Article #75
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Dear Jitterbug:
Weight training for golfers seems to be on the rise in recent years. This is different than when I was growing up, when everybody thought it was a bad idea. Do you know specifically what type of weight training is thought to be best for golfers? Low weight, high reps? Vice versa? Cardio-training?
Brent Alvin
Jitterbug Gang Fan
Jitterbug:
Weight-training, if performed responsibly, is a good thing for your golf game. This is because exercised muscles are more responsive to the commands of the brain. They are more awake, more alive, and less likely to fatigue.
Whether you should spend more time with heavier or lighter weights, fewer or more repetitions, I can't tell you. Everybody has a different physical makeup, and therefore, a particular weight-training program that is best for him or her.
My advice to you, if you want to get on a workable program, is to find a certified fitness instructor who has experience working with golfers (it wouldn't hurt to have an instructor who actually plays the game). And, while there are books available on the subject, I recommend the beginner weight lifter do some one-on-one training. It's probably best to have an expert pair of eyes guide you through the postural fundamentals that make weight lifting less hazardous and most beneficial.
Mr. Vaughn:
The fear in years past was that weight-training steals flexibility. And without ample stretching, it darn sure does. This is why modern day golf-specific weight training includes as much stretching as lifting. It turns out that strength, when accompanied by good range of motion, is an awesome one-two punch when it comes smackin' that golf ball. How nobody never arrived at that before, I don't know.
Lord Berry:
Physical attributes acquired through proper weight training include strength, balance, agility, suppleness, improved timing and stamina. These attributes in turn lead to mental and emotion qualities such as improved focus, poise, determination, concentration, the desire to make the most of every day, etc.
With so much to gain, it is difficult to imagine why any serious golfer would shy away from a regular physical training regimen.