CBD continues to grow in popularity, with more and more users turning to this compound for its calming effects and as a natural relaxant. More recently, some athletes have even begun touting the benefits of CBD oils, especially in the golfing world. 

Although golf is not an aggressive, contact sport, it does require long days and is not without its fair share of injuries. For this reason, some golfers have turned to CBD not only for its general health benefits but also as a way to enhance their game. Let’s take a look at the potential  benefits of CBD for Golfers.

Is CBD Legal for Golfers?

Before we jump in, it’s important to realize that while THC remains an illegal substance in many parts of the country, CBD is not. In 2018, the Farm Bill introduced legislation that made hemp legal to grow and sell for consumption. Reputable CBD producers use sophisticated extraction techniques to make their CBD products. 

Of course, just because a substance is legal does not necessarily mean it is allowed in the professional sports world. The good news is that CBD is not prohibited by the Anti-Doping Program at the PGA, nor by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), that manages the list of prohibited substances for major world sports events like the Olympics. 

The real issue, however, is that since CBD is not regulated by the FDA, it’s up to manufacturers to control the purity of their products. This means it is up to golfers and other athletes to make sure the CBD oils they are using are derived from hemp, rather than marijuana, and do not contain the banned substance THC.

 5 Potential Benefits of CBD for Golfers

According to users, CBD for golfers has a number of health benefits that are uniquely aligned with the needs of golfers. Because of this, many great golfers are turning to CBD oils to enhance their game, including Scott McCarron, Bubba Watson, and Lucas Glover. Fans even recently spotted Phil Mickelson using a CBD product at the Masters. 

1. Reduces Stress

During times of stress, the brain releases neurotransmitters that are beneficial in certain dangerous situations. Although these chemical in the brain can be useful in some sports, in golf, that requires a lot of concentration and control, they can negatively impact your game. 

Taking CBD before a stressful task can, according to some sources,  lower anxiety. In golf, anxiety can make it very difficult to succeed, especially at the professional level with so many eyes watching. Studies have shown a marked improvement in performance in people taking CBD before public speaking or other similar activities. 

2. Improves Focus

Golf is a sport that requires a delicate balance between nerves and alertness. Many athletes practice for years to reach the perfect performance mindset, but there are a lot of things that can throw an athlete off-balance. 

Fortunately, CBD helps, according to individual user reports,  with focus and concentration. It can be taken to help mitigate mental distractions and to keep your head in the game. Many athletes have found that CBD helps them to maintain the sweet spot between low-energy and begin overly jumpy.

3. Helps With Sleep

Although sleep is critical for performance in any sport, it is extremely important for golf. Golf is, in many ways, a performance sport, and shooting a full 18 holes can take the better part of the morning. 

As we all know, without proper sleep our moods drop, we suffer from low energy, and can’t perform day to day tasks as well. What’s more, our spatial reasoning suffers. In golf, this can hamper our ability to judge the distance to the hole, as well as how far it is from the club to the tee. CBD, taken regularly, increases REM times, and overall sleep quality- according to some research.

4. Assists Injury Recovery

Most golfers experience aches and pains from playing. Although many such symptoms are a normal part of the game, they can develop into more serious injuries, such as wrist injuries, back pain, elbow tendonitis, and knee injuries. Some of these injuries can become chronic and have a serious impact on a person’s game.

Even if your issues are not career-ending, they can still affect your performance. According to some studies, CBD interacts with your internal endocannabinoid system to help reduce the perception of pain. One of the biggest issues for golfers, after all, is the toll the repeated movements take on the body, and CBD oils can help the body to heal.

5. Manages Inflammation

As we mentioned above, the repetitive motions required to play golf can lead to injuries that can hurt your game. Not only is managing pain critical, but inflammation as well. In fact, oftentimes, the pain we feel from a pulled muscle is caused by inflammation.

CBD is often recommended for arthritis or other conditions involving joint inflammation. For this reason, it’s perfect to treat sports-induced inflammation and injury. You can use topical CBD creams for minor aches, but many athletes often take CBD internally to build up a base against chronic inflammation and pain.

CBD for Golfers both Casual and Professional 

Whether you are a casual golfer or a more serious player, CBD is a product worth considering. It’s most commonly found as CBD oil that can be taken in a capsule or with food, but this can take a little time to produce an effect. There are also tinctures in the form of alcohol extracts that tend to be more concentrated, or you can use a vape pen to smoke CBD for a more immediate effect. For post-game, there are topical creams for sore muscles and joint pain.

No matter what type of product you choose, make sure that the CBD is derived from hemp and not marijuana in order to avoid the THC. Also, if you are looking for a quality product, make sure to get a CBD oil that is sourced organically and from a vendor you can trust.