Practice Tip
Practice Tip
An off season workout strategy
The off season is the perfect time to work on cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training to get ready for the upcoming season. If you do nothing you will lose flexibility, strength, and endurance.and then once you begin the new season you may find you play well for only 7 or 8 holes and then fatigue due to loss of concentration and/or lack of physical endurance. You will also be more prone to injury once the season finally arrives and then possibly sidelined due to injury while your friends play merrily each week; no fun for you.
For cardiovascular training I recommend walking briskly for 30 to 60 minutes 3-5 days a week. Golf requires a long sustained endurance and you will achieve good endurance with a steady and sustained heightened heart rate achieved by brisk walking for long distances. This is even better than jogging hard for twenty minutes. You also will avoid injuring ankles knees, hips, vital organs, etc, which is easily achieved when running and jogging.
Next, you need to work on strength training for stability, speed, and balance. Focus on core strength (oblique, abdomen and lower back), also all leg muscles, forearms, wrists, upper backs and shoulders. Consulting a trainer at your gym may help you with targeting your own specific weaknesses. In watching many different pros exercise there is almost no specific exercise that is really bad for golf, but always try to focus on your own specific weaknesses.
Finally, flexibility training will keep your muscles long, loose, and quick. Inflexible muscles are short, tight and slow. I recommend using a Momentus Power Hitter for 5 to 10 minutes after working out to maintain and/or increase flexibility and strengthen muscles after a gym workout. Just swinging this heavy weighted club will help restore flexibility back to your golf specific muscles. Additional stretches to lower back , legs, core and arms will always help too.
Often overlooked after a workout is a recovery regimen. Your muscles are starving for glycogen and protein to rebuild. Try a recovery shake made with strawberries, bananas, cranberry juice, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some whey protein within 30 minutes of working out to help recover from the stress of your workout. And while on the course, try eating a mix of mixed nuts, raisins, mm's for maintaining energy.
This workout regimen doesn't have to be just for the off season but can and should be a lifestyle regimen all year long for any serious golfer.
Here's hoping you have a happy,healthy golf new year!