Weight lifting?

Dolph Starbeam

I have some weights at home and i'm just wondering what exercises people do to work on what areas.

ShriekingSheet

None.
In the amateur game, I can't see any corralation between muscle strength and distance the ball goes. The only physical element that many long hitters seem to have in common is height. And that's just the luck of the draw innit.

I'm sure there's some marginal benefits, otherwise the guys on tour wouldn't be doing it. If I was +4 I might give it a try, but off a 4 handicap, I'll give it a miss and spend the time working on my game thanks.

Dolph Starbeam

Ah right fair enough, i'm only off 10 but hoping that is about to fall pretty fast but just thought there might be a few small exercises that might help a small bit.

ShriekingSheet

MOG7 wrote: »

Ah right fair enough, i'm only off 10 but hoping that is about to fall pretty fast but just thought there might be a few small exercises that might help a small bit.

I dunno, but I'd say something like yoga might be better. I tried it once for a laugh as a guy I know teaches it and one thing I did take away was a better way to stretch before a round. Aside from the physical aspects, there's also a calmness thing that comes with yoga which would also be of beneit.

DoireNod

Tiger Woods is known to lift weights in his workout, which is a big reason why one of my friends who plays golf commits so much time to weight training, but as far as technique goes, I reckon it is probably better to focus on practising the game first. Yoga sounds like a good suggestion!

BrianD3

General strength training using compound lifts - squats, deadlifts, chin ups, overhead pressing, bench pressing. Also some abdominal work and grip strength training. Low reps and high resistance.

It is generally accepted that the above approach is better than trying to make things very specific for a particular sport eg attempting to train for strength in the plane of the golf swing, using a a weighted club and so on. It doesn't work like that and you might do more harm than good.

Re: time spent exercising, most people are weak and 15 minutes per day of the right type of strength training would result in significant strength improvements. In my view this will help golfers no matter what their level. It's also good for general health.

Dolph Starbeam

Cheers for the tips and advice everyone, i'll go look into it a bit more and maybe just work on my general strenght and fitness.

Trampas

I would work on fitness in the gym than lift weights.

Cause it is near the end of the round when you here players saying I was tired on the last 4 holes and it cost me a couple of shots.

soundsham

would have to agree with briand3 and disagree with sheet totally
if you have weights at home and the time why not use them

while working you game is most important, being a little bit fitter and stronger also helps and should be encouraged as it may not be vital for specific shots but will reduce the chance of injuries,sprains etc
even if you do regularly warm up the more flexible you are the better

the most important thing is as in golf get someone to show you the correct technique

as regards gym work etc i would say the same if you can do some it is a help too,healthy body healthy mind and all that,but as sheet points out its the guys with very low h'caps that probably use gyms most as the are looking for every miniscule detail to improve.
in summary i guess dont rule out anything especially without having tried it first

ShriekingSheet

soundsham wrote: »

would have to agree with briand3 and disagree with sheet totally
if you have weights at home and the time why not use them

Well in fairness, if you have weights at home that's a different story. I was nay-saying going out and buyinig weights for golf.

soundsham wrote: »

while working you game is most important, being a little bit fitter and stronger also helps and should be encouraged as it may not be vital for specific shots but will reduce the chance of injuries,sprains etc
even if you do regularly warm up the more flexible you are the better

the most important thing is as in golf get someone to show you the correct technique

as regards gym work etc i would say the same if you can do some it is a help too,healthy body healthy mind and all that,but as sheet points out its the guys with very low h'caps that probably use gyms most as the are looking for every miniscule detail to improve.
in summary i guess dont rule out anything especially without having tried it first

Ah, I just view this whole topic as a way for macho guys to shoe-horn words like "power" and "strength" into a conversation on how to improve at golf. And in my opinion, it's all bullsh*t.

Dolph Starbeam

Ye well i have weights at hope gathering dust so i might aswell put them to use i think. I am 5 foot 11 or so but pretty light build but i still hit the ball pretty far. I am not really wanting to do the weights because of power and distance etc as i would give up anything to be a bit more accurate.

I just simply want to build up strenght in my arms so that i could maybe improve my striking a bit more and if it adds a few yards i'll take it.

I was just wondering what exercises i could do that won't cause me trouble with my swing or that will work on the right areas.

soundsham

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Well in fairness, if you have weights at home that's a different story. I was nay-saying going out and buyinig weights for golf.



Ah, I just view this whole topic as a way for macho guys to shoe-horn words like "power" and "strength" into a conversation on how to improve at golf. And in my opinion, it's all bullsh*t.

the op says he has weights at home in his few lines,no one mentioned going all arnold swarchenegger as far as i can see

if you have a problem with " power and strength " fine thats your problem no need to be all negative on something thats not part of your golf life

chill out man,i'm only offering my opinion on general fitness being a help to golf and well being

f22

Short game practice would be far more valuable for spare time. I can guarantee that will improve your gold more than lifting weights. Mental strength would also help.

soundsham

guy aksed question about weights

f22

soundsham wrote: »

guy aksed question about weights

None.

You happy now? I have alot of things at home that could help with golf fitness/strength. Fact is some proper practice is going to lower scores more than weights.

soundsham

lol

he aked about weights dont lose yourself ther kiddo

or maybe dont bother replying how do you know if he's off 20 or +3

dont be dismissing what he asked to find out he didn't ask about short game at home

rower2K8

It think since i joined the gym this year i have started to hit the ball a lot further and my game has improved

f22

soundsham wrote: »

lol

he aked about weights dont lose yourself ther kiddo

or maybe dont bother replying how do you know if he's off 20 or +3

dont be dismissing what he asked to find out he didn't ask about short game at home

The chap previously said he played off 10. Why would +3 handicapper seek advise on anything here?

soundsham

didnt see that about the 10
did see he asked about weights tho not short game

give it a rest man

soundsham

rower2K8 wrote: »

It think since i joined the gym this year i have started to hit the ball a lot further and my game has improved

good for you
whatever happens wear sunscreenpractise your short game or the man gets very cross:P

f22

soundsham wrote: »

good for you
whatever happens wear sunscreenpractise your short game or the man gets very cross:P

Much as I would love to respond I'll leave it

rower2K8

soundsham wrote: »

good for you
whatever happens wear sunscreenpractise your short game or the man gets very cross:P

I know isnt it. I won 4 out of 7 comps so far this year

Joe C

f22 wrote: »

None.

You happy now? I have alot of things at home that could help with golf fitness/strength. Fact is some proper practice is going to lower scores more than weights.

Have to agree.

I can bench press and squat more than 120kgs.

Still can't hit a drive straight though.

jampotjim

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Well in fairness, if you have weights at home that's a different story. I was nay-saying going out and buyinig weights for golf.



Ah, I just view this whole topic as a way for macho guys to shoe-horn words like "power" and "strength" into a conversation on how to improve at golf. And in my opinion, it's all bullsh*t.

Golf is based a lot around core muscles & balance which can be worked on in the gym but also Pilates..

I am actually going to start doing Pilates for the winter and do a bit of yoga along with a proper weights program as then you get all the flexability but also get the power which is important for stamina & power but will be a off season program of weights that will be reduced for the start of the season into a more light weight routine & some core muscle stuff

stockdam

I've never seen any correlation. However on reflection I think that it could help your posture and core muscles. As long as it doesn't bulk you up and maybe slow your swing down then it should be beneficial.

PeterJamesDoyle

I've heard that too, there are alot of golfers doing Pilates now, to give good core strength. Plus you get to sit in a room with about 20 fit women as well.

I had to do some landscaping in my garden two years ago, and at one stage I was moving a 2 tons of pebbles from the driveway to the back garden. I had a Cleveland Launcher Comp 10.5 Degree at the time with an Aldlia NVS 85-x shaft. Very hard to use, but after shovelling for what appeared to be a lifetime, I was hammering drives quite a long way afterwards. Clearing my left side beautifully.
My obliques (muscles to the side of the abdomen) got quite strong after the garden work.

Game was great for about 2 weeks, but after the gardening was finished, game went to sh*te again.

jampotjim

PeterJamesDoyle wrote: »

I've heard that too, there are alot of golfers doing Pilates now, to give good core strength. Plus you get to sit in a room with about 20 fit women as well.

I had to do some landscaping in my garden two years ago, and at one stage I was moving a 2 tons of pebbles from the driveway to the back garden. I had a Cleveland Launcher Comp 10.5 Degree at the time with an Aldlia NVS 85-x shaft. Very hard to use, but after shovelling for what appeared to be a lifetime, I was hammering drives quite a long way afterwards. Clearing my left side beautifully.
My obliques (muscles to the side of the abdomen) got quite strong after the garden work.

Game was great for about 2 weeks, but after the gardening was finished, game went to sh*te again.

Don't tell the wife/girlfriend that or you will end up with a lot more gardening jobs...

retiefgoosen!

I would focus on stamina and endurance more than strength to be honest.
The reason I say that is that the former two are constants, meaning they are uniformly available as resources (the more the better) whereas strength is a variable in that it is something that needs to be applied in certain areas / at certain times to be effective.
I'm still a golf noob but this should translate equally in most sports (I think); strength applied wrongly would have a negative impact on your swing maybe.

Dolph Starbeam

retiefgoosen! wrote: »

I would focus on stamina and endurance more than strength to be honest.
The reason I say that is that the former two are constants, meaning they are uniformly available as resources (the more the better) whereas strength is a variable in that it is something that needs to be applied in certain areas / at certain times to be effective.
I'm still a golf noob but this should translate equally in most sports (I think); strength applied wrongly would have a negative impact on your swing maybe.

Just reminded me of Ben Hogan iirc, he was on a range hitting a 3 wood perfectly shot after shot for nearly 2 hours on the range... Then a reporter who had been watching asked him why he was trying to improve on perfection, he simpl just said he wanted to know how he would hit the club when he is tired.

Oliverdog

The benefits of working in a gym on your general fitness can't be denied, whatever sport you are playing.
But the best golf-specific exercise I ever came across was the Torso Rotator, which tones all the muscles involved in the turn.