Other sports that help your golf game...

[natp0wers]

I grew up playing competitive tennis and didn't really pick up golf until i went to college. I had always hacked around at my local club, but never really gave the game a chance like i did with tennis. Now that i have laid down my racquet and replaced that fuzzy green ball with a smaller white one, i can say that tennis has helped me understand golf.

Mainly the physics and how the ball reacts to the clubs path and the angle of the face. When i hit a bad shot, i have a good understanding of why the ball has spun whichever way, and can feel what i did wrong.

What are some other sports that you have found helpful for your golf game?

Any detrimental?

[Zeph]

Bowling. It's a swing and you are not supposed to swing hard with the arms. A lot of the same movements between the two of them.

[rjdunne]

Baseball. Not so much playing it - but practising the swing with a bat. I'd noted Miguel Angel Jimenez used a baseball like swing in his pre-shot routine so gave it a try --- it does help set the rhythm of my swing so I've kept it in.

[leezer99]

Having played professional polo for 15+ years I can say it has helped me control my swing and get me on plane.

[Fatphil]

karate...great for balance, body control and stretching exercise.

[sean_miller]

Having played professional polo for 15+ years I can say it has helped me control my swing and get me on plane.

Really? Professional polo? As a kid, I rode a lot of horses and was a huge fan of Larry Robinson (the defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens - and later the LA Kings - not Larry Robinson the Calgary Stampeder and CFL hall of famer or Larry Robinson the world champion calf roper) and was amazed that he played in the NHL and played polo in the off season. I bet he would have been a wicked golfer as well.

[Gioguy21]

Hockey...I played for 7 years...ironically i shot lefty in hockey and righty in golf...it helped me get some of those smaller muscles working on my left side which are great for the golf swing. also helped me get strong legs (aside from pitching in college for baseball) to ground myself in a firm base for the golf swing...

[yeis20]

IMO, Baseball / Softball are the closest swing based sports utilizing both hands to perform. Easiest game to transition from

[kpaulhus]

Ive been playing hockey for 10 years. Started when I was 12. Planting my legs in the ice for a slap shot help with my weight transfer when swinging.

[WUTiger]

...Now that i have laid down my racquet and replaced that fuzzy green ball with a smaller white one, i can say that tennis has helped me understand golf. ...

A guy I work with was a longtime tennis player, but reinjured a bad knee about 18 months ago. He's taken up golf now, and when he gets in the groove, he hits a very straight and balanced shot - his backswing's a bit short, but he does OK.

I used to bowl for fun in college, and I intentionally bowled left-handed to build up that side (I'm right-handed). Martial arts and boxing is a good related activity, works on flexibility, balance, and speed acceleration. Martial arts cross-training for golfers got some play in the golf mags a couple of years ago. One PGA tour pro said he learned from his friend, a pro boxer, the importance of breathing smoothly when under pressure. In fact, one Korean karate master I knew in Oklahoma learned to play golf, and got down to a 6 HDCP or so. About age 55, he got his PGA card, closed his karate dojo and became a local golf instructor.

[natp0wers]

A guy I work with was a longtime tennis player, but reinjured a bad knee about 18 months ago. He's taken up golf now, and when he gets in the groove, he hits a very straight and balanced shot -

Wonder if this is a common theme with tennis players turned golfers. I get a good full turn, but have always kept my wrists locked at the top of my backswing much like JB Holmes. It just feels unnatural to bend my wrists and let my club reach parallel in my backswing.

[GaijinGolfer]

Hockey. It helps to keep my hand-eye coordination up during the winter months, not to mention it keeps me in shape and keeps me sane during the winter months when I cant play golf.

[bogeyhitter25]

I think I heard a professional say that fly-fishing helps a little.

[Wiley]

Baseball and weightlifting. Both increase your dynamic strength and flexibility.

[verderaul]

I have been taking lessons for about 2 months now and making rapid strides. I played lots of cricket in my youth (i am 31 now) and the two things that have helped me the most are : 1.) Body Mechanics : What the body parts do in a swing. More importantly, how you are supposed to feel while swinging.
2.) Timing : At what point of the swing the club hitting the ball with yield best results.

Raulito

[sean_miller]

I think a couple hours of "getting one's fat ass off the couch" is good for his or her golf game.

[GaijinGolfer]

Baseball and weightlifting. Both increase your dynamic strength and flexibility.

Weight lifting actually hurts your golf swing because it reduces your flexibility. Weightlifting is fine if you just get really toned, but if you start adding muscle it only hurts your swing.

[natp0wers]

Weight lifting actually hurts your golf swing because it reduces your flexibility. Weightlifting is fine if you just get really toned, but if you start adding muscle it only hurts your swing.

So Tiger working out every day is detrimental to his swing? He has put on a ton of bulk since his youth.