Workout routines??

[Surefire]

  purple monkey dishwasher said:

Good point, I kind of shot from the hip.

True, and I get what you meant.

It would go both ways. You could lift like a bodybuilder, but if you don't eat like one you won't bulk. Conversely you could train to not bulk but if you eat like a bodybuilder you will bulk even if it is not muscle!

[denver_nuggs_15]

The P90X (from what I've heard) is a great overall program. I don't think it's that golf specific, but any workout would help for golf. I'd say do it if you fell that it is worth the $120 they charge for it.

I've made my own workout/stretching routine. It's for overall fitness and has some golf-specific work.

I do various stretches for about 15-20 minutes. It gets me very loose. I do this everyday.

Then I do about 20-30 minutes of golf-specific execercises without weights. It's mostly core work (abs and lower back) with a couple hip flexor exercises. There's also a balance part of this as well. It's an everyday thing.

Then to the weights every other night. I've stopped doing this because golf tryouts start on monday and I don't want to be sore. I work on legs a lot - calf raises, squats, lunges, etc.. Then, military press, curls, bench press, lat pull down, and a few upper back exercises. I also do this really cool wrist exercise...I can't think of the name unfortunately, but it's great. You hold your arms straight out and hold a tube that has a weight attached to it by a rope. You then keep turning the tube so the rope raps around the tube. I'm sure someone here know the name.

To the OP, you could buy the P90X or make your own routine. It's just a personal preference.

[TN94z]

  sosinsurr said:

I try and immulate Tiger's workout routine.

It is not good that you don't rest more. You will not build any muscle without rest. Your muscle is damaged during your workouts and repairs itself while resting...that is where your muscle build comes from. Also, I have read many places that working your abs everyday is not necessary either. I hope you are eating alot of calories to go along with that workout!!

  purple monkey dishwasher said:

Good point, I kind of shot from the hip.

Diet is definitely key! It is very hard to gain muscle and lose weight at the same time without the help of a nutritionist. Losing weight is not bad by itself and neither is getting bigger. Protein intake is VERY important to both aspects too.

[sosinsurr]

  Surefire said:

The cardio thing makes sense.

Sorry I guess I was being a little misleading...days I have tournaments or have basketball games, I won't workout...if I do its VERY light...so I guess I was a little misleading in saying its a 7 day a week thing.

[DBeane]

I reference the book often (I promise I have read others). Elkingtons book the "Five Fundamentals" has a great golf specific workout in the back that I follow.

I can say it has helped my game noticably.

-Beane

[sosinsurr]

  TN94z said:

It is not good that you don't rest more. You will not build any muscle without rest. Your muscle is damaged during your workouts and repairs itself while resting...that is where your muscle build comes from. Also, I have read many places that working your abs everyday is not necessary either. I hope you are eating alot of calories to go along with that workout!!

Abs is something I've done everyday...that's my own personal thing, not golf related.

And like I said, I may have put it out there that its like I never rest...I don't workout the day before a big tourney, or the day of a tourney or basketball game right now.

[TN94z]

  sosinsurr said:

Abs is something I've done everyday...that's my own personal thing, not golf related.

Oh okay...hey whatever it is, it looks like it works judging by your handicap!

[sosinsurr]

haha thank my grandpa for putting clubs in my hand at age 4 and taking me to the country club with him every weekend. That and lots and lots of practice.

Two of my favorite quotes:

"Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect."
"Hardwork overcomes talent, when talent doesn't work hard."

[TN94z]

I didn't know if you guys knew about this or not but there is a site, Titleist Performance Institute, that has sample workouts and talks about golf fitness.

[earn_h]

  sosinsurr said:

I try and immulate Tiger's workout routine.

When lifting the body needs rest, over working can have an opposite effect. Also, doing cardio after lifting is not good at all. When done lifting your body is looking for protein and carbs to refuel, the last thing it needs is to go into a fat burning mode caused by cardio.

Rest, protein diet and water will increase strength and muscle.

[PEZGolf]

  TMO said:

If you find a good golf workout routine let me know. The routine I am on right now is similar to the one I used in college and all it did was bulk me up and hurt my back.

There are 3 books that I recommend that stress flexibility and development of core muscles for golf:

1. "Hard Style Golf" by Terrence Thomas, with kettle ball drills 2. "Exercises for Elite Golf Performance" by Kelly Blackburn 3. "Get Yourself in Golf Shape" by Cindy Reid, with Steve Eubanks, and the foreword by Vijay Singh

[Petden]

Im going to add a couple things. I started powerlifting for the last 6-7 months and I have to say, it works. My dirver SS is up about 5 mph. Another, when you workout properly you should be VERY horny. The constant production of hormones when working out properly has a huge impact on this part of life.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REST DAYS. I cannot stress this enough. When you workout muscle tears, and it takes time to reapir. Your body only repairs so much over a given time, so over-exerting yourself just means your body will take longer to get back to maximum strength.

[itzzzberny]

i recently stopped playing anything golf related for about 4-5 months (weather and lack of partners) but have been playing basketball 2-3 times a week (logged in est. 8-12 hrs a week). i run pretty much every game and play aggressive defense. when i came back to playing golf, my putting was a bit off but I've been hitting the ball really well. my first game back i hit 2 drives both a little over 300 at Brookside in Pasadena course 1. i really think that running all those games helped me w/ my golf game. my cousin, who is really in the athletics, tells me that its possibly cause I've been gaining core muscle strength and stability. It's been much easier keeping my lower body more precise on weight transferring to my front foot in my swing but also a lot more stable. I've been able to keep my body from dipping and over swinging as well.
I mean basketball might not be the reason but i'm glad that i took the break off. Now i feel pumped to play a lot more rounds this year and shoot hoops lights out...

i would recommend playing some 5v5 or 4v4 basketball. ( full court is best but half court is fine)

[neudi]

Sorry to bring this topic up again, but I was wondering what goes on in p90x. How are the meal plans? Do they have a lot of variety? Is it a good program to get on if you are serious about your golf game? (I will do everything the program suggests). It says there are like 12 dvd's, are they all 90 minutes long, or do you have to change the dvd's out?

[Hackerpratt]

Do you guys stretch a lot? I would be worried that if you work out your chest that much, it could close your chest and shoulder down.

[MI Rob]

I stretch ALOT. I workout about 3-4 times a week.

[TN94z]

  neudi said:

Sorry to bring this topic up again, but I was wondering what goes on in p90x. How are the meal plans? Do they have a lot of variety? Is it a good program to get on if you are serious about your golf game? (I will do everything the program suggests). It says there are like 12 dvd's, are they all 90 minutes long, or do you have to change the dvd's out?

Each dvd is a complete workout. Some are 90 minutes long and some are shorter. The meal plans are very thorough and you have different options depending on whether you like to cook or eat out. It is a pretty good deal. One thing I can tell you, you probably already know, eating correctly is VERY expensive. When I first started the meal plan with the p90x, I spent over 300.00 at the grocery store getting the needed foods. Granted some of the initial things were spices, oils, etc...that will last a little while. I would say that comparing my grocery bill now to the grocery bill while doing the meal plan will be almost twice as high. I was going by there complete plan where they had the meals planned out for you. The other options may be cheaper. I think that P90x goes right with golf. There is alot of flexibility programs, ALOT of core work and leg work. It is almost tailor made for golf.

  None said:

Do you guys stretch a lot? I would be worried that if you work out your chest that much, it could close your chest and shoulder down

This is the most critical thing you can do if you are going to lift heavy weight. Camillo Villegas lifts with heavy weight but he stops at every 20 reps or so to stretch. The stretching is critical for golf. You chest won't close down as long as you put the back work in to even it out. You don't want to work chest without working your back.

[pjsnyc]

I used to be a ridiculous fitness junkie when I was in college - 2 hr work outs 5 days a week with 2 mile runs before and after.

Not so much any more, but here's what I do to keep me somewhat fit for golf:
-15 minute jog in the morning on work days
-gym after work 3 days during the week for about 1 hr each day (chest and bis on monday, back and tris on wednesday, shoulders and legs on thursday - though sometimes I switch and swap around)
-play sports on the weekend - especially golf, maybe some baseball/softball or basketball.

Its not overkill, but it certainly keeps me in shape enough to walk 18 holes without wanting to collapse afterwards. Hope this caters more to those that don't wanna be too ridiculous tigeresque.