How to get fit for golf

My friends and clients are always asking “what are the best exercises I can do for getting me in shape for golf” The answer is both simple and complex. Its complex because getting fit for golf depends on what the individual is lacking and then improving upon it. Every “body” is different and depending on how that body moves or doesn’t move will be the factor for what that body needs. In other words are flexibility issues the main contributor to a golf swing that is less than desired. Is it mobility or maybe stability. It’s impossible to say unless the swing is analyzed. An exercise that helps one person may actually be a determinate to another. For the golfer that is really interested in improving his or her swing, a through understanding of what makes them tick is mandatory. This is where a golf specialist with a deep understanding of golf bio-mechanics becomes invaluable. A traditional fitness program that does take into consideration the special needs of the golf swing will not help the golfer improve and may actually be doing harm.

Now for the simple answer. Lets use an analogy to make the point here. Let’s say your a mountain climber. You love this sport and you want to get a strong for this sport you love because you’re going to go climb Mt Everest. Hey why not….we can do what ever we want in an analogy. How would you train for climbing this mountain. Let me start by helping you with things you would intuitively not do. Probably, you would not start doing laps in your club pool. Nothing wrong with swimming just not going to help you get up that mountain. Getting on a stationary bike or even a rode bike may help your stamina but not your strength for the mountain accent….or decent for that matter. I think you’re probably getting the point here; the best exercise you can do for climbing a mountain is climbing mountains or exercises that resemble mountain climbing as close as possible.

I bet you’re starting to get the picture on how to train for golf and how not to train. Even so lets take a look at some of the considerations needed for golf fitness. First and foremost golf is played standing up and so any exercise in an upright position becomes a better exercise than anything in a seated, face down, face up or kneeling position. There are a few reasons for this, most based in physics, but the number one reason to exercise standing up, besides the fact that we play golf standing up (I hope) is that that old cliche of muscle memory. Actually muscles don’t remember anything in fact they are quite stupid sometimes but our nervous system (proprioception) does remember including the position it’s in when you exercise. If your exercise does not look something like the golf swing you’re probably not getting the most out of your fitness program as it pertains to improving your golf game.

As mentioned earlier there are other considerations, based in physics, that are important for fitness training for golf. These considerations will be discussed in future articles but for now get off your butt, get on your feet and start crushing the ball

The golf fitness link at XcelGolf will provide you with numerous golf exercises

Xcel Golf also utilizes a device called VibePlate.  This simple device creates flexibility and power at twice the speed of conventional stretching and exercising. Swing a golf club on the VibePlate and your body will remember the movement at a greatly accelerated rate.

Watch the video above to see a few of the unique exercise and training aids that will have you playing your best golf.