Legs vs. Upper Body

[daled]

I'm 62, but I still work. I also work as much as my time and my energy level will allow.

While jogging, an question came to me, if I had to focus on one area of the body with my workouts, should it be my legs (running), or should it be my upper body and core, (weights).

I don't intend to ignore one for the other, but I can shift focus. Which would be more beneficial to my golf game?

[Yukari]

As you get older, you will lose muscle mass.  I will focus more on working with weights more compared to cardio work out (e.g., running).

Working with weights does not mean you ignore legs.  In fact, you should do squats and deadlifts as they both work on your legs.  You need to work more with weight than cardio as you get older in order to maintain muscle mass.

[IowaGreg]

Just one opinion...……  No matter what, work on flexibility as much as anything...….  Need a fair amount of flex in just about every swing..

 

[FlyingAce]

Have you ever considered Pilates on a Reformer? It is low impact (on the joints) but a full body workout. It really strengthens  the core and improves flexibility. It has helped me tremendously in golf and in skiing. 

[Patch]

Just my $0.02 worth since I had to make a similar decision a while back. 

In my opinion, the upper body works much better with a strong foundation. That foundation being one's legs. 

Walking, or  running,  in addition to keeping the legs healthy, that exercise of the legs helps with upper body conditioning.

Exercising the legs is not a total body work out, but it does make one's total body work out easier, and more complete.

 

[Rippy_72]

I don't think running or weight lifting will do anything.  Flexibility is more important than either.  If distance is an objective, rotational power thru the sacrum is where it is at.  Learn to throw a discus well.  Apply that hip action to your golf swing for distance.

[Fuddalan]

There's a saying in golf fitness trainer circles, "Glutes are the King of the Swing". And they are. They are the transfer point for moving power through your legs from the ground, into your upper body to produce a powerful consistent swing.

Running is not ideal for glutes as they want to stabilise your pelvis. High impact exercise like running will cause them and other deeper stabilising muscles to tighten, often "jamming" the sacroiliac joints. This can severely restrict glute function (an cause hamstring issues).

A good golf swing enhancment program will work on range of movement and strength of your glutes, as well as your ability to dissociate your pelvis and upper torso i.e move them independantly of each other. As mentioned range of movement exercises and rotational movements are important for the upper body, but don't ingore quality resistance movements as they can activate golgi tendon organs in your muscles thah help you with your 3-dimensional awareness. Hope this gives you something useful to think about.

[TN94z]

If you aren't going to ignore one over the other and are just looking at which to focus on, why not focus on full body workouts and then "supplement" that with running? You mention upper body and core versus legs but squats and deadlifts are two of the best core workouts there are. I believe flexibility should be a main focus as others have said. I just turned 42 and I can already see a lack of flexibility trying to creep in so I am going to start focusing on that aspect for myself.

Edited March 13, 2020 by TN94z