Golf Fitness Exercises: The Dos and Don’ts

To be sure, you don’t have to be a world-class athlete to play the game of golf. You don’t have to run fast, jump high, or lift heavy weights. Golf is such a popular game in large part because so many different people can participate alongside one another. However, if you are willing to invest time and effort in a golf fitness program, you do stand to see very real gains on the course.

Before you get started working on your golf fitness, it is important to understand the overall goal of this process. Getting fit for golf is not the same thing as getting fit to run a marathon, for example, so you’ll want to tailor your golf workouts specifically for the mission of shooting lower scores.

Of course, as is always the case, you should check with your doctor before starting any workout program.

The Goal of Golf Fitness Training

When you decide to work on your fitness as part of your plan to play better golf, it would be easy to say that you just need to “get in shape.” Certainly, improving your overall level of personal fitness will be beneficial, but tailoring your plan to the demands of the golf course is the best way to find success.

So, what does golf demand from a fitness perspective? Consider the following points:

• Flexibility is hugely important, both to promote a big turn and to help reduce the chance of injury.
• Endurance will permit you to play as well at the end of the round as the beginning.
• Core strength helps to stabilize the swing and build speed through the hitting area.

Ideally, performing golf-specific workouts will allow you to become stronger, more flexible, and more capable of swinging the club properly all day long.

A Warning

Unfortunately, some golfers who set out with the best of intentions have gone wrong over the years with regard to fitness. The main concern here is adding too much muscle mass, which can restrict the turn of your swing. If you get too bulky, particularly in your upper body, you may find that your swing loses some of the speed and fluidity it once had.

For most golfers, the right plan is to perform exercises using high repetitions and low weight. That is the usual plan to improve functional strength without adding too much bulk. The best golf exercises are those that help you build lean muscle and continue to become more fit over time.

Getting Help

Unless you have the experience necessary to design your own golf fitness training program, you may want to seek out professional help. Find a trainer in your area who specializes in sport-specific workouts and ask if he or she has any experience with golf training. Finding the right help on this task can make all the difference in the results you achieve.

Fitness is important in golf, but it will only take you so far. To bring your game together, you’ll also need a reliable technique—and working with a quality launch monitor can provide you with the data necessary to improve your swing. Contact Foresight Sports today to learn more about our products. Thanks for visiting!