Fitness & Golf – Take it from the Pro’s

Why would fitness be important in golf training? It might not seem so obvious from the outside looking in, but you won’t find many professional players that don’t have a training program of some sort. Certainly, all the championship contenders have incorporated a golf-specific program that strengthens the right muscles, in the right way, to increase their performance on the golf course. In fact, Golf Reimagined has tracked down the workout routines of a few of the biggest names in the sport today. From the mythical routine of prime Tiger to the current dominating forces on tour, let’s discuss training in golf.

 

I think we are all familiar with Tiger Woods. Perhaps the best to ever play the game his early career workout routine was an all-day affair. Tiger would get up and go for a 4-mile run, then hit the gym and lift weights. Afterwards, he would hit balls for 2-3 hours then play a round. Quite the warm-up. He would then work on his short game for another few hours which was followed by a 4-mile run for a cooldown. Actually, the real cooldown was the game of tennis or basketball with friends at the end of his day. This was a daily routine for Tiger when he was first on tour. Some may say the routine has been exaggerated, regardless, you can’t say fitness wasn’t a huge part of his game.

 

While Dustin Johnson has moved onto ‘greener pastures’, leaving the PGA for the LIV in a controversial move, he was a force to be reckoned with on the tour for a number of years. Johnson trains with Joey D Golf at their compound in Florida. Their facility is built for golfers and they analyze biomechanics to provide individual programs designed to increase club speed while preventing injury. “The biggest evolution is that I’ve become much more consistent and dedicated to training as much as I can. I’m always working to get better and improve my game, but training is equally important for the mental aspect of the sport” says Johnson on the improvement in his game and health. He isn’t alone as there are a number of high-profile pros that use Joey D Golf programs and facilities. Rory Mcllroy, Justin Thomas, and over 23 other PGA and LPGA players all agree Joey D’s programs are good for their game. Joey D has 4 pillars of strength when it comes to his programs: balance, stability, power, and velocity. With locations around the globe, it seems Joey D has figured out a quality program that golfers feel elevates their game to a new level.

 

What about the current phenom, Scottie Scheffler? Well, his approach may be slightly different. Scheffler is the face of GOLFFOREVER, a company, and product that utilizes resistance bands for rotational and stability exercises. Scottie and his coach will use the product as a warm-up or as a full workout for training. The product itself is a golf club-like handle attached to a resistance band that is portable and can be attached to any anchor, even a golf cart! Scheffler walked through his routine for their YouTube channel and displayed how the product helps develop core strength and supports stability in the back and legs to ensure a fast and healthy golf swing. In the 2022 Masters, Scheffler became only the fifth player ever to come into the tournament ranked world number 1 and go on to win the tournament. 2 of the other 5 happen to be Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods, who we already know put a large emphasis on fitness…do we see a pattern here?

 

It’s no different on the women’s side either. 11-time tour champion Lexi Thompson may be one of the fittest players on tour. Like the men, she focuses on lower body stability and strength for power and velocity through her swing. She uses everything from sleds to barbells, resistance bands to weight machines, and throws in a HIIT workout in the late afternoon or evening. Thompson is known to do 2 workouts a day and her coach, Kolby Wayne, says she is “probably one of the greatest athletes I’ve worked with”. Wayne also trains for Justin Thomas, for reference.

 

“It is very important to be physically fit when you are playing a sport” says Lexi Thompson. Clearly, the pros agree. You are using every muscle and joint in your body when performing a golf swing, it is vital that those muscles and joints be in good condition if you want to have a long/competitive career in the sport. It should be something incorporated into everyone’s game and even further, their lives. Golf may not be the most physically demanding sport but taking care of your body is the best way to enjoy the game we love, whatever game that may be, for a long time.