Golfers: Use your body for power, not your arms!

Klantverhaal Michiel van Haastert

“Every good golfer knows that power comes from the body, not the arms”

We've had a number of fit20 clients say that their golf game has improved since starting fit20!

In this article, I'm going to talk about how strengthening your body with a fit20 workout will add yards to your drive and improve your overall game, in only 20 minutes a week! Yes, you read it right: only 20 minutes a week, just once a week! Ok, now that we’ve got that cleared up, let’s dive in.

If you are starting out and not in great shape, I suggest giving yourself at least 3 rest days before a competitive round of golf- to allow the body to recover after a fit20 workout. The body works best when its rested. The body is also a single unit. So your workouts should exercise all major muscle groups: back, legs, abdomen, chest and, shoulders and arms.

Back: Back problems are as common as bogeys on the golf course. To gain those extra yards in your golf swing, you need a strong back.

Arms: Strengthening arm muscles increases club head speed and this increases yards off the tee. Stronger arms also help with executing shots around the green and in the rough.

Legs: A building is only as strong as the foundation it's built on. The best golfers know that without a solid base, your swing will collapse. Strength and balance in the thigh, calf and gluteal muscles help deliver a more fluid, powerful swing.

During the backswing, your legs are the foundation. During the downswing, the legs are powering the engine. By the end of a round of golf, the difference between winning and losing can come down to the stamina of your legs - especially if you are walking and carrying a golf bag on your back.

Abdomen: Abdominal muscles play an important role by complementing the back muscles. Strong abs can help you get more mileage out of your back.

During your swing, torso rotation is enhanced by strong abs. Strong abs increase the ease with which the body coils and the speed with which the body unwinds, adding impressive distance to your shots. They also provide stamina to repeat the rotation and increase accuracy.

Make sense? Now all you need, in the words of Nike , is to "just to do it” . Why not drop in to your local fit20 studio and give it a try? Your body will thank you- and so will your scorecard!