| I often hear from amateur golfers about how | | | | to control body movements and center of |
| training with weights makes them feel "tight" and | | | | gravity. |
| it ruin's their golf swing. Traveling on the PGA | | | | After you have looked at the flexibility and |
| Tour I disagree with this point of view completely. | | | | balance components of a training program for |
| It is well known that the top players on the PGA | | | | golf, it is time to shift gears to the "weight |
| Tour; Tiger, Vijay, and Phil workout regularly. | | | | training" side of the equation. The golf swing |
| They praise the benefits of their workouts in the | | | | requires the development of strength within the |
| development of their golf swing. I am a first hand | | | | muscles of the body. You need muscular strength |
| observer of what they do in the gym on the | | | | to maintain a fixed spine angle, create an efficient |
| days they play. | | | | weight transfer, and develop clubhead speed. |
| As a result, I see the reasons why amateurs do | | | | The development of strength in the muscular |
| not workout as excuses rather than legitimate | | | | system is where the amateur commonly makes |
| reasons. I would guess that the difficulty | | | | mistakes. Remember all the exercises in a |
| amateurs have with weight training or working | | | | cross-specific training program for golf must |
| out in relation to the game of golf is how to do it | | | | revolve around the movements of the swing, and |
| correctly. This article will discuss how to properly | | | | create a benefit to your play on the course. |
| workout to improve your golf game. | | | | Typically, strength training is thought of as a |
| Weight training is not bad for the golfer if done | | | | group of exercises that create "bulk" and build the |
| correctly. | | | | "beach muscles". Bench pressing 300 and |
| Weight training done incorrectly is bad for the | | | | developing biceps like Arnold does not mean you'll |
| golfer. | | | | drive the golf ball 300 yards. |
| This is where the amateur gets sidetracked, | | | | Developing strength for the golf swing is very |
| frustrated, and ends up thinking weight training is | | | | different from "football" or "bodybuilding" strength |
| bad for golf. A typical weight training program | | | | exercises. The golf swing uses the whole the |
| found at many health clubs can be detrimental to | | | | body, from feet to fingertips. As a result, golfers |
| the golf swing. These types of programs can | | | | need to strengthen the entire body |
| make you feel "tight", adversely affect your golf | | | | cross-specifically to the movements of the golf |
| game, and leave you frustrated. | | | | swing. A key to strength training exercises for |
| The reason why these "generic" training programs | | | | golf is to integrate the entire body into the |
| are counter productive to golf is their inability take | | | | exercise patterns, rather than isolating a specific |
| into account what is required of the body in | | | | muscle (a.k.a. bicep curls and bench press). |
| relation to the golf swing. | | | | For example, bicep curls may make you look |
| Golfers need to be very aware of a few | | | | great for the beach or fill out your golf shirt, but |
| important concepts when weight training in relation | | | | you do not swing the golf club with your biceps |
| to the golf swing. First and foremost, any training | | | | only. You use your entire body, and as a result |
| program for golf needs to be cross-specific. A | | | | the strength training part of your program, must |
| cross-specific training program develops the body | | | | incorporate the entire body. Exercises such as ball |
| to the positions, movements, and requirements of | | | | crunches, Russian twists, single leg squats are |
| the sport you participate in. | | | | beneficial strength training exercises for golf. |
| Granted everyone's swing is slightly different but | | | | Completing the template of a golf specific training |
| the base components are the same. All golfers | | | | program is endurance training. The golf swing is a |
| rotate around a fixed spine angle, transfer weight | | | | repetitive movement. In a single round of golf the |
| forward and back during the swing, generate | | | | swing is repeated numerous times. A week on |
| clubhead speed, attempt to square the club at | | | | Tour might find players swinging the golf club well |
| impact, and complete the swing in a balanced | | | | over 1000's times. As a result, it is necessary to |
| finish position. | | | | develop the endurance capacities of your |
| The main goal of a cross-specific training program | | | | muscular system. |
| is develop your body physically around the golf | | | | Developing endurance in your muscular system |
| swing. This induces what is termed a transfer of | | | | allows you to repeat a movement over and over |
| training effect onto the golf course. Simplified this | | | | again without getting tired, a key component of |
| states that the training you do in the gym pays | | | | the golf swing. Once the body becomes tired, the |
| off on the course in a positive manner. | | | | ability to swing the golf club properly becomes |
| Designing a weight training program for golf is a | | | | impeded resulting in miss hits, lost distance, and |
| simple process if done correctly. The best place | | | | poor shots. Bottom line, you need to make the |
| to start is with flexibility. Golfers need to be | | | | same swing consistently to score consistently. |
| flexible. The golf swing requires you to move the | | | | Endurance training assists in this process. |
| club through a long range of motion, thus requiring | | | | To summarize; weight training and working out is |
| your body to be very flexible. Areas of the body | | | | beneficial to the golfer, if and only if it is done |
| that typically require large amounts of flexibility | | | | correctly. The wrong choice in the type of training |
| for golf are; the hamstrings, lower back, hips, and | | | | program, exercise selection, or even exercise |
| shoulders. Oftentimes the amateur's swing can | | | | sequence can hinder your golf game. Choosing a |
| improve from just adding flexibility exercises to | | | | training program that is cross-specific to the golf |
| their training program. | | | | swing and induces a transfer of training effect |
| Another aspect of a cross-specific training | | | | onto the golf course is best. This type of |
| program for golf is balance training. Balance is the | | | | program incorporates; flexibility, balance, strength, |
| ability of the body to control its' center of gravity | | | | endurance, and power exercises relative to the |
| and body parts efficiently. Balance exercises | | | | golf swing providing benefits to your body and |
| address both the nervous and muscular systems | | | | golf game. |
| of the body creating greater efficiency in its ability | | | | |