by Andre Sanchez

The importance of fitness for golf cannot be overstressed and is exemplified in the way that the top tour professionals take their personal fitness coach on tour with them.  Those that cannot afford a personal coach take fitness DVDs that they can watch in their hotel rooms.

The reason for the importance of fitness is that the major part of anybody’s game, the swing, is not a natural movement for human beings, and the body has to be conditioned for it.  A failure to train your body properly to play golf can result in injury, especially as golfers get older or get better and start to play the game more intensively.  Golf related injuries can be to the shoulders and back, and even the upper leg muscles. 

Other injuries that golfers can suffer from are wrist strains, similar to repetitive strain injuries, and problems with the thumb.  Although not all of these can be avoided by keeping your body fit to play golf, many can be, and the exercises involved need not be as strenuous as the endless repetitions of lifting heavy weights that people normally associate with strength training.

One of the easiest implements you can use to develop strength specifically for playing golf is the weighted golf club.  There are many models available online and the principle on which they operate is very simple.  In order to strengthen any muscle, you must use that muscle against a resistance.  Therefore, if you swing with a weighted club, the weight provides the resistance and the swing uses the muscles that you use when playing golf.  The weighted club therefore exercises and strengthens the muscles you use when playing golf.

What this will achieve is to strengthen all the muscles you use in your swing at the one time.  It would not be feasible for you to work on each individually, so training while swinging is the best way. The weighted club is just like your normal golf club except it is heavier.  You can take it anywhere with you and even practice with it in the office.  A few swings now and again will soon strengthen your muscles up, and most players tend to use it about 20 – 30 times a day.  That’s all that is necessary.

If you really want to improve your game then use it daily:  in the office, at home or even on the practice range, using it to hit a few balls.  The end result will be a faster swing, added clubhead speed through the ball and greater distance.  Not only that, but your muscles will be stronger and less liable to injury.

However, strength is not the only factor involved in your swing.  You must also have good flexibility in your joints and muscles.  Strength comes from the ability of your muscles to contract rapidly, but power also comes from your ability to stretch your muscles, just like you build up power in a rubber band by stretching it, so flexibility exercises are equally important as strengthening exercise. 

Rotational twisting movements are the best flexibility exercises for the joints and muscles in your back and shoulders.  A medicine ball is good for these.  Hold the ball in both hands straight in front of you then swing round to the left as far as you can.  Hold that for two seconds, then repeat to the right. Several repetitions of this will improve your flexibility.  You can do the same seated, and there are lots more of these flexibility exercises on the internet.

Some training ideas from your club pro might be useful to get, and if you are really serious you could have a few professional strength and flexibility lessons from a professional golf fitness trainer.  Make sure that your trainer is a golf trainer, however, since ordinary gym exercises will likely not help you with your golf swing.

Very shortly you will find that you are able to consistently hit the ball a lot farther than you use to, you will find that all these aches and pains you used to get during and after a round have gone and you will be able to play all eighteen holes at your maximum ability without getting tired.  You will also suffer fewer injuries than your foursome buddies and maintain your appetite for the game as you grow older.

Finally, always keep in mind that fitness for golf is not the same as general fitness.  Walking the treadmill in a gym will do nothing for you except allow you to walk quicker round the golf course, and lifting weights will certainly build up your muscles, but it won’t help you to play golf any better.  Your exercises must be golf-specific, and the best advice for this is from your golf pro or a golf fitness trainer.

The Importance of Fitness for Golf was originally published at http://www.golfplayernow.com