Do Exercises Need to Resemble a Golf Swing to be Effective?

How Do I Choose the Right Exercises?

Have you ever seen an exercise on social media that looks exactly like the golf swing? Well, one of the most asked questions we get from new members here at SMARTGOLF is about exercise selection. Our fitness team educates our members that not all exercises within their programming will resemble the golf swing. Although the term “golf fitness” has been of talk lately, it can be quite difficult to define specific exercises that fall into this category that are actually beneficial to an individual. 

How Can I Improve My Swing?

The better someone is able move, stabilize, accelerate, and decelerate in all 3 planes of motion, the greater the potential they have for applying this to their golf swing. Simply improving general athleticism can help generate speed and coordination. Both of which are needed for a complex movement such as the golf swing. Check out Coach Kody’s blog entry here, which explains what exactly the golf swings asks of the body.

How Can SMARTGOLF Help Me?

If you are not familiar with our SMART assessment, you can read more about if here. We take an individualized approach to each member that walks through our doors. While most of our assessment is related to the mechanics of the golf swing, you will find none of the movements or tests actually look like the golf swing. Initial programming for members will be based off of these results, including any limitations that exist. While one member may have a goal to swing faster and hit longer drives, a goal of another member is simply to play pain free golf. Programming between these members may look very different, but all of the basic fundamentals would be in place between them.

How Can I Get Started?

Blog Bonus: Do you have access to a full gym and are interested in gaining some strength during the offseason? If so, comment your full name and email address for a FREE 3 month, no-commitment full body strength program. One of our fitness team members will reach out and get you set up on our mobile platform!

About the Author

Nick Piper is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago where he received his BS in Exercise Science. He has furthered his education by becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), as well as a Functional Golf Specialist through the Gray Institute.

Over the last few years, nick has been a sports performance coach, where he has had the opportunity to work with and train professional and collegiate athletes (NHL, AHL, NCAA), as well as lead and develop hundreds of youth athletes to their full potential.

Click here to learn more about Nick, or here to find to him on Instagram.