subject: Will Strength Training And Muscle Building Limit Your Flexibility For Golf? [print this page] This question reminds me of many of my assignments for university, having to come up with a 2000 word essay from questions like this. My initial reaction was to just say... "No" or "yes" depending on my perspective, that mind you would not of got me too far I do not doubt. I could easily answer this in the same way to be honest, and that answer would be a crystal clear NO. It is extremely hard to build dense muscle without increasing food intake correctly, and done with certain types of hypertrophy programs over many years.
The fear of becoming a solid block of a bodybuilder that cannot turn his head without turning his whole body, is simply not realistic if you follow correct strength training and muscle building programs for golf.
If done correctly strength training and muscle building will improve your flexibility for golf, you overall golf game and reduce aches and pains. The old school thinking and paradigm blindness towards strength training and muscle building is outdated, and miss applied. There are many modalities of training that can be utilized, in the right place and the right time to illicit huge functional golf strength gains that allow for a golf game and athletic physique you have always wanted. We can learn from myself as a case study, leading fitness expert Scott Abel who developed metabolic enhancement training for other athletes and we observe the most agile athletes on the planet; Gymnasts;
Gymnasts move in so many directions, range of motion and with explosive speed, and as we all know are extremely flexible too. Therefore we learn from them, and apply it to training and to the golf swing mechanics and required muscle skeletal system. In my case, in the past I would often have to see physios regularly to keep my ligaments free and to provide me with deep tissue massage, stretching programs due to tightness in the lower back, hips shoulders etc. Ever since I started training for muscle development and strength without fear of putting on the fallacy of dreaded "mass" my game improved exponentially, my golf swing was more consistent, more power in the golf swing and ZERO injuries and MORE flexibility for golf. Now I no longer need 30 minute stretching routines to keep me supple.
Traditional stretching is done in one plane of motion - correct golf strength and muscle building training teaches the muscles and joints how to reach, lunge, squat, bend, twist or swing to their fullest range of motion. Exercises such as the Squat, Deadlift and the Bench press as moves that are associated with traditional strength training, a lot of people would be afraid of these and similar moves for a golf specific program, as fear of building too much muscle mass and limiting movement occurs. You know what, "they" are almost right. A lot of traditional bodybuilding moves, or powerlifting Olympic lifts can limit movement, but only if done in one plane of motion and if you are focussing in low repetitions, 1-5 reps for strength gain In addition, ignoring the principle of pre loading a muscle by it being stretched.
Too much one plane movements, low repetitions and shortening the angles of movements can and will limit movement and flexibility, create wear on the joints, imbalances in the body and the golf swing. This is traditional strength training and muscle building. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE DO!! With the right muscle and metabolic enhancement golf training program you can have a lean toned strong physique and improve your flexibility for golf.
For a dynamic golf swing and a flexible agile body we must train dynamically. Seems obvious enough, but how do we construct a golf fitness workout that can build strength, muscle and keep us agile?
By increasing dynamic flexibility and joint range of motion within exercises and programs. We train in multiple planes of motion and in multi directions whilst with full range of motions and fully stretching a muscle then contracting it. So do not be afraid of "traditionalism". Train like an athlete and you will play golf and look like an athlete for many years to come.
