Age 71, losing length, is there any hope?

I would think it is not your game but loosing strength and flexibility.  Check with your Doc then start a reasonable stretching and weightlifting program and do not neglect the core. You will not hit it like you did at 45 but maybe like you did at 62.  

Keep playing

My step father is 94 still walks nine holes and shoot in the eighties most days. He is not long seldom over 150 but 150, 150, 150 gets him on most greens and he never 3 putts. 

Highlander,

I'm the same age and have experienced the same frustrating loss of distance .

In the last 10 years my handicap has gone from under 10 to my current 15.5 . Ugh !

Recently , I began the workouts that Jaacob Bowden

recommends on his website : Swing Man Golf Online Training .

So far , in only a couple of weeks my driver swingspeed has gone from

around 95mph to over 100mph ( when measured with the SwingSpeed Radar ) !

I'm very pleased , and expect to get up to near 105-110mph as I continue .

If not , even the speed I've already gained is appreciated .

I'll keep you posted , and I'm looking forward to hearing other comments ,

Michael

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandLaird 

Thank you very much indeed gentlemen for your helpful replies----I shall try what you suggest, and report back!  

I'm going to get some weights and start 'working out' as you recommend.

Thank you again for taking the time and trouble to help this desperate old man !!

http://genostim.com

I began taking these and noticed a difference after 3-4 months. You can workout longer and muscles stays on - I have larger biceps now than when I was 40 - now 58.

Put "P1" in any promo code to save $5.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandLaird 

Thank you very much indeed gentlemen for your helpful replies----I shall try what you suggest, and report back!  

I'm going to get some weights and start 'working out' as you recommend.

Thank you again for taking the time and trouble to help this desperate old man !!

Just remember to take it easy and work into it.  Even though I am 10 years younger than you I got involved in a work out group with a bunch of young kids and rip both rotator cuffs trying to keep up.

Also If you have not done it yet have your T-Levels checked.  Mine were very low and I am not on HRT and I can see a big difference.

As mentioned, work on stretching and TURNING...get your left shoulder turning back behind the ball....most guys our age turn much farther in their practice swing than they do when they strike the ball.

Consider getting a Titleist Performance Institute http://www.mytpi.com/ analysis of your swing. I'm 62, have an arthritic right hip, and got evaluated in summer of 2011.

The analysis team includes a PGA golf pro and a wellness professional (physical theraphst, athletic trainer, or maybe a chiropractor).

The wellness rep will take 29 movement measurements related to your golf swing (i.e., hip flexion, shoulder turn and flexibility). Then the rep will compute your fitness HDCP, and give you a workout routine to strengthen/increase flexibility in different body parts. My analysis was all over the place: PGA-Tour caliber on nine areas, woefully substandard on another eight.

The PGA pro takes a look at your swing, and should focus more on motion ranges/limits than the average pro.

Since the analysis, I have gone through two 18-session workout packages. The packages helped shore up weak areas, such as poor back flexibility, and poor rotation in one shoulder. Now, if I can just get my fairway woods under control, I should be in good shape. The "how-to" instructions and demo video clips for the individual exercises are on the TPI website.

Work on your flexibility so that you can maximize what you have left.  Id avoid the silly drugs and other crazy remedies.  Theyre a waste of time and likely to do more harm than good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaijinGolfer 

Work on your flexibility so that you can maximize what you have left.  Id avoid the silly drugs and other crazy remedies.  Theyre a waste of time and likely to do more harm than good.

Thank for calling supplements crazy.

You're sweet.

If one can find a supplement that helps your body naturally produce certain advantageous chemicals/hormones that it is now producing in lesser amounts ... that is a good thing if done naturally.

What do you mean - "what you have left?"

That is ignorant.

Start over ...

Sorry but Ive seen PLENTY of medical studies that say suppliments are a waste of time.  No magic pill is going to cure getting older.  Call me ignorant all you want but I educate myself enough to not rely on 10 year old myths and not believe the BS that drug companies like to spew.

The supplement that really works is Viagra. And Cialis. But these only of marginal use on the golf course. Deep antler supplement 'may' work but may be illegal in competition, check with your Greens Committee. Since i am of a similar age as OP i can tell him that overdoing the workout is incredibly easy. If  after months of idleness, you spend 4 hrs in the gym/pool/yoga studio  one day  then the next 4 days will  bring massive fatigue.,

So begin slowly, set small daily goals and keep your goals in mind.  The strength is the easiest to regain, flexibility takes more time. Don't forget that in truth your DNA, cellular metabolism etc are all in decline so going backwards in time not possible but slowing down the process is possible. But no pill of any kind can do it. 

I'd like to say, 

• No one advocates just taking pills

• Have you come back from traumatic injuries or operations at middle age?
• Some member said "use what you've got left"
• Oh, so we have a limited supply of muscles or flexibility and can't expand on it? We're limited on what we can do?
• LOL

For the OP, if you don't mind spending a little money on some tools. And if you workout at home:

• Roger Frederick's Golf Flexibility is not a bad little DVD. It will help with flexibility
• Get some rope to help stretch your legs
• Find a workout you like - I use Kettlebells and the Art of Strength DVDs
• Rowing is Good
• Fast Walking is Good
• Get a Heart Monitor - seriously. Garmin makes a good one.
• Golflexx is a nice little tool
• Get a monthly, hourly massage
• Supplements - do what you want. Natural Food Based Vitamins would seem to be your best bet. I don't use anything weird other than the Genostim posted above. I just noticed with using it that I'm able to workout longer and have more stamina. Each of us must go down our own path but do not close your mind. Just don't give in to the dolts who say to accept old age and its effects. You don't need to fight it (that's negative) - you live by avoiding the effects of old age - by working out consistently, caring for your body, and changing your eating habits.
• No one says the road is easy - just workout consistently and you will see progress.

May not be a popular choice, but when I hit age 70 I graduated to the senior tee box (forward men's tees).  Enjoying the game a lot more since I did that, now 75. 

Flexibility and core strength.  But at 71, you are a 3.7, so you are doing pretty well!!!  My 79 year old Mom is a physical therapist (still!).  She works with her patients on those two key items to get them back.