Gym and Golf.

[sawtooth]

If anybody needed proof that you don't need to be a ripped muscle man to play golf at the elite level then my advice is to go and watch a live tournament.

Having spent the week at Wentworth at the PGA recently and up close to the players I can see that top players come in literally all shapes and sizes.

Tall, short, thin, fat, ripped, wimpy, old, young, etc.

Its a myth IMO and I think time is better spent on the range than in the gym.

As long as you have a basic level of fitness all that really counts is your technique at the end of the day.

I wouldn't be surprised that Rory's muscle gain has something to do with his indifferent form. He has a naturally perfect swing and his pursuit of getting even better through rigorous gym work, he could end up losing what he has.

Agree or not?
.

 

[chrisd]

Luckily for Rory he has access to the best brains around as to what fitness regime will or won't better his swing, as I don't, I prefer to steer clear of all that gym dark magic but I do feel so much fitter cos I drive past the gym every day going to golf!

 

[Hobbit]

If anybody needed proof that you don't need to be a ripped muscle man to play golf at the elite level then my advice is to go and watch a live tournament.

Having spent the week at Wentworth at the PGA recently and up close to the players I can see that top players come in literally all shapes and sizes.

Tall, short, thin, fat, ripped, wimpy, old, young, etc.

Its a myth IMO and I think time is better spent on the range than in the gym.

As long as you have a basic level of fitness all that really counts is your technique at the end of the day.

I wouldn't be surprised that Rory's muscle gain has something to do with his indifferent form. He has a naturally perfect swing and his pursuit of getting even better through rigorous gym work, he could end up losing what he has.

Agree or not?
.

I think there are two things needed to play decent golf. 1) The stamina to get around a course comfortably, and b) the skill to do so. Being built like Schwarzanegger is overkill in that respect. The Colin Montgomerie's of this world seem to navigate around and put in a decent score without looking like an Olympic athlete.

However, being a supreme athlete myself I can see the benefit of a God-like body.

 

[shortstuff]

I think Rory has got better, longer and more consistent thanks to his gym work. His poor form comes from high maintenance, flash girlfriends and playing in stupid ProAms before a tournament.

 

[sawtooth]

I think there are two things needed to play decent golf. 1) The stamina to get around a course comfortably, and b) the skill to do so. Being built like Schwarzanegger is overkill in that respect. The Colin Montgomerie's of this world seem to navigate around and put in a decent score without looking like an Olympic athlete.

However, being a supreme athlete myself I can see the benefit of a God-like body.

There is always the exception to prove the rule.

 

[Fish]

It's not like there's anyone on the course to impress, unless your over 60 and fancy the local blue rinse and don't mind waking up to the smell of bleach.

I'm all for the "lived in" look

 

[sawtooth]

I think Rory has got better, longer and more consistent thanks to his gym work. His poor form comes from high maintenance, flash girlfriends and playing in stupid ProAms before a tournament.

I guess time will tell. Same could be said for Tiger arguably a better player when he was his natural build (lean and wimpy) back in the early days.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I think Rory has got better, longer and more consistent thanks to his gym work. His poor form comes from high maintenance, flash girlfriends and playing in stupid ProAms before a tournament.

Pretty much this

Westwood consistent high performance over the last decade is down to better fitness and gun work

Rose , Poulter , Kaymer all have their own personal fitness trainers now to keep them going at the top level all year round

Rory hits the distances he does with both timing and muscle with speed and power - he has gained half that with gym work with also includes things like Pilates and weights and CV work

Since I started doing Pilates it has improved my golf

 

[Tiger man]

I am sure the gains are minimal to his golf as he was hardly in poor shape before. Maybe gives some players a mental edge though as they will believe they have out worked their opponents off the course. As long as he does not go overboard and becomes unflexible it cannot hinder him and he is a long way from that size.

 

[User20205]

I think the right type of fitness can only make you a better player. Time spent on explosive, dynamic and core exercise can only be beneficial. Lean muscle gain is a side effect of this. Time spent building muscle for the sake of it is pointless. It's the same for all sport. (Maybe not darts or snooker)

However, training changes body shape, and this may lead to a different swing.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I've renamed my local curry house to 'the gym'.

I spend a lot of time in 'the gym'. My long game is pretty good so I think my regime works quite well :thup:

 

[Ethan]

I think Rory has got better, longer and more consistent thanks to his gym work. His poor form comes from high maintenance, flash girlfriends and playing in stupid ProAms before a tournament.

Unfortunately when you get to the upper echelons, you have to play in stupid pro-ams and do a lot of other stuff, The pro-ams are not really stupid, though, as they support sponsors and bring publicity to the event, and give him a chance to get a feel for the course. And how many kids came to Wentworth to see Rory play with Niall Horan or have come to RCD to see him there? He is growing the game.

Rory flew from Charlotte on Sunday night after the Wells Fargo event, that afternoon/evening he did corporate stuff at Niketown in London. He did a practice round on Tuesday, the European Tour awards ceremony, a Pro-Am on Wednesday, many many press pieces in between all of that, and a few gym sessions before playing on Thursday.

Then after missing the cut, he headed over to RCD where he was the host of the event, and visited a hospice for kids with cancer, did receptions and press stuff, another pro-am and practice before starting a tournament with more personal and gallery expectation than possibly any he has ever played. .

I didn't see a single picture of him with a flash girlfriend until today.

In my opinion, Rory is a fine example to young players. He is entitled to a girlfriend, he isn't a monk, and should make it a pretty one while he is about it. This is not new, by the way. Back in the days when there wasn't the internet, twitter and wall to wall media coverage and everyone with a camera in their pockets, players often has many girlfriends. Have you heard about Seve's list of women admirers?

Rory works at his game, attracts people to the game, doesn't harrow clubs or swear, always speaks to the media and does so honestly and usually modestly. He hasn't been caught drunk or on drugs, hasn't been arrested for drink driving or causing a fight.

Exactly what would you have him do? Stop playing pro-ams, doing press and dating pretty girls?

 

[JohnnyDee]

I've renamed my local curry house to 'the gym'.

I spend a lot of time in 'the gym'. My long game is pretty good so I think my regime works quite well :thup:

Curry is the food of the Gods! And although I go to the gym a few times a week I like to counterbalance this madness with a curry or 3!

And probably the Golfing Gods like nothing better than a curry themselves, when they're thinking of how to 'do us all up like kippers' with bad bounces and lipped-out putts.

A man can have too much gym but he can never have too much curry!!😄😄

 

[User20205]

Curry is the food of the Gods! And although I go to the gym a few times a week I like to counterbalance this madness with a curry or 3!

And probably the Golfing Gods like nothing better than a curry themselves, when they're thinking of how to 'do us all up like kippers' with bad bounces and lipped-out putts.

A man can never have too much curry!!😄😄

What Gordon fails to mention is that he was the east Dunbar all in wrestling champion 1955-1963 inclusive. He has the body of a young Adonis, despite being nearly 80. He's allowed a few curries at his age.

 

[rustyb]

What Gordon fails to mention is that he was the east Dunbar all in wrestling champion 1955-1963 inclusive. He has the body of a young Adonis, despite being nearly 80. He's allowed a few curries at his age.

This whole gym/golf thing always makes me laugh. Being physically fit helps a golfer in plenty of ways. To be honest if you are a top professional in a game that can earn you millions why wouldnt you put yourself in the best possible position to be the best you can be. There is plenty of time in the day to spend on the range and an hour in the gym, its not a mutually exclusive thing.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

What Gordon fails to mention is that he was the east Dunbar all in wrestling champion 1955-1963 inclusive. He has the body of a young Adonis, despite being nearly 80. He's allowed a few curries at his age.

You cheeky barsteward! It was 1955-64!!

 

[CharlieWebb]

I believe that I, being quite small and slim but with a technically sound and powerful swing could easily out-drive someone who is much bigger and stronger than me with an average swing... so yes I agree

 

[shortstuff]

Exactly what would you have him do? Stop playing pro-ams, doing press and dating pretty girls?

As last week highlighted, even Rory has a finite amount of energy. When you are at the top of the game, and assuming you want to remain at the top, some things have to be sacrificed. Yes, I think he should cut out the pro-ams and high maintenance girlfriends. Alternatively he can just accept the occasional flop because he's too knackered.

 

[fundy]

Perception of the gym and what it offers is why I disagree here.

Using the gym to strengthen the right muscles, train the body correctly in the explosive moves needed and to improve core strength and flexibility then its great for your golf. Use it just to bulk up your upper body muscles so you look better in a wifebeater then not so good for your golf.

For someone like me who has prior injuries and sits at a desk too much its essential in trying to prevent injuries and maintain my swing for a full round and Im currently paying the price for having not done enough over the last 6 months

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

As last week highlighted, even Rory has a finite amount of energy. When you are at the top of the game, and assuming you want to remain at the top, some things have to be sacrificed. Yes, I think he should cut out the pro-ams and high maintenance girlfriends. Alternatively he can just accept the occasional flop because he's too knackered.

He may be contractually obliged to play in them. As Ethan says, they help to raise the profile of the event. When you see the standard of some of the ams in these things, I'm sure Rory would happily give them a miss rather than smile and say 'Unlucky mate' as the guy carves yet another ball OOB