Golf Fitness Do you or Don't you??

If anyone wants to get in the best shape of their life I'd reccomend P90x. It's a 90 day programme that incorporates cardio work, resistance training and stretching/yoga. It's quite intense but if you do it over the winter months it really sets you up for the golf season.
 
Hobbit said:
I really do need to give serious consideration to getting fitter. At 17st, 44inch waist and only 5'6" I'm way over what I should be weight-wise. My problem is I sit at a desk all week, so I'm not even getting the basic exercise some jobs give, and I have arthritis in the right hip and lower spine and in pain most of the time.
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Have you considered that pain may be due to the lack of fitness?
You might find that getting fitter actually helps with this, if done the right way.

Hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but I think the reasons you give could be used as motivation to get fitter rather than blockages to stop you getting fitter.
 
Phil2511 said:
My pro said that swimming would be good but not to do the breast stroke as it would not be beneficial, my pro is a 6'7" 23 stone animal, having had caps for Ireland at all levels but the senior squad and also played for London Irish. He actually advises against weight training also unless it is very low weight and fast high reps as the swing is a fast action he says that slow motion heavy reps teaches your muscles in a bad way.
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That's why 100m sprinters are all waif like creatures, otherwise they would lose their speed, oh wait...

On a serious note, this is a very common misconception, but it's not true.
Lifting light weights with high reps is generally a waste of time. Better to lift heavy weights explosively (using proper technique) and then with the strength and power gained from this, do additional speed work.
 
with regards the use of weights if you want long leaner muscle it is a case of lighter and more reps,heavy weights and less reps tends to bulk up muscle,but think of what muscles you need for golf and exercise accordingly it is no good having beanpole legs and arms like the hulk,all of us would be better doing more cardio work and generally getting fitter,is it not the speed we get through the ball rather than how hard we hit it.
 
I've been off golf for about 2 weeks. I feel SO stiff and need to do some specific exercise before hitting the course once this weather stops.
 
my golf fitness is choosing not to take the buggy round,
if i can get round the course still giving 100% on my shots down the final hole im happy

i don't think doing weights in the gym is going to help me hit a further, more down to better technique
 
surefire said:
Have you considered that pain may be due to the lack of fitness?
You might find that getting fitter actually helps with this, if done the right way.

Hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but I think the reasons you give could be used as motivation to get fitter rather than blockages to stop you getting fitter.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your suggestion but my lack of serious exercise, and the pain I have, stems from being hit by a car. I do have an exercise regime associated with the physio I receive but that's more to try and retain an element of flexibility. Prior to that it was football, cricket, rugby, badmington & golf but sadly now, it's barely golf.

But thanks for the suggestion.
 
I'd thumped on the weight as my job involves either sitting behind my desk or driving out to see people and sitting at their desk! Took the decision that I needed to sort myself out and now get up the back of 5 every day to hit the gym. Lost 2 stone 7lbs in the last 9 weeks but haven't had a chance to play golf but I can only imagine that the increased fitness will help the occasional sluggish feeling I get towards the end of a round. I've been doing a lot of upper body weights as well so I'm interested to see if this affects my swing. I've heard people say doing weights restricts your flexibility and can restrict your swing but that might just be folk saying that because they can't be bothered working out! Hoping to play my next round in the Matchplay Championship before Xmas so I'll have to play soon and will let everyone know how the leaner, fitter me fares...
 
papyt said:
with regards the use of weights if you want long leaner muscle it is a case of lighter and more reps,heavy weights and less reps tends to bulk up muscle,but think of what muscles you need for golf and exercise accordingly it is no good having beanpole legs and arms like the hulk,all of us would be better doing more cardio work and generally getting fitter,is it not the speed we get through the ball rather than how hard we hit it.
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Actually, heavy and less reps is very good for strength, heavy and medium reps (say 8-10) is good for hypertrophy. Light and many reps is good for wasting hours of time in the gym. Actually that's slightly harsh, you will work on muscle endurance and be aerobic.

On the golf swing speed thought, what do you think helps you get speed through the ball, I'll guarantee that it's not the heart muscle!

To improve this speed, you need to work on power, that is having a high strength and being able to apply it quickly.
Think of it like a car, you have torque and max power, a high performance car needs both. Being able to do 0-50 in 2 seconds is great, but pretty useless if the max speed is only 50mph. Having a top speed of 200mph is great, but pointless if it takes you an hour to accelerate to this speed.

However golf fitness is about far more than just swing speed, it also helps you with club control, tiredness after round(s) and injury prevention.
 
Hobbit said:
I appreciate your suggestion but my lack of serious exercise, and the pain I have, stems from being hit by a car. I do have an exercise regime associated with the physio I receive but that's more to try and retain an element of flexibility. Prior to that it was football, cricket, rugby, badmington & golf but sadly now, it's barely golf.

But thanks for the suggestion.
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Sad to hear that.

Keep up the work though, and it will eventually pay off.

I injured my back and hip through coming off a bike and then a couple of years later through a car accident. Sometimes it really hurt, and my mobility was reduced to nothing. Was a frustrating time, but I kept it up and I am now even stronger and more mobile than before all this.
 
I am just starting a programme (from my pro) of exercise to improve my flexability but won't be bulking up too much as i need to stay loose.

Phil.
 
I've been going back to the gym regularly for about 3 months now, nothing golf specific although we do concentate on quite a lot of core exercises which are, by popular opinion, beneficial for golf.

If the extra conditioning brings me a few extra yards come next season I will be most pleased.
 
Found a guy Mike Pederson on youtube he also has a website called Perform Better golf .com

Seems to make sense with some of the things he says, most exercises use light dumbells or a medium weight medicine ball and resistance tubing. All of these things seem to be easily done at home or office in short time periods.
 
my pro has just had 6 months constant gym work to improve upper body strength, hes gained around 15-20 yards on hes drive, and on a recent beat-the-pro hole was ripping hes 54* vokey around 120 to the pin... maybe i should hit the gym
 
I simply don't have the inclination. Straightforward as that. I'd rather work on my game at the range or play a few holes than work out in a gym or run, row etc. I am not the most balanced individual and find pilates and yoga boring.
 
Motivation for me.

Spent 15 years or so keeping as fit as possible, having specific diets etc for my football, the trade off was I was getting paid for it!!

Never set foot in a gym now, the most boring places on earth. Golf for me is relaxing and enjoying a few hours of "me time" so don't take it anywhere near seriously enough to worry about golf-specific fitness. I have no dount there are very beneficial exercises out there though.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
I simply don't have the inclination. Straightforward as that. I'd rather work on my game at the range or play a few holes than work out in a gym or run, row etc. I am not the most balanced individual and find pilates and yoga boring.
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goldenbare said:
"balanced" Homer?
Mind or Body?
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In terms of balance - body definitely - not great at standing on one leg etc

As for mentally I think the jury are still out. Probably not if the change of pro thread is anything to go by
 
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