Can weight lifting help Golf playing

[Meddle]

You are not saying you gained 20lbs of muscles from creatine are you?

Well, since your interested... No, I gained 20 lbs of muscle from working my ass off in the weight room for 2 years.

[Boeing777]

I blew my lower back out month and ahalf ago. I got xrays 2 days ago, dr says my spine is fine. And i need to start strecthing and working out to strengthing my back. So now i half to figure out what excerizies to do to help my core strength and not bulk up. This sat will be the first time back, I'm hitting the gym with cardio right now. Any advise?

[kingface12]

I blew my lower back out month and ahalf ago. I got xrays 2 days ago, dr says my spine is fine. And i need to start strecthing and working out to strengthing my back. So now i half to figure out what excerizies to do to help my core strength and not bulk up. This sat will be the first time back, I'm hitting the gym with cardio right now. Any advise?

Best advice I can give is that old 'gym saying'.... "Strong abs equals a strong back." I would highly recomment you looking at getting a simple excercise ball at Walmart....they're about $12. You can do a TON of great core excercises on it AND it stretches you out AND it work on those stabalizing muscles. Like I said before though.....STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH!! I would do a search for some good stretches and just do them 3-4 times a day for a week coupled with some light core excercises. the more you feel comfortable the more you can do. I would also make sure you're eating right and walking as much as possible. Walking up slight inclines is actually better for you AND better for your back. I never leave the house without my pedometer on. I always try to get over 10,000 steps a day. That equals 5 miles roughly.

You'll be surprised at how good you feel by simply stretching, doing some situps and using the excersize ball, eating right and walking more.....without even lifting a weight. Good luck! I too have back issues but with some work you will feel great again!

[The Road Dog]

I'm late to the party here, my response to the OP is develop your body along with your game and it will help you. That means stay balanced between golf and body building. The new strength that you develop will naturally affect your game if you keep up a constant practice routine.

[ddalet]

Best advice I can give is that old 'gym saying'.... "Strong abs equals a strong back." I would highly recomment you looking at getting a simple excercise ball at Walmart....they're about $12. You can do a TON of great core excercises on it AND it stretches you out AND it work on those stabalizing muscles. Like I said before though.....STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH!! I would do a search for some good stretches and just do them 3-4 times a day for a week coupled with some light core excercises. the more you feel comfortable the more you can do. I would also make sure you're eating right and walking as much as possible. Walking up slight inclines is actually better for you AND better for your back. I never leave the house without my pedometer on. I always try to get over 10,000 steps a day. That equals 5 miles roughly.

This was the same advice I received when i hurt my back. However, at least for me, stretching and ab work did nothing in isolation. It wasnt until I strengthened all facets of my core and back (upper/middle/lower) that the pain when away.

My doc told me that lower back pain is on of the most mysterious things in medicine, because it means on of a number of areas in your body does not have the support it needs. Stretching my hamstrings did help though, not going to take away from that. When I started I could barely touch my toes, now i can palm the floor flat.

[kingface12]

This was the same advice I received when i hurt my back. However, at least for me, stretching and ab work did nothing in isolation. It wasnt until I strengthened all facets of my core and back (upper/middle/lower) that the pain when away.

Funny you said the 'mystery' thing about the back. After I got into my car accident years ago I had to do a long re-hab stint for my back. I asked the Dr. why so many people suffer from lower back pain. He then pulled out a book that had actual photos of the back cut into layers (yes....it was gross). He showed me all of the small muscles in the back but more importantly the dozens of tiny litle tendons in the back. IT WAS INSANE!! He said with that much stuff packed into what really is a small area that it really is a mystery as to what causes back pain in a person to have it.....they just treat the symptoms.

I agree 100%.....eventually the whole back does need to get trained and in shape. That excersise ball was a god send!!

[jc650]

I would say that it couldnt hurt, but it wont make you hit the ball much farther imo. Ive been lifting for about 6 yrs and although I hit the ball farther now than I did then I believe its due to better form more than it is to more muscle.

[mtsalmela80]

Tiger Woods is not big at all, he is simply somewhat lean.

Anyway, I would not recommend bulking up for golf. I have an above average upper body and my swing is restricted. Of course unless you diet and workout specifically to put on mass, you will get stronger, but not get bigger necessarily.

[GolfinGQ]

Here is my thought on it because I am currently going hrough it right now. Me and 4 of my golf buddies had a bet at the beginning of the year for $500 to who could lose the most % weight in 4 months (Jan1 to April 1). I was 242 lbs, the heaviest I had ever been. I completely changed my diet, gave up a lot of things, did a rediculous amount of cardio every day, and lifted weights every day - light weights / a lot of reps. On April 1st, I weighed in at 195. 47 lbs lost, won the bet by 6 lbs. I know this was a lot of weight in a shorter amount of time, but I did it the right way, and I haven't gained any in the month after. I used to be a gym rat, so my muscle memory is taking in effect now. But now my swing feels great! More flexability, and nothing in the way to restrict it. I am hitting my irons the best I ever have!

But all in all, lifting weights is a great idea if you do it in moderation. Don't try to be a body builder. Focus on your core is a must. But, lifting weights is one of the best ways to burn calories - if you eat right u will lose weight - will become leaner - couldn't hurt your golf game.

[MikeLowry5]

Well, since your interested... No, I gained 20 lbs of muscle from working my ass off in the weight room for 2 years.

Sorry for the late response. I noticed you or someone else left me a "negative reputation" mark for my question. My question was genuine.

For an individual to gain 20lbs of MUSCLE (natually) it is very hard to do, even after two years. With that said it is not impossible. Did you measure this with simply your weight increase or with before and after tests that included body fat measurements with calipers?

[Meddle]

I did not leave you negative feedback.

As far as your question, I think it just has to do with my body type. I'm 6'3'' and really lean, but I have broad shoulders. When I left high school, I was 165. By the end of sophomore year in college I was 185. I never had any official body fat tests, but I did have one of those scales that measures it, and I hovered between 12-15%. Now I'm 165 again and I haven't worked out in years. I don't know about this being improbable or not, I'm just telling you what happened. I have no reason to make this up.

[Cornbread]

Proper weight training can improve your game greatly. Improper weight training can hurt your game. Proper weigh traning would avoid many exercises that would add bulk to your chest.

[RedCard03]

No it has not helped me, but made things more difficult. Believe it or not i feel muscle did not used to have before, and it makes things more difficult.

[delav]

Lifting has helped my game. To play well, you need to lift with discretion however. If you hit the gym like a meathead, and look to pack on bulk in your arms, chest and back you'll be hard pressed to play better golf. Circuit training, dynamic lifting and stretching have really improved my core and the strength of my arms, shoulders, and back. I can't begin to emphasize how important stretching has been, esp if you spend a fair amount of time at a desk.

[bbedell]

yup...the important part there is "circuit training". Most golfers will likely not benefit from the traditional weight lifter's routine of chest today, arms tomorrow, back the next day, etc. This type of routine is meant to build bulk. Circuit training (going through a variety of lifting exercises hitting all of your major muscle groups) 2 to 3 times weekly is a better way to build strength and tone without adding excessive bulk, which is what a golfer's objective in the weight room really should be.

[golfro]

Sorry for the late response. I noticed you or someone else left me a "negative reputation" mark for my question. My question was genuine.

20 lb of muscle gain in 2 years is not that hard to do. lol. I bulked up 100% naturally 15lbs within 8 months and maintained roughly 12% body fat. 20 lbs in 2 years? lol please.

[MikeLowry5]

I do not have any info on Tiger Woods' workout routine(s) however I would venture to say he does bench press, bicep curls, etc. If a football player can workout large muscles, add bulk and increase flexibility I have no doubts a golfer can as well.

Athletes today do not sit around a bench press and squat rack, flexing their muscles in the mirror. What you see on P90X however cheezy it is, is a good snapshot of how an athlete today trains. Dynamic movements that involves multiple muscle groups and balance. Look up HIIT.

My only point was to say that gaining 20lbs when you are skinny does not equate a solid 20lbs of muscle. If the OP was a teenager or in his early 20's I would say it is a different ballgame however grown men, in their 30's/40's will have a tough time gaining a solid 20lbs of muscle without help.

If I am 170lbs @ 12% bf and I gain 20lbs but step up to 14% bf I only gained 13.4lbs of actual muscle. 6.6lbs of that is fat.

[golfro]

yeah but no matter what, 20lbs in 2 years is not a stretch by any standards.