It’s no big secret – I’m not a huge fan of conventional ‘gym-type’ workouts for golfers. As a matter of fact – I think it’s pretty foolish for the typical golfer to be lifting weights and pumping up on all the machines to try and enhance his golf performance.
The main exercises you need to focus on are stretching and flexibility exercises (first and foremost) – and then core conditioning exercises on top of that foundation of flexibility.
Then you can add in some cardiovascular and balance training.
Most of what I just mentioned can be done very effectively with body-weight exercises.
Throw in some good resistance bands, a nice floor mat, a 55 or 65cm swiss/exercise ball, maybe a light medicine ball, and possibly even some light dumbbells (5’s, 8’s and 10’s) – and you have everything you need for some serious golf performance improvement – as well as a smart, all around, well balanced fitness program for all areas of your life – even in the bedroom (cause that score counts too you know?).
With all that being said – I know there are still some golfers out there who are going to still ‘hit the gym’ and do what everyone else is doing… So – if this sounds like you here are a few body and game destroying exercises I would advise you to drop from your program:
* 1 – Lat Pulldowns Behind the Neck/Head
* 2 – Shoulder Presses from Behind the Head/Neck
* 3 – Stiff Legged Dead-lifts
* 4 – Traditional Bench Presses
* 5 – Wide Dumbbell Flyes or Regular Cable Cross Flyes
Those are just a handful of potential game and body killers – and there are more – but I don’t want to overwhelm you. I just want you to understand that as a golfer you need to be doing something that takes into account your sport and how the body is used in that sport.
Unlike every other sport – golf requires a blend of suppleness, power and ‘golf-muscle’ endurance that simply cannot be achieved on a typical strength training program.
Use full body flexibility as your foundation, core conditioning as your next level and then golf endurance as the icing on the cake.
Combine each of these elements consistently and your buddies will want to know “what you’ve been doing”.
