The truth behind distance.....Do you have to be fit and work out?

[Always an 80]

BTW.... I hate tryingto reply onthis Kindle. lol. New hard drive next week. Geez

[GaijinGolfer]

Theres been plenty of unfit golfers who hit it plenty far.  John Daly, for example.

[MS256]

I would say that I've been "fit" my whole life but different kinds of fit.

When I first started playing golf 9 years ago I was 6'1'' and weighed 220 lbs. and was around 30% BMI. I was much stronger that I am now with any measure of sheer strength.

I decided a few years ago to go in another direction in fitness and lost 35 lbs. and now I'm at 20% BMI. No doubt I lost quite a bit of muscle mass along with the fat and I'm not as strong.

None of my fitness decisions had anything to do with golf but I have noticed that my distance hasn't changed at all (and I'm 9 years older).

I'm not certain how much the intervening variable of maybe being a little bit better golfer have to do with the lack of decline in distance to match my decline in strength but for me there doesn't seem to be a correlation between the amount of muscle I have and how far I can hit a golf ball.

[Crim]

Kiradech Aphibarnrat - Averages right around 305 to 315 yards every tournament with generally great accuracy.

[mvmac]

Kiradech Aphibarnrat - Averages right around 305 to 315 yards every tournament with generally great accuracy.

It would be interesting to see how strong he is with his legs/glutes/posterior chain.  I would image he's quite strong.  I was watching a player this week that carries it over 300 every time and his legs are almost bursting out of his pants.  Big butts are good for golf

[birlyshirly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crim

Kiradech Aphibarnrat - Averages right around 305 to 315 yards every tournament with generally great accuracy.

It would be interesting to see how strong he is with his legs/glutes/posterior chain.  I would image he's quite strong.  I was watching a player this week that carries it over 300 every time and his legs are almost bursting out of his pants.  Big butts are good for golf

Yup. Horses for courses. Mo Farah isn't exactly match-fit for sumo - in fact he's not even that strong of a runner over short distances. Plenty golfers carry a bit of excess weight that hides the stuff that counts.

[late347]

Billchao,

Yes.. some people are naturally faster.... but what is your maximum potential??

How can you know, if you don't even try?

My own instructor golf pro is actually doing some long drive training himself. He says that in some European qualifier he has hit drives over 300 meters. Thats over 330 yards. I gotta ask him to hit some drives so I can see if he's not just bullshitting me

[acerimusdux]

I actually sometimes like to check out some of the ladies as a reminder that it's not all about size and strength. Sure, they aren't hitting it as far as the top men. But seeing these skinny 5'5" tall women knocking it 250-270 yards is a reminder of how much good mechanics, timing, balance, and flexibility really have to do with distance.  A few examples:

Yani Tseng, 25 years old, height: 5' 6", avg. drive: 270.5 yds

Azahara Munoz, 26 years old, height: 5' 5", avg. drive: 258.7 yds, 75% fairways hit

Lydia Ko, 17 years old, height: 5' 5", avg. drive: 252.3 yds., 78% fairways hit

So if I'm not driviing it over 250, it's probably not a lack of muscle that is the main culprit. Granted, these ladies are certainly "fit". But I doubt it requires that much gym time. Eat right, do a couple sets of situps and pushups every day or two, and you probably don't really need any other exercise other than playing golf.  That, and stretching. The main thing though seems to be learning how to swing.

[mvmac]

But seeing these skinny 5'5" tall women knocking it 250-270 yards is a reminder of how much good mechanics, timing, balance, and flexibility really have to do with distance.

and a positive AoA

So if I'm not driviing it over 250, it's probably not a lack of muscle that is the main culprit.

I would tend to agree with that. If it is a muscle thing, it's not muscles that can be developed by lifting weights.

[saevel25]

I would tend to agree with that. If it is a muscle thing, it's not muscles that can be developed by lifting weights.

I am not entirely sure. I know there are guys my size who don't hit it nearly as far as I do. I do believe that a lot of amateurs could gain a lot of distance from a better swing. It would be interesting to see a study, based on height/weight/age compared to distance for amateurs who are scratch golfers.

I do wonder if playing sports or playing early in life has something to do with it. Because I away always an overswinger, swing as hard as I can golfer. So I wonder if I developed the speed in the muscles that matter for club head speed.

[Golfingdad]

I would tend to agree with that. If it is a muscle thing, it's not muscles that can be developed by lifting weights.

Yeah, that has to be true cuz I (somewhat shamefully ) don't work out or lift weights, and I have no trouble getting it out there a ways.

[mvmac]

I do wonder if playing sports or playing early in life has something to do with it. Because I away always an overswinger, swing as hard as I can golfer. So I wonder if I developed the speed in the muscles that matter for club head speed.

From what I've read and heard from experts, that's a big part of it. Kids should basically play a bunch of different sports and then specialize (if they want to) in their early-mid teens.

My comment earlier, about gaining muscle for speed by lifting weights, was thinking more about the average Joe than young golfers. Even then "lifting" might not be the best route for speed, would think that ballistic calisthenic training would be most beneficial. Kind of brings us back to playing different sports where you're running fast for short distances, jumping and throwing stuff.

[14ledo81]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvmac

I would tend to agree with that. If it is a muscle thing, it's not muscles that can be developed by lifting weights.

Yeah, that has to be true cuz I (somewhat shamefully ) don't work out or lift weights, and I have no trouble getting it out there a ways.

yeah...yeah.... VLOG!!!!!

[saevel25]

From what I've read and heard from experts, that's a big part of it. Kids should basically play a bunch of different sports and then specialize (if they want to) in their early-mid teens.

My comment earlier, about gaining muscle for speed by lifting weights, was thinking more about the average Joe than young golfers. Even then "lifting" might not be the best route for speed, would think that ballistic calisthenic training would be most beneficial. Kind of brings us back to playing different sports where you're running fast for short distances, jumping and throwing stuff.

Yea I would agree with that. Kinda why I don't do much bulk building exercises. I prefer a lot of complex exercises, do them with high intensity. For me standard weight lifting is good for stability. If a person has bad core, or poor joint strength, then they will suffer. To gain speed, I think most people just need to free up their body more. At least from my study on this, you really can't train for fast twitch muscle fibers. We are all genetically made with a certain range in which we can gain, and that is muscle specific as well. Cause if we could then anyone could be world class sprinters. It just doesn't happen. I would say, build strength for stability, and use fast high intensity for speed, and see what the body will give ya.

[Jeremie Boop]

Yea I would agree with that. Kinda why I don't do much bulk building exercises. I prefer a lot of complex exercises, do them with high intensity. For me standard weight lifting is good for stability. If a person has bad core, or poor joint strength, then they will suffer. To gain speed, I think most people just need to free up their body more. At least from my study on this, you really can't train for fast twitch muscle fibers. We are all genetically made with a certain range in which we can gain, and that is muscle specific as well. Cause if we could then anyone could be world class sprinters. It just doesn't happen. I would say, build strength for stability, and use fast high intensity for speed, and see what the body will give ya.

I guess that explains why I hit the ball further than most people would assume I could based on my body type. Even with my poor mechanics :-P. I doubt I'll get up to your distances but once I get some of these keys locked down I probably will get close and have more accuracy.

[mvmac]

yeah...yeah.... VLOG!!!!!

lol I can vouch for @Golfingdad , he's hits it far. Doesn't hurt that he's 6'5" and can lift a car

[14ledo81]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 14ledo81

yeah...yeah.... VLOG!!!!!

lol I can vouch for @Golfingdad, he's hits it far. Doesn't hurt that he's 6'5" and can lift a car

I can lift cars as well.....

Can't hit it far though......

[rehmwa]

I already lift weights and hope I have decent mechanics.....

Frankly, I'm getting more distance usually from committing to a more "fuller" swing.  Bigger backswing and more thorough follow-thru.  I guess one could say that's 'even better' mechanics.  So, even with strength and form, looseness, and flexibility come into play even more for people starting out fit.

Goal lately is a bigger, but more smoother/tempo swing

that's hard for me, as I usually tighten up everything until I get it under control and then just live there....it's easy to overshoot that point and go in a counterproductive direction...

that said - everyone can benefit in LIFE by being healthier and fitter - exercise, eat smarter, play, drink your water