Miami Whitewater Forest - Professionals Tips

March 5 , 2007

“Improve Your Distance & Your Scores With Some Weight Training”

Strength training can be done regardless if you are 8 or 80 years of age.  Just light training done correctly can help to play much better golf.  Golf was one of the last sports to recognize that it could use a fitness component.  But today it is seen as a must for any serious player.  Because of the amount of practice that some golfers put into their swings they become very vulnerable to injury.  Particularly vulnerable to injury are the elbows, wrists, hands, shoulders, knees and lower back. Proper exercise and weight training is a must.  Sometimes that pre-round stretch can do more harm than good when improper warming-up strains cold muscles.  It has been said that 50% of back injuries occur on the practice tee.  You will notice properly coached players start with light calisthenics such as arm circles, leg kicks, and simulated arm swings prior to picking up a club.  Tour Professionals also find aerobic exercise very helpful.

High scores many times are caused simply by bad posture and imbalance which reduces power and consistency.  Many golfers are afraid that weight training will hinder their golf swings.  With golf it is important to do resistance training that is specific to golf and sports that require a great deal of flexibility.  This is different than lifting weights to make significantly increased muscle size.  Golfers do not want to lift increasingly heavier weights with lower repetitions.  A golf-related program would consist of light to moderate weights with usually about a dozen repetitions.  You will not lose flexibility this way; in fact the opposite is true.  Weak muscles are tight muscles. Resistance training increases blood flow to the muscle, and strengthens ligaments and tendons to crucial areas.  Add a light stretching program to this weight training program and I can assure you more clubhead speed, more control and better balance. If you want to see that average score come down, just join the new age of golfers and get “Golf Fit”……..A light golf specific fitness program will be added to all of our Junior Golf Programs and Adult Basic Golf Group Programs here at Miami Whitewater Forest in 2007.   

“Good Luck & Better Golfing”     Harry