Anyone who plays golf understands golf is hard. It’s a simple game, but it’s just plain hard. I want to share a few thoughts on how to train like an athlete to improve your golf game. I’ve been training clients for years and they always ask me:
“Should I just join a globo gym?”
“What fitness exercises work best for playing golf?”
“How do I improve my balance and coordination?”
Notice something about the comments? Many of the students who come to me do not know where to begin or how proper golf functional training can really lower their scores and make the game easier. Some students are in really good shape but just want a new program to follow. There is too much information out there on golf fitness, so how can you sort through it all and improve faster?
Proper golf skills training has 3 main elements:
Core/Lower Body Strength
Functional Swing Training
Mobility
Core/Lower Body Strength: Targeted exercises for the transverse and rectus abdominus, and internal/external obliques will play a huge role in posture and stability throughout the golf swing. Also, targeted exercises for the posterior chain will help stabilize the body during the swing and help to prevent early extension.
Functional Swing Training: Building body awareness of movement patterns layered on top of strength exercises. Static and dynamic swings along with tempo swings. Coordination drills that increase awareness with shaft and sweet spot of club.
Mobility: Encompassing natural movement patterns, joint mobilization, pre round warmup, post round recovery, and playing with injuries.
The truth about getting your body strong and ready enough to swing a golf club is that it takes many repetitions with a planned program using the the modalities that I’ve listed. There are no shortcuts, only HARD work. Most importantly it takes DAILY discipline to put in the work and be aware of how your body is moving in space.