Golf Tip of the Day - Strength Training

As winter drags on here throughout much of the U.S., many golfers turn to fitness as a way to improve their golf game. There is an entire industry devoted to the subject, and Tiger Woods can take credit for putting fitness at the forefront for golfers.

Most of the fitness related information for golfers is what is called "golf specific." Exercises are developed to help golfers increase range of motion and add some strength in areas where they are weak. Many of the exercises employ the use of training bands, balance balls and such. Traditional strength training is practically non-existent, but is it important?

My opinion is that if you are going to try to improve your golf game through fitness training you should incorporate at least some traditional strength training into your routine. The point is that you are likely performing many other activities outside of golf that require some strength, so why only perform golf specific exercises?

Your golf fitness routines should attack these areas...strength, balance, increased range of motion and speed. Many golf specific exercises will try to attack two or more of these areas at once. Many strength trainers will steer clear of traditional strength training because they feel it only attacks the strength area and may lead to too much bulk.

However, when done properly, traditional strength training will increase your range of motion, and it will help increase the strength of the big muscles a bit more rapidly. For instance, if you are seated on a stable surface, you will be able to handle more weight with a dumbbell press compared to if you are seated on a balance ball. The balance ball will incorporate the core muscles for stabilization, however, you simply won't be able to handle as much weight. If pure strength is what you are looking for in the specific muscle group you are exercising, then you need a stable platform.

With all this in mind, I feel it is a good idea to add traditional strength training into the mix. For myself, this means the use of traditional barbells and dumbbells. I train with these twice each week, and on other days I focus on cardio routines, some yoga, plyometrics and some more golf specific exercises. I believe golfers can benefit by incorporating a little of all of these areas into their routines. Lean, strong and flexible is the goal!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com