I shared some information about the importance of fitness in golf and that has led to questions about specific exercises or workout routines. As a result I am providing a few ideas that you can include in your fitness routine for golf:
Push Ups + Pull Ups (or bodyweight rows) – The push/pull aspect is huge in the golf swing. Conditioning both chest and back is essential not only for balance of opposing muscle groups but because you need both push and pull in the swing. Balance + Stability – Work on an uneven surface can help improve balance. Example: Squats with one foot slightly higher or on a boss ball. Now, if you’re not sure what a squat is or you don’t know if you have good form, please go get evaluated by a professional. Separation – Movements that require your upper body to move separately from your lower body may help improve separation in the golf swing. Example: Wood Chops
Speed + Power – Sprints + Plyometrics like jump squats and burpees. Golf is a game of power (and control) so where will that power come from if you don’t include it in your workouts?
Flexibility – You need flexibility for power and range of motion. Static stretching is done only after you’re warm. Dynamic flexibility can be done as a warm up. Another great way to warm up and promote flexibility is foam rolling. It’s important to note that each body is different and has different physical needs including any issues with injury or imbalance. If you have specific needs or postural issues, please consult with a personal trainer. It’s always recommended to check with your physician before beginning any new physical fitness program.
Golf is a tough sport. It’s both mentally and physically taxing. That means having both a sharp mind and a properly conditioned body is important to play your best golf. Years ago, golf wasn’t looked at as a true athletic sport. It was viewed as more of a leisure activity that requires a lot of skill. While it does require a lot of skill, golf also requires quite a bit of power and that power is derived from your physical strength, balance, mobility and more.
Golfers like Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka were among the first to introduce detailed training regimens and nutrition plans into their daily schedules which ultimately led to other golfers paying attention to the importance of both fitness and nutrition for golf.
Amateur golfers achieve approximately 90% of their peak muscle activity when driving a golf ball. This is the same intensity as a 4 rep max (the ability to pick up a weight heavy enough that it can only be lifted 4 times before total fatigue). That’s intense! So the need for a specific golf fitness program is important.
Playing a round of golf is physically taxing from the standpoints of both strength as well as endurance. It takes around four hours to play a round of golf so you’ve got to endure a fairly long time frame to complete your round. The golf swing is so complex because it is performed in all of the planes of motion in a very short amount of time. Getting the most out of your swing and your full round of golf requires a complex mix of fitness related qualities which include:
So if you are striving to be a better golfer, think about incorporating a fitness program into your schedule.
The Town-Crier just published an article about my homeschool program. I am honored and thankful. The digital issue can be accessed here, it features a group shot that was taken on July 21, 2020.
I teach golf. This may sound like an obvious statement but for me it is something that I get to do and I really enjoy it. When I see some of the reviews that have been submitted lately, I find myself honored and humbled. Just yesterday, a student posted that they had learned more in one lesson with me than they had learned in 10 lessons with other golf professionals. I have a hard time understanding what was happening in those lessons. When I teach, I enjoy helping my students escape from their everyday lives to learn golf. I am direct in my approach and I do not hold back my comments. If a student pays me money to learn golf, I want to teach them golf. I want to see them succeed and achieve their goals. I want them to get out and play. Truly, I do not take myself that seriously. I am simply thankful that I have a place to teach. This pandemic has made it difficult to find a new home at a golf course but I have continued to coach my students to success even at the Golf Practice Center at Commons Park in Royal Palm.
I am receiving texts and pictures of scorecards frequently from adult students who have improved their scores consistently and are enjoying the game on a new level. More of my junior students are playing tournaments. While some finish first, others do not but they are coming back to their lessons with a renewed desire to keep pressing ahead to improve their skills. I have even witnessed an increased level of energy and joy in my homeschool students that fills me with so much hope for the future of golf. All that to say, I am thankful for the opportunity to teach golf, to have awesome students and to do what I love to do. When it was confirmed that the new management at Okeeheelee and Park Ridge Golf Courses would not be inviting me back to teach, I had to get creative in how to provide lessons. My junior students became especially anxious when the PGA South Florida Section Junior Golf tournament schedule was announced.
Of course, the real discipline happens after they leave the lesson. Do they practice at home with the same focus and attention? Do they approach the golf course with the same awareness of how their preparation impacts the outcome? Only time will tell but I am honored to be along for their golf journey.
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