Gym retention rates rarely exceed 50% and the same would be true for the specilised support a Tour pro gets - if the Physio Caravans etc were not there, or the Personal Trainers not booked, then the majority of players would not make the gains they know they need to compete with the best, a standard set by a certain T Woods Esq and which has now gone to almost stellar levels.

The best (Tour Pros) are taught by the best PTs. Ask any good PT how to keep motivation going, how to ensure a client makes the most from their efforts and you will be told ..... this is actually like trying to get a Psychologist to reveal their secrets, what they actually say that helps a player win a Major or a Tour Title. Hand over a couple of thousand dollars (or a fair amounts of £s) and you can be part of the journey to mental perfection.

There are of course a number of players who don't use mental coaches, just as there are players and people in everyday life for who fitness is something they just embrace and get on with. Everyone is different and a good PT works best because they understand how a client thinks, how they work best and the top PTs complement this by increasing a clients' understanding - what the changes mean and what the changes actually feel like as they change their lives. Its education, lots more knowledge that comes without the regimentation.

There are books and videos for every segment of fitness, material which will help develop routines, scehdules and exercise form - for everything from basic aerobics, weight training etc. through to say Yoga and Tai-Chi. Instructors and PTs are hands-on teachers who can compare what a client does with what is actually best practice, proper form - something a book or video cannot do. All these segments have their devotees and their PR. They use some of the principles, the in-depth background to what exercise is all about.

'Physiology of Sport and Exercise' by Wimore and Costill is simply the best book you could buy if you want to have a complete understanding of what makes sport and fitness training work. Its substantial (in size) because it is authoritative - very authoritative. This does not make this book 'professorial' and highbrow. In fact it is beautifully written and illustrated - its an example of layout and structure that should make it a reference for other prospective authors or publishers, not just for books on sports, fitness and the like.

This is typical of the publishers, Human Kinetics, whose range of titles is unrivalled and more of their books will be featured over the coming months. The two authors of 'Physiology of Sport and Exercise' are Jack Wilmore PhD and Davod Costill (another PhD), experts amongst experts. Their knowledge simply pours off the pages of this book, the reuslt of their having written or contributed to 100s of other publications.

If you have sort of interest in Sports Fitness, this book should be on a 'to buy' list. Its recommended reading for anyone who has started to find fitness making a difference to their golf and for Teachers and those who really want to optimise their performances, their actual golf (or any other sport), this book is a must.

You can study a chapter, or sectionalise things. You will come back again and again to a book like this. Its a reference manual that will almost certainly answer any question or help with developing more detailed plans for improvements. Take even 1% of the knowledge that is in this book and your commitment to changes will be long lasting.

'Pyhsiology of Sport and Exercise' Edition III is published by Haman Kinetics and is available from all good book stores or online at www.humankinetics.com

Its ISBN No is 0-7-7360-4489-2

There is a free on-line study guide for students at

www.humankinetics.com/physiologyofsportand exercise/osg

For instructor rsources you can visit this book's web site at

www.humankinetics.com/physiologyofsportand exercise