There are countless reasons to improve golf fitness. The obvious reason to adopt a good golf fitness program is to shave strokes without changing ANYTHING about your swing. Having referred several students to arguably one of the best online golf fitness resources in the world, I've seen the results time and time again.



Students are able to whip their bodies into incredible golf shape and, without consciously changing a thing about their swing, they're able to shoot more consistent scores, and lower scores.

This is what separates the serious golfers from the hackers.

Not only does your golf game benefit, but you'll have more energy, you'll feel more confident, and well, I don't have to tell you what the opposite sex will think of you, especially those who play golf!

I've set up a website that reviews two great golf fitness resources. Both of these products have had input from PGA Trainers and World Renowned Strength and Fitness Coaches. Both are very cost effective for the information contained, not to mention the bonuses!



The first, Fitness For Golf is an absolutely incredible membership website that offers seemingly endless fitness resources. For the cost, it's the absolute best available.



If you don't want to spend as much, but still find a great resource that has a great amount of info all in once place, you'll find Lean Strong and Long. Like I said, it's not the best available, but it is a great e-book nevertheless.



What I like about both of these golf fitness programs is they'll help you improve golf fitness through routines the writers have developed themselves.

You won't have to worry about watching Golf Channel Fitness Academy or searching the internet far and wide for free resources. You get it all in one place.

I've done a review of both services here if you want to check it out. Golf Fitness Program Review

These are some of the golf fitness exercises I do on days when I can't hit the gym to keep me sharp.

You can find exercises simple like these, or hard hitting gym caliber exercises if you sign up for Fitness For Golf to further improve your fitness.



^^ ME ^^

This exercise will be done in the classic pushup position with one key difference. Instead of having your feet on the ground, you are going to place them on a bench, couch, or perhaps your coffee table. The goal is to get your weight more supported by your arms than your feet.

Once you have found this position, make sure to fully extend your arms on the way up, and strive to keep your back straight, always a key part of any exercise, golf fitness or not.

This will be much harder than a normal pushup so if you struggle do those, don't try this until you have built your strength enough. This exercise will drastically increase your arm and core strength as well as target your lats (back muscles, a big key to swing speed) If you want to target your core and lats more, move your hands inward towards one another. This will force your core to be more active in the exercise. The core is a golf fitness key!

To get exercises you can do in the gym, of course you'll want to check out My Golf Fitness Program Review Website to further improve your fitness.

Variation
Grab a volleyball or a soccer ball before you go to do this exercise. Why? We are going to use it to intensify the firing of the core muscles and stability muscles in your arms. Assume the normal pushup position, then place your hands on the ball. Use a semi deflated basketball if you have large hands. Do your pushups with your hands on the ball while focusing on keeping your back straight throughout. You'll feel this one more in your triceps and lower back as you try to stay balanced.

You can combine the above two golf fitness exercises if you are more advanced.

NOTE: To develop more muscle speed, while doing your pushups, lower yourself slowly and push on the ground hard to get yourself back up. Make sure you are keeping your back straight.

Any golf fitness program should hit the core area really hard. The core muscles are what the golf swing revolves around.

The reason there are so many back injuries in golf is because most golfers don't have strong enough core muscles to support the daily stresses they put on their backs during the unnatural moves the golf swing creates.

To swing consistently and to maximize your potential for distance, you'll need a strong and flexible core. This includes everything from the bottom of your chest to your lower body, hips, abs, obliques, etc. A good golf fitness program will have exercises that target all of these areas.

The harder you hit your core area in your training, the less risk of injury you will have, and the more consistent your swing will ultimately be.

Here are a few simple exercises you can do to increase your core strength and flexibility.

Lower Abs
This is a very easy one. Lay flat on the ground or on a bench with your lower back as flat as possible. Put your feet together.

Now, while keeping your legs straight, and back flat on the ground, raise your legs up as far as possible. Make sure you keep your feet together. Raise your legs quickly and lower them slowly. You'll feel the burn after just a few reps. Try to do 10 if possible.

To make this exercise more effective, you can use ankle weights such as these. You don't need a whole lot of weight. Five or 10 pounds is enough to get you rock hard abs.

Valeo AW10 10 lb. Adjustable Ankle/Wrist Weights

Hip Flexibility
Here is another exercise you can do that will improve your hip flexibility. Lay on the ground on your side with your body straight. All you are going to do is raise your top leg up as high as you can, then back down.

Do this ten times on each side.

If this becomes too easy, bend your knees to a 90 degree angle and make the same motion.

This golf fitness exercise will greatly improve your hip flexibility.

This workout hits basically every muscle in your upper body and some in your lower. It's a little difficult to do, but I guarantee you, you will build some strength FAST with this golf fitness exercise.

Get out your swiss ball (if you don't have one, you can do it on the floor, but it will not be nearly as effective). Make sure you have some tennis shoes on because you will need a good grip on the floor.

Now you are going to lower yourself onto your swiss ball facing the ground as you would a pushup. Support yourself with your arms by placing your hands on the outer edges of the ball, palms down. You should be pushing towards the middle of the ball with each hand as well.

This will get you in a position that will engage basically ever upper body muscle you have.

Now what you are going to do is lower yourself halfway down to the ball, keeping your back straight as you would in a pushup. Keep your abs tight throughout this exercise as well. Hold this position for as long as you can. Try for 20 seconds at first, then move up to 60 as you progress.

You'll notice your arms shaking and abs burning towards the end. This is due to the swiss ball using all of your stabilizer muscles to support yourself. Being strong in these muscles are what keeps your golf swing consistent from day to day.

Try to do 2 sets of these each time you work out. You'll notice a dramatic improvement in your upper body strength in no time.