Golf Exercises - What's the Best One to Do? by Rick Cole

Golf exercises are absolutely the best thing you can do to really improve your game. Sure, you can learn more pointers about your swing and buy a $400 golf gps device, but if you don't have the flexibility and strength to control your body, you won't be able to take advantage of any of this. So, you've got two choices. One, let your game stay pretty much the same. Or...two, start doing the right golf exercises. Golf, after all, is a sport, right?

There are many different golf exercises. For one thing, just getting in shape will radically help your game. It doesn't matter how old you are, either. If you're out of shape, then you can start now with simple exercises like just walking and increasing the distance week by week.

If you're older then you need to include other golf exercises like lifting weights. After about 35 your body naturally looses muscle mass. Also your metabolism slows down. Just starting to life weight 20 minutes a day, three days a week will help recharge your game. You'll get much more enjoyment out of playing. Frankly, you're going to get much more enjoyment out of everything!

If you're in generally good shape, then you can benefit from golf exercises, too. Now, you don't need to start a walking program or basic weight lifting. You're probably already doing these things. What you need are exercises more specific to golf. The main types of exercises you'll want to be doing are ones that strengthen your core, increase your flexibility and range of motion, and also sport specific exercises, such as those that mimic your swing.

One of the best all around golf exercises is called "the plank". The plank addresses weaknesses in the core of your body. Your core is defined as that portion of your body from below your chest to just below your hips. Your core stabilizes your body, and it is where virtually all your power is derived from.

I know you've seen golfers, maybe even professionals, who just crush the ball when they tee off. Well, part of that is superior technique. But the majority of that is a really strong body core.

A proper golf swing rotates the hips one way, then unleashes that power the other way. You basically rotate through the swing as you make it. You might not realize this, because the motion is not that grandiose, but it's really that rotation of the hips that creates the power, which is delivered to the club through your shoulders and arms. The plank is one of my favorite golf exercises because it addresses just this part of the body.

Here's how you do the plank:

1. Lie down on your stomach
2. Now rest your torso on your forearms. That is your arms from the hands to the elbows should be touching the ground.
3. Next curl up your toes so that you're resting the bottom of your body on your toes.
4. Straighten your body out so that it forms...a plank!
5. Hold this for ten seconds.
6. Work up to one, then two minutes.
7. Do three sets of these.

You can also do a side plank, which is an even better exercise! Just follow the same steps, but rest on just one arm, while keeping your body straight.

Golf exercises like the plank can transform your game. You need to exercise for other reasons, like just for health. But if you're main goal is to improve your game try doing this routing with the plank for two to three weeks. You'll be astonished at what this golf exercise will do.

Next, To learn more about more great golf exercises, check out this resource,