Working out and golf.

[Akhil Puri]

Hey Everyone,

Im a fitness freak and love to work out so much so that i feel it might begin to change the big muscles in such a way that could affect my range of motion. Now is that a myth because when i look at Dustin Johnson i can tell that guy hits the gym like a bull !!! Also i play a lot of squash .. not sure how it would affect my golf game positively but i do feel it might add value in some way even though im not aware how exactly !!

Now is there such a thing as golf oriented work out if you want to turn pro eventually or just play really good golf ? I suppose not when you look at John Daly and Aphibarnat (Thai john daly)

It would be really cool to hear what you guys who work out / do not work out alike feel on this subject ?

PS : I have a tournament tomorrow and im wondering whether working the big muscles will affect my game and how..

Sorry if there is a thread already on the subject just needed some fresh perspective going forward .

Cheers.

Akhil

[jmsage]

Use to lift weights pretty heavy.  Could get 245 for bench for 5, but gave it up because it was effecting my golf swing to much.   Resorted to more core workouts/cardio.

[mvmac]

Now is there such a thing as golf oriented work out if you want to turn pro eventually or just play really good golf ? I suppose not when you look at John Daly and Aphibarnat (Thai john daly)

I don't think any workout is going to really improve your golf game all that much. Working out can help endurance, mobility, add a little speed (maybe) but it won't fix any swing issues you might have. If Adam Scott gained 50 pounds he could still pure it. Tour players are tour players because they do 5 things really well .

A decent number of them tend to work out or try to stay fit for longevity. Playing 25-30 tournaments a year and hitting all the balls they do takes a toll on the body.

[RayG]

Working out killed Duval's game. He bulked up and lost his swing. Working out for bulk can adversely affect your swing for sure. BUT- working out to increase core strength, lose a bit of weight, and tone up can certainly help. It's your big core muscles that control your rotation and drive. Torso, back, and thigh muscles are the driving forces in the swing. Keep those in shape and you should be able to translate to better playing. PROVIDED you're using them correctly in the first place. I've seen quite a few "Lunks" out there and all they seem to be able to do is swing as hard as possible with a driver. Where it goes is anyone's guess, and forget about the short game and delicate shots. There will always be exceptions but it's almost as rare as seeing a 300 yd plus drive from that "Pro from Dover".

[mvmac]

Working out killed Duval's game. He bulked up and lost his swing. Working out for bulk can adversely affect your swing for sure. BUT- working out to increase core strength, lose a bit of weight, and tone up can certainly help. It's your big core muscles that control your rotation and drive. Torso, back, and thigh muscles are the driving forces in the swing. Keep those in shape and you should be able to translate to better playing. PROVIDED you're using them correctly in the first place.

When did Duval bulk up? He slimmed way down in 2000 and won the British Open in '01 after gaining a little weight back. Then dealt with back, wrist injuries and even vertigo.

I agree posterior chain muscles would be good to focus on, kettlebell swings are great for this.

[Pushy]

I would think working on developing the core would be good.  Just bulking up in the shoulders or arms doesn't seem like it would help much.  Strengthening the legs might be good as well.

[Valleygolfer]

I have been bulky muscle wise since I started playing. Most of the time it doesn't affect me. There are times where I have been sore and stiff and it limits my swing a tiny bit. Swinging easy and good tempo works fine. I would say it has not been a hindrance. The best advice I can give you is to incorporate a regular yoga routine to limit stiffness. Flexibility is key to strength and performance. If you are talking about synthetically built muscle that distorts a body's normal abilities, I don't have a answer for you.

[RayG]

Had a tough time finding info, but I came across an article talking about it: "...However, one of the first golfers I remember falling foul of this was David Duval. He was a very good player, a little overweight by modern standards, but this did not affect his swing nor his performance. Then one day he appeared on the golf course looking like a blonde Arnold Schwarzenegger, with bulging arms, no gut and a swagger that was soon to vanish from our TV screens for a few years. Why? Because this new, fitter, leaner body ruined his swing. Duval disappeared from the PGA scene until a few years later, when he had returned to his former ‘overweight’ self. Lo and behold, his swing had returned, and he once again began to play better golf...."