Golf Fitness: The Quickest Way To Play Better Golf

Golf has always been viewed as a game of leisure. But today's golfer is leaner, stronger, and fitter. Until the last few years, golfers didn't know how to go about incorporating golf fitness, or specifically resistance training for golf.

They have had a vision of going into the local gym and being intimidated by the "muscle heads." It can also be overwhelming to decide what plan of action to take and if it will be worth the time and effort. I have listed some myths about strength training for golf and the truths about them as well.

"I will bulk up too much and that will hinder my golf swing."

Golf fitness (resistance training specific for golf) will not result in muscle gain that will alter your swing mechanics. To increase muscle size, involves lifting increasingly heavier weights with lower repetitions, increasing your calorie intake dramatically, and spending a couple of hours per day lifting weights.

A golf fitness program incorporates moderate weight, with medium (12-15) repetitions, and in a time frame of 30-45 minutes. This type of program is designed to improve your golf specific strength and endurance, not build muscle.

"I will lose flexibility if I lift weights."

In fact, the opposite is true! Weak muscles are also tight muscles. When you do resistance training, you are increasing blood flow, working through a functional range of motion specific to golf, and strengthening the tendons and ligaments in every joint of your body. In conjunction with a stretching program, strength training will improve flexibility, not hinder it.

"Weight training will cause me to lose feel."

By strengthening your muscles specific to golf, you will have better control of your body. A golf fitness program trains your body specifically for your golf game. When you improve functional strength, you have more control and balance, which will improve your feel. Strength training involves body awareness, muscular control, and coordination. These are all key elements for enhanced golf.

So in summary, golf fitness can be done when you are in your early teens (with supervision), or into your late 80's. I have personally worked with people in there 70's and 80's who increased their strength 100%. This was partly due to the initial level of fitness being so low. My point is, that it is never too late to start. Search out a fitness professional or conditioning specialist to design a golf specific program and you will play better than you ever imagined! Start now!

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, numerous golf fitness tips and founder of several online golf fitness sites. For more information on his new, cutting-edge golf fitness ebook, go to http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com.

In The News:


Fort Worth Star Telegram

Kevin Na quickens pace at Colonial
ESPN
By Richard Durrett | ESPNDallas.com FORT WORTH, Texas -- The wiggles, waggles and waves at the golf ball disappeared from Kevin Na's pre-shot routine Thursday. That was a major victory for Na, who admitted that all he thought about in the first round ...
Golf: Zach Johnson leads at windy Colonial with a 64San Jose Mercury News
Golf CapsulesWashington Post
UPDATE 1-Golf-Johnson sets Colonial pace, Dufner one behindChicago Tribune
Bloomberg -Fort Worth Star Telegram -Yahoo! Sports (blog)
all 640 news articles »

SB Nation

Golf roundup: Johnson leads at Colonial
Austin American-Statesman
As part of a technology change, commenting will not be available on some articles for a number of months. Read more about the change here. ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT WORTH — Zach Johnson made two clutch par-savers that were part of a bogey-free, 6-under ...
McDowell stunned by 'freak' incident at WentworthUSA TODAY
Frustrated Rory McIlroy Throws Golf Club -- Just Like Tiger WoodsSB Nation
Golf-Drysdale, Lawrie steal show at sunny WentworthReuters UK
Pakistan Daily Times
all 1,146 news articles »

Bradenton Herald

Airplane door falls onto golf course
CNN
By Aaron Cooper, CNN Washington (CNN) -- The FAA is investigating what caused a private jet to lose its door as it flew over a Florida golf course. The Canadair CL600 jet was traveling from Opa-Locka to Pompano Beach, Florida, on Wednesday when it was ...
Private jet door lands on South Florida golf course fairway; no injuries reportedWashington Post
Plane door falls from sky and lands on Hallandale Beach golf courseMiamiHerald.com
Odd hazard for Diplomat golf course as plane door falls from skySun-Sentinel

all 99 news articles »

Purdue Boilermakers

UNC second at NCAA golf championship
News & Observer
North Carolina women's golf team is tied for second place following the second round of the NCAA Championships. North Carolina fired a 4-over-par 292 on Tuesday at the Vanderbilt Legends Club and moved to 6-over for the tournament, 11 strokes behind ...
Baylor Women's Golf Tied for 18th At NCAA'sKWTX
Strauss paces Women's Golf in NCAA Championship third roundTexasSports.com
Women's Golf In Ninth At NCAA ChampionshipsPurdue Boilermakers
Seminoles.com -SportsPageMagazine.com -TarHeelBlue.com
all 233 news articles »

al.com

Alabama women's golf team sees big lead shrink to two shots going into final ...
al.com
(UA photo) Just when it looked as if the second-ranked Alabama women's golf team might run away with its first national championship, along came USC. And there went most of the second-ranked Crimson Tide's big second-round lead.
Tide Women's Golf Still in First Place at NCAAsCBS42
'Nothing to lose' at NCAA golfGoVolsXtra
Alabama barely hangs onto lead at NCAA golf championshipsThe Tennessean
Montgomery Advertiser
all 249 news articles »

New York Daily News

Tiger's fall has left void in golfing greatness
STLtoday.com
Tiger Woods, left, and Jim Furyk speak on the 11th tee during final round of the Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass, Sunday, May 13, 2012, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Parity and dissemination can be good.
Tiger Woods thinks he can compete well into his 50sCBSSports.com (blog)
Truth and Rumors: Will Tiger play golf into his 50s?Golf.com (blog)
PAUL WOODY: Tiger Woods' most important achievements are off the golf courseRichmond Times Dispatch
Larry Brown Sports
all 136 news articles »

Golf Tidbits: English breaks out at Open qualifier
Fox News
Philadelphia, PA – Following an appearance at the Walker Cup last year, Harris English knew one thing - he wanted to do everything he could to qualify for the British Open because he loved playing golf in Scotland. No one knew it would be this easy.

and more »

Golf: Edmond's Rhein Gibson looks back on Guinness World Record round
NewsOK.com
The lowest round of golf ever recorded was shot by an Oklahoma transplant from Australia. Rhein Gibson, a former NAIA All-American at Oklahoma Christian, shot a 55 at River Oaks Golf Club two weeks ago. It's the Guinness World Record.
Freedom 55, Aussie-StyleOttawa Citizen (blog)

all 3 news articles »

Is Golf a Sport? ProCon.org Tees Up Controversy with New Sports Website
Sacramento Bee
By ProCon.org SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 24, 2012 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Golf in the United States is a $76 billion industry with 25.7 million players. Thirty-eight percent of Americans call themselves golf fans. Golf is clearly popular, ...

and more »

Boys golf: Ridgewood ends spring on a 'positive note'
NorthJersey.com
BY RON FOX RIDGEWOOD — The just-completed high school golf season was literally a lesson in life for the Ridgewood High School boys team. "It's been a strange season," head coach Dave Jenkins said four days after the Maroons finished in the middle of ...

and more »
Google News

Improving Your Golf Balance

The need for balance for golf just sounds so simple... Read More

Are You Fully Committed to Playing Your Best Golf?

After taking golf lessons and/or attempting to make changes in... Read More

Back Exercise And Golf Are Synonymous

Back exercise and golf. Doesn't that sound like a common... Read More

Golf Humor Poetry:- Ode to the Fanatical Golfer (Part One)

He wanted golf to be experienced by all, And hoped... Read More

Improve Your Golf Swing Timing

Golf swing timing is an important aspect of the game.... Read More

The Psychology of a Confident Golf Swing, Part 1

Before focusing on the subject of developing confidence with ones... Read More

Do You Want To Play Par Golf?

The key to playing par golf is to focus on... Read More

How To Unleash The Power Of Your Core

The golf swing relies upon core strength, endurance and proper... Read More

How To Get The Proper Golf Swing That Suits You Best

Without developing a proper golf swing, chances are that you... Read More

The Key Rule In Getting Your Golf Swing Plane Right

Getting the golf swing plane right and virtually perfecting this... Read More

The Ultimate Swing Training Program

Why isn't your golf swing improving? Have you ever had... Read More

Today?s Golf Schools Bring In The Elements Of Instruction And Fitness

What comes to mind when you think of golf lessons... Read More

Golf For Beginners ? What Makes A Good Golfer?

A good golfer is a golfer who is happy with... Read More

What Are Custom Golf Clubs

Custom golf clubs are anything from a single club to... Read More

Create A Gift Basket For A Golfer Lover!

The choice of what gift to give your family and... Read More

A Golfing Tip For Better Control Of Your Body

A good golfing tip to help you improve your control... Read More

Golf Driving Tip That Will Add Yards Quickly

A golf driving tip that can make the difference between... Read More

Golf Workouts Can Quickly Add Yards To Your Drives

I'm sure by now you've heard most of the professional... Read More

Play Better Longer: Reducing Golf Related Injury

On the surface golf may look to be a slow... Read More

Gaining the Correct Golf Swing Plane

The golf swing plane is the direction that your golf... Read More

Power Golf The Easy Way

Power golf is a game very few golfers can play.... Read More

What Causes Golf Back Pain?

Why it that back pain is such a common complaint... Read More

Left Handed Golf Tips

Where do you find left handed golf tips? You find... Read More

Golf on Historic Rice Plantations of South Carolina; a Special Treat! Plan Your Next Golf Vacation!

Nothing could be finer...Just a few short miles south of... Read More

Why A Golf Ball Actually Flies Through The Air

Not accounting for weather conditions there are a few things... Read More