Is Balance The Key To Success?

By: R. Thomas

Balance is a key component in sports. Of course, there are many different ways we can explore the word "balance", for instance, the balance between sport and social life or the balance between mental and physical strength. In addition, the explicit use of balance in sport, as a skill, is vital for a variety of different activities, maintenance of control and definitely for the achievement of good results. 

Balance isn't just about not falling over, it's a skill that requires huge practice and is critical for your performance in a wide range of sport. In this article, you'll uncover and delve into the world of balance and discover which sports put your balance to the ultimate test.  

Balance is a foundation for agility, precision and a fast reaction, all aspects that are used immensely in different activities. Balance is the ultimate unsung hero in an array of different physical activities. For instance, imagine yourself briskly changing direction while cutting through air in basketball, or simply staying upright in ice hockey, imagine the fast movements required to move across the ice instead of falling face first. When thinking about this skill, what usually comes to mind are sports like gymnastics, ice skating or even surfing, however there is such a huge variety of sports that require it that aren't usually thought of.  
Here is a list of the top 5 sports which most require balance: 

1. Surfing- balance is what keeps you up on the board, even when facing huge waves, surfers are required to stay up right. On a simple two feet on a small surfboard against huge waves and force acting against them.  
2. Equestrian- a rider must maintain balance on a horse even though a horse might be crooked. It is not possible for the horse to perform its best if the rider is not sitting properly.  
3. Gymnastics-this is a given one, simply to stand on a straight beam, let alone turn and tumble requires immense balance. In addition, when simply on the floor doing millions of pirouettes and landing promptly, balance is also a skill needed.  
4. Baseball- As a pitcher, balance is extremely important for accuracy and velocity, if your feet are not properly in position, it could mean the difference between a home run or not.  
5. Fencing- it is important for the fencer to be stable on his feet and have good balance in order to score more hits. fencing sees continuous back and forth movement between the two fencers. 

In synthesis, balance is a core component in an array of sports, and to master it could be the ultimate difference between a good or a bad performance or a gold or a silver medal.