Golf Fitness 101: Adopt a golf fitness program you can do at home

What can you do at home to help your golf game? Short answer: A lot. So, take advantage of your extra time at home by following an at-home golf fitness program that requires little to no equipment. Your body — and your game — will thank you for it.

With everything going on in the world right now, chances are you’ve been spending most, if not all, of your time at home. While the allure of Netflix is naturally bound to be stronger than ever, it’s important to remind yourself there are other, more productive ways to utilize your extra time at the homestead. Why not take advantage of it to improve your golf game?

When golfers think about improving their game, they often envision expensive lessons, the latest golf equipment or hours grinding on the range. However, perhaps the simplest and most effective way to improve your game is by working on the most valuable piece of golf equipment you own: your body.

When it comes to golf stretching and exercises designed to improve your golf swing, you can make noticeable improvements to your body (and your game) with little to no equipment—and you can do it all from the comfort of home. Additionally, daily golf workout routines are not time-consuming. In fact, most can be completed in about 15 minutes.

The foundation of golf fitness

A well-rounded golf fitness program typically centers around three core pillars:

• Flexibility & mobility
• Core strength
• Balance

While all different in nature, these three components are very much connected when it comes to improving your ability to generate high rotational forces (clubhead speed) with control, and in a manner that doesn’t cause pain or injury.

1. Flexibility & Mobility

It’s first important to note that flexibility and mobility are not the same thing.

People typically understand that flexibility is the degree to which a muscle can be passively moved through a range of motion, like when stretching. Mobility, on the other hand—which could be considered as more important your general health and your golf game—is not as commonly understood. Simply stated, mobility is the degree to which you can actively move a joint through its range of motion, like during a golf swing.

To get the most out of your golf swing, it’s vitally important to work on your mobility.

In fact, as our two featured golf exercises this week illustrate, there is a lot you can do at home with no equipment to improve your mobility and work on the other pillars of core strength and balance in the process.

2. Core Strength

The first exercise, the simple Plank, is one of the best exercises to develop core strength and stability, both of which are crucial for a powerful swing. It’s a common exercise you see being performed in gyms and many fitness routines, but pay close attention to the video as most people do this simple exercise the wrong way.

Together with practicing other exercises like the Plank regularly, it will help you build a strong, healthy core that will translate directly to your golf swing.

3. Balance

Many golfers struggle with a lack of hip mobility and the T-Squat can go along way to improving this, as well as your balance at the same time. The T-Squat improves range of motion and strength in the hip which ultimately leads to increased hip mobility that lasts.

Having good balance, as it relates to the golf swing overall, is a vital component of generating and controlling high speed rotational forces. Looking for more clubhead speed? You’ll be surprised how effective better balance can be to helping you get it.

The big picture of golf fitness

It’s important to note that while these three exercises are excellent ways to improve your physical health at home, they are just part of the broader initiatives you can take to improve your body and your game.

In addition to improving your flexibility and mobility, core strength, and balance, strength training can have a significant impact on your performance. It’s also a vital component to unlocking your maximum rotational power and improving your movement patterns, with strong shoulders and hips that don’t break down from the repetitive, unnatural motions of the golf swing.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for strength training exercises that are designed to help your golf game. In the meantime, make the most of your time at home and get started with the simple exercises outlined above. Your body—and your game—will thank you.

Want to learn more? Visit GOLFFOREVER.COM to build flexibility, mobility, strength and more confidence in your game than ever before.

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All GOLFFOREVER content and exercises are presented with the expressed understanding that you should visit a doctor to determine the cause of any pain you may be feeling and in some rare cases that can include cancer, fractures, infection and more. It should also be understood that you are strongly advised to first receive clearance from a physician before following any exercises or advice presented on this site, and that Morning Read and its partner, GOLFFOREVER, are not liable for any injuries that may occur.