u2019re trying to make up for lost time. The annual PGA Merchandise Show now features an entire pavilion devoted exclusively to golf-specific training. Healthy, nutritious foods are joining hot dogs, burgers, and beer at golf halfway houses.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it\u2019s impossible to enumerate all the products and services aimed at improving the health of the golfing populace, but three that crossed this reporter\u2019s desk epitomize the trend.<\/p>\n
swingOIL<\/b>. I know, it\u2019s been around forever in the form of alcohol. This is different. A liquid \u201cdietary supplement for golf\u201d made by a Newport, Rhode Island outfit called Back Nine Beverages, its tagline is \u201cGet Loose. Swing Smooth.\u201d Its seven key ingredients include glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric to combat inflammation; ginseng extract for greater focus; rhodiola rosea extract for stress relief, and so forth.<\/p>\n
As the packaging acknowledges, swingOIL is a supplement and therefore not subject to FDA regulation, so calibrating its effectiveness is slippery, though several pros endorse it. (Can\u2019t resist: I parred the 600-yard par 5 on my home course \u2014 a real rarity \u2014 just after downing a dose of the stuff.) But it\u2019s tasty and comes in lemon-lime, orange, and strawberry-banana. The three-ounce portion is a convenient fit for your golf bag and can be frozen prior to your trip to the course or practice range.\u00a0 www.swingOIL.com<\/a><\/p>\n 1st and 10th Tee energy and nutrition bars.<\/b> Made and distributed by As with swingOIL, measuring the benefits of 1st and 10 Tee bars is an inexact science. But they taste great and their discreet size, 1.6 ounces, simply has to be better for you and your game than a Chicago-style hot dog (piled with everything) and a 20-ounce Coke. The company also donates 15 cents from the sale of each bar to The First Tee. www.golfenergybar.com<\/a><\/p>\n Oska Pulse<\/b>. Manufactured by Vista, California-based Oska Wellness, Inc.,\u00a0this device is a clever wearable adaptation of the electronic stimulation long Therapy \u201csessions\u201d with the Oska Pulse last 30 minutes, and the company\u2019s website recommends different treatment periods, depending on the severity of the user\u2019s injuries. So I can\u2019t yet speak to the long-term benefits, but it\u2019s already brought relief to a balky shoulder. It\u2019s ready to use right from the box, and the battery is easily recharged using a USB port.\u00a0https:\/\/www.oskawellness.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n # # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"1stTeePlus10thTeePlus-RetailDisplayRack-FourCartons-CMYK\"](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2017\/04\/1stTeePlus10thTeePlus-RetailDisplayRack-FourCartons-CMYK-249x300.jpg\")
SCNS Sports Foods, of Upland, California, one of the early entrants in the golf-nutrition market, it introduced the first iterations of the bars in 2001. This year, they added the so-called Plus+ versions to the existing line, including gluten free options, bringing the total to seven: 1st<\/sup> Tee Plus+ Oatmeal Raisin Bar, 1st<\/sup> Tee Plus+ Chocolate Peanut Bar, 1st Tee Dark Chocolate Chip Trail Mix Bars, 1st<\/sup> Tee Honey Almond Snack bar, 10th<\/sup> Tee Plus+ Peanut Honey Bar, 10th<\/sup> Tee Plus+ Chocolate Peanut Caramel Bar, and 10th Tee Cranberry Trail Mix Bar.<\/p>\n![\"IMG_0145\"](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/tomharack\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2017\/04\/IMG_0145-300x300.jpg\")
used by physical therapists to treat chronic pain, which typically required attaching electrodes and proximity to a power source. Resembling an oversized computer mouse, Oska Pulse comes with a strap to affix it to a knee, back, shoulder, elbow, basically anywhere it hurts. Also unlike traditional electronic stimulation, the unit\u2019s Pulsed Electromagnetic Field produces no physical sensation while doing its work and can be worn over or under clothing.<\/p>\n