A Golf Strength Training Program Will Reduce Your Handicap

Any golfer that wants to generate power into their drives off the tee needs a golf strength training program. If you want to get more power through your club face into the ball, then a strength training program can put 30 – 50 yards onto your drive. It sounds a lot, but that’s what you can achieve if you get stronger.

Not only that, but the unnatural rotational motion of the swing takes a lot of strength out of you, and you have to have a certain degree of strength in order to complete a round without dropping shots in the last few holes. You can avoid dropping these shots at crucial times if you have the strength to get you through the whole round without losing anything.

Golf Specific Strength Training Will Not Make You Muscle Bound

Don’t believe the myth that strength training makes you muscle bound with no flexibility. That’s what the wimps say to justify their own lack of strength, and strength training has been shown to improve the game even of 80 year olds. I know, because I have helped people in that age group with my strength training programs. Properly designed golf strength training exercises give you a competitive edge over your competitors that is directly related the extra strength you build by using them.

A drive in golf takes just over a second to achieve. In that time you expend a lot of energy and use a lot of force. This is all generated by the muscles that you use when playing golf, and the stronger these muscles are, the more force you can apply to the golf ball and the longer you can do it for. That is basic physics. General weight training does not help if it does not build the muscles that you use when playing golf.

The Farther You Drive, The Lower your Handicap

Studies have shown that if you carry out golf specific flexibility and strength exercises twice a week, you will significantly increase your club head speed and the distance you hit the ball. Unless you are a professional golfer, it has been demonstrated clearly that the distance of your drive is directly connected to your handicap. The shorter the chip to the green for an ordinary player, the more likely they are to make par.

However, not just any strength training will help. It has to be golf specific, building up the muscles you use when playing golf. The easy way to do that is to find exercises that you can use to apply more weight and strength to the shots you play. You can hold a dumb bell as you would your golf club and try a swing with it. It will seem awkward at first, but you will get used to it, and will be swinging with a weight, rather than your lighter club. This strengthens the muscles you use during your swing.

You can also use a weighted training club, exercise tubing or a medicine ball. Attach the tubing to a door, for example, and swing with it. It provides resistance and that is what builds up your muscles. Alternatively, swing using a weighted medicine ball. All of these exercises are golf specific, and exercise and strengthen the muscles you use in golf. You won’t end up muscle bound, but if you combine these with gold specific flexibility exercises then you will find that they will have a remarkable impact upon your game.

Peak Performance Requires Peak Strength Specific To Golf

You will be able to drive farther for longer period of time, and not run out of gas during a round. Don’t forget that if you want to play in true competitions, you will have to be able to play at the peak of your performance for two or even four rounds of golf in as many days. The tour professionals can’t do that without golf specific strength exercises.

If you want to improve your game beyond just a foursome every week, then start on a golf strength training program. Speak to your club pro, or look for one of the better programs available on the internet. The equipment is inexpensive, and you do not have to lift heavy weights. All you do is to swing with a bit of added resistance that you will soon not even notice.

Golf Strength Training Resource

If you want a step-by-step plan, of simple exercises, stretches and programs, take a look at the Golf Training System. You'll never need another resource to improve the physical aspect of your game!

Mike Pedersen
Golf Performance Coach