Why CBD Oil Works for Golfers

In an era of sport focused on gaining the slimmest advantages possible over your competition, be it through computerised analytics and statistics or specific training programmes, a growing trend amongst top athletes is one focused on recovery. Whilst top athletes like Lebron James may shell out millions for cryotherapy and hyperbaric chambers, another form of recovery has taken the world of golf by storm. In this article, we will learn why CBD oil works for golfers for so many reasons.

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is part of the cannabis family and comes from plants. It doesn’t get you ‘high’ in the way that cannabis traditionally does because it contains no THC. This is the substance that gives you these psychoactive effects. CBD has been used for centuries because of its natural healing properties for things like pain and malaria.

So why are golfers increasingly using CBD to boost their performance? Because of its healing properties, CBD has become one of the fastest growing developments amongst golfers, both amateur and professional. The benefits of reduced inflammation help in recovery and prevention of injury, particularly with the recent emphasis on power through your strokes, lowering your chances of developing the dreaded Golfer’s Elbow. CBD oil is also linked to better, more fulfilling sleep, meaning that those early tee-times are no longer as much of a bother as previously thought.

Since CBD was removed as a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2018, the most notable uptake of CBD has been witnessed on the professional scene. One of the earliest adopters and now strongest proponents for CBD use in golf is two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson. At 42 years of age, Watson has continuously looked for ways to prolong his career, to be able to reach the age of veterans like Phil Mickelson (who is also rumoured to be a CBD user) and still be playing at a similarly high standard. A key part of this is the use of CBD oil, Watson even promoting it on his visor.

From there the uptake was rapid, including multiple PGA Tour Champions, who each have said that the use of CBD has massively improved their golfing game, as well as prolonging their careers. Asides from the immediate physical effect of CBD, another big impact is its ability to help with long periods of travel, a key for playing all over the world, often with long flights with little time for recuperation. When coupled with CBD taken before play, this can often lead to more energy in the mornings, meaning that relaxed muscles are ready to go, shaking off any tiredness from the night before.

With the World Health Organization unable to find any health issues with using pure CBD, and the success enjoyed by Watson and other professional golfers, it will not be too long before CBD in golf becomes a central component for any top-level athlete’s training and recovery programme. Andrew Levinson, Executive Director of the PGA Tour’s Anti-Doping Programme has stated that enquiries about use of CBD in golf has increased exponentially in recent years, suggesting that early proponents like Watson are creating waves in the golfing world. As golfers must make sure that the CBD they consume contains no traces of THC, the safest bet for anyone would be to seek out reputable vendors selling pure CBD products.

However, the benefit is not felt by the professional scene alone. The adaptability of CBD means that it can come in a variety of forms, the most popular being in oil drops, which is cheap and therefore is available for broad consumption by the public. This makes it a much more affordable alternative to forms of recovery like percussive therapy, and much less intensive than pliability training. With CBD sales set to hit $20 billion by the end of 2025, it is highly likely that any golf shop or marketplace will be offering a form of CBD.

As well as a physical bonus, CBD also offers a positive mental boost. As most golfers have felt some form of anger or frustration during particularly difficult rounds or holes, the ability to keep composed and focused on your goals is a massive addition to the arsenal of any player. Added patience is also crucial for particularly long rounds, keeping you mentally strong throughout the 4+ hours you are spending on the links.

For those looking to channel their inner Tiger Woods on difficult long putts, CBD offers a perfect reduction in nerves and anxiety, as well as better performance under pressure through greater focus. Even if you have a poor hole or two, the ability of CBD to help control your emotions, and not let negative events impact your play significantly, makes it an absolute must for anybody looking to prolong their golfing career.

This mental uplift may be the greatest benefit of CBD for golfers, not just on the course itself but in wider life. Golf has often been used as a means of relaxation, as well as to treat addiction as well as other mental struggles, so CBD is a perfect enhancement of that process, allowing for a greater peace of mind not just on the course but in everyday business, which in turn begins a cycle of better golf. Bubba Watson’s troubles with anxiety and his use of CBD in his recovery are a perfect illustration of the power of CBD and its benefits for not only golf but also general public health.

Even for those out of action CBD presents a tremendously helpful addition to the world of golf. Not only can they help reduce the impact of Golfer’s Elbow mentioned previously, but CBD products are also a great way to recover from any joint inflammation or injury. So as well as helping prevent injury, CBD oil is a useful way to lower your recovery time and get you back out swinging on the course.

So as well as being more composed at the tee, the recovery aspect of CBD is crucial for golfers, professional or amateur, allowing them to play continuous rounds with less need for rest due to aches and pains. For those looking to get into CBD use to help their golf swing, recovery and in general life, buying CBD oil online can be confusing if you don’t have all the information you need. One of the most common doubts among those who try CBD for the first time is knowing what strength they want or need.

Higher strengths contain a higher level of CBD delivering more CBD per drop. Depending on the desired effect, the stronger the concentration, the stronger the effect. Most beginners will use a lower strength to experience the effects and to learn how many milligrams of CBD per serving their body needs to feel the benefit. More information can be found here.

But why take our word for it? Any number of searches for CBD and its impact on golf show a litany of success stories, from the amateur to the professional level, each showing how handicaps were quickly reduced and play substantially improved. With CBD set to take off soon, it would be best to get ahead of the curve and to incorporate it into your training and recovery programme so you can get the advantage over your friends or any other players you encounter on the golf course.