What does it take to get Golf Course Ready?

“How you play in-season has a direct correlation to preparing in the off-season.” - Dave Nelson, DPT

Gradual, consistent conditioning prepares your body to handle the physical demands of golf and reduces the risk of injury throughout the season. Whether your workouts start at home or the gym, adding a regimen you can consistently accomplish will improve your golf game exponentially.

Dave Nelson, owner of Chardon Performance Therapy has told Cleveland.com a little bit about getting your body ready for golf from a golf fan who happens to be a physical therapist and TPI-certified clinician.

Here's an excerpt of what Dave has to say from the recent Cleveland.com article, "Golf season is in full swing: Time to get body, mind, and gear ready" ...(Rodger Roeser, 2024)

"An exercise regimen can be done from your home or with a personal trainer,” he said. “Your physical preparation should combine core, weights, and cardio.” Nelson advises that if you are doing exercises at home, do them moderately at first and make sure that the form is done properly. This should include a combination of stretches, weights, core development, and even grip strength. “How you play in-season has a direct correlation to preparing in the off-season,” Nelson says..."

To get your body golf course-ready for the season, it's important to focus on mobility, strength, and endurance.

Key areas to target include:

1. Mobility: Enhance flexibility in your hips, shoulders, and thoracic spine to improve your swing mechanics. Stretching and mobility drills are essential to prevent stiffness.

2. Core Strength: Develop core muscles to stabilize your body during the swing and protect your lower back. Exercises like planks, rotations, and medicine ball throws are effective.

3. Lower Body Strength: Strong legs and glutes provide power and balance in your swing. Squats, lunges, and glute bridges help strengthen these muscles.

4. Endurance: Walking the course requires stamina. Cardiovascular exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling can improve endurance for a full round of golf.

5. Balance and Stability: Incorporate balance drills to maintain control during the swing and enhance precision.
   

Don't just take it from us, try adding a few core and stability exercises to your regimen and see how that reflects in your game. See more content in our Blog for ideas on exercise, How to maintain your mental game, and More.