Navigating Wearable Technology Overload in Golf Fitness Training

There are many options available for fitness tracking. Today, we are going to discuss what to be aware of and how nothing can be absolutely perfect. You might be better off just following a regular routine and not having information overload, or as my physio and I describe it, paralysis by analysis.

Wearing a WHOOP strap to track performance metrics during the competition.

My Journey with Fitness Tracking

This post stems from my own experiences wearing trackable technologies in my past and what I found them to be truly good for, and what had me stop wearing them for the reason I had been. My original purpose of wearing a Whoop strap was to track my energy levels, sleep, and recovery. I found it helpful in understanding what was going on with my body. Every single morning, the first thing I would do was reach for my phone. I wanted to see if I had slept my eight hours and was well-rested enough to train and practice properly that day.

On the days it showed me I was fully recovered, it felt great. Tons of restorative sleep, a low resting heart rate, and full recovery metrics meant it was going to be a good day. This mental boost triggered happiness right away. To be fair, most of those days absolutely were good days.

The Downside of Tracking

Now, on the opposite side of the spectrum, when stress was high and recovery was low, I felt defeated. Sometimes, I couldn't understand why my recovery was low, especially when I believed I had done everything right the day before. I was eating well, getting my rest, and practicing my breath work. I even took Epsom salt baths. I was leaving no stone unturned to maximize my recovery.

I was using every bit of data I had at my disposal. I tracked grip strength tests and RSI testing at home and in the gym. I thought I could align a few variables and make sense of it all.

A Turning Point in My Training

It all came to a head one day during my planned practice for Long Drive training. I felt confident going to bed, thinking I would crush it the next day. However, when I woke up and checked my stats, I was shocked to see I was only 9% recovered. My practice was scheduled for 10 AM, giving me just enough time to wake up and drive there.

In that moment, I decided that this data would not define my day. I went to practice and had a fantastic session. This was when I was training to break the ball speed world record, and I was making great progress. After practice, I continued with my daily routine, knowing full well that I wouldn't be fully recovered by the next day.

That night, I put my strap back on, got my eight hours of sleep, and woke up to an 85% recovery score. That was the day I canceled my membership and stopped wearing a device for tracking. It was clear that I could not go from 9% to an 85% recovery score after pushing my limits.

The Concept of "Paralysis by Analysis"

This is just one example from my experience. After discussing it with my physio, he coined the term "paralysis by analysis," which made complete sense to me. I was so focused on the data that I stopped using logic and common sense to gauge how I should feel. It wasn't the last time something like this happened.

While visiting my now ex-girlfriend, I learned that my snoring was quite bad. I wore her tracking device one night before bed. When I woke up, it showed I had slept deeply, even though I didn't feel that way. Being conscious of my snoring made me feel like I was awake all night, but she assured me I was definitely asleep.

I've also used a snore tracking device on my phone during my bodybuilding prep. It seemed to make sense at times; when I weighed less, I snored much less than when I was heavier. However, some nights, the data was still off the charts for no apparent reason. During prep, my routine was consistent every single day.

Finding Balance in Recovery

What I have learned is that if you are doing all the necessary things to recover properly—maintaining good nutrition, getting quality sleep, prioritizing rest days, and managing stress—you can learn to regulate yourself. I still wear a tracking device, but I limit my regular tracking to my resting heart rate in the morning and my daily steps. I aim to walk at least 5 km each day for my general health.

Do I eat perfectly right now? No, especially after the holidays. But do I feel better overall than I have in many years? Absolutely. Is stress high? Well, I'm in sales, so it's always high. Self-awareness is crucial in understanding yourself. It's important not to let every metric overwhelm you. The human body has so many functions happening simultaneously that adding just one more stress point can lead to negative effects. It's like a row of dominos; one falls, and the rest follow.

The Value of Self-Awareness

Do I think wearable tracking technology is bad? Not at all. Do I think we can become over-analytical about it? Absolutely. There is a happy medium for most things in life. If you can become self-aware and avoid self-inflicted stress, there are great benefits to tracking when combined correctly.

I have a significant use for data collection in my field. I track and measure every detail, and I have the spreadsheets to prove it. However, I often find myself overanalyzing things and complicating matters. This happens with diets, training, the golf swing, sales, marketing, and really anything trackable. I've even seen $30k machines misread data, yet I expect a $50 bracelet to be perfect? Let's use some logic here.

Conclusion: Trust Yourself First

The message I want to convey is for your benefit: not everything is absolute. Things can happen, and data can be wrong. Just be conscious of yourself and prioritize your well-being. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Until next time,

RG