Increasing leg and back strength is critical to improving your golf game

By Troy M. Anderson,
Contributor

Ever since Tiger Woods stormed onto the scene blasting the ball down the fairways, there has been a strong push for golfers to integrate strength training into their "bag" of fitness and conditioning regimens. From my perspective as a performance-enhancement specialist, it is wonderful to see athletes improving their performance through strength-training programs. However, strength training for golfers is only effective if it produces the desired results on the course. There are several key areas of the body in which increasing strength will help improve performance on the golf course. One of these areas is a set of muscles known as the posterior chain. In this article, I will describe how to strengthen this group of muscles.

The posterior chain consists of the following muscles:

Hamstrings -- Muscles on the back of the upper leg

Gluteals -- "Butt" muscles

Erector Spinae -- Muscles of the lower back

Latissimus Dorsi -- Muscles on the outside of the upper back

High levels of strength and flexibility in the posterior chain will greatly enhance your stability as well as your ability to:

perform a consistent address posture

perform powerful rotations of the trunk during the back swing and follow-through

perform a powerful rotation and extension of hips during follow-through maintain a consistent swing throughout the round, thus reducing fatigue distribute forces properly in order to reduce the potential for injury

Here are four exercises that will increase strength and flexibility in the posterior chain:

Glute-Bridge with pullover

Horse stance

Waiters bow

Overhead squat

Exercise Protocol: Two or three sets of 10 to15 repetitions each of any two of the exercises two to three times per week. Increase your resistance only after you have perfected each movement.

Tips for making the exercises more effective:

Always stand with good posture.

Always slightly retract and depress your shoulders (press them down and back.) Maintain this position throughout the movement.

Practice the "Drawing-In Maneuver." This is a function of the inner musculature of the torso, the inner unit muscles. One of the inner unit's main functions is to stiffen the torso in preparation for work, e.g., lifting weights. The easiest way to learn to perform the "Drawing-in Maneuver" is to lie flat on your back, relax and perform diaphragmatic breathing. When done properly, your stomach should rise when you inhale and fall when you exhale. When your stomach falls, you want to hold that contraction. This is the most basic form of the "Drawing-in Maneuver."

Always to try to maintain a neutral spinal curvature, which means that you are neither overarching nor rounding your back.

Always try to keep your knees in line with the center of your feet. Don't let your knees cave in or bow out.

Start with no weight and perfect the movement, then choose a light weight.

So there you have it. Four posterior chain exercises for golf-specific strength and stability that will have you well on your way to shooting lower scores! Enjoy.

NOTE: Before beginning any exercise or dietary program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health and that any exercise or dietary program you undertake will not put you at risk.

Troy M. Anderson, B.A., PES, CPT, IACPFT, is the owner of Integrated Evolution, LLC, in Tempe, Ariz. The No. 1 goal of Integrated Evolution is to provide individuals with solutions to their performance enhancement needs. For more golf fitness tips, subscribe to The Evolutionary at integratedevolution.org and download your FREE Reports The Eight Keys To Golf Fitness Success and How To Build The Perfect Athlete For Any Sport -GOLF. Troy maybe contacted at integratedevolution@cox.net or called at (480) 227-8090.

July 26, 2005

Troy M. Anderson, B.A., PES, CPT, IACPFT, is the owner of Integrated Evolution, LLC, in Tempe, Ariz. The top goal of Integrated Evolution is to provide individuals with solutions to their performance enhancement needs. For more golf fitness tips, visit integratedevolution.org.