Strength and Golf

[Lakers2020]

I've never hit the ball that far. I hit a 34* 7 iron about 155 yards and I'll hit a good drive about 250-260 including roll. My swing is technically sound - I hit the center of the clubface on shots. I have a very smooth rhythm and swing a lighter shaft. Here is my question:

If two golfers have an identical swing but one if fairly stronger (strength) than the other will the stronger golfer hit the ball farther?

 

[MonteScheinblum]

Not necessarily. Lots of ifs there. Not to be offensive, but why are you so sure your swing is technically sound?

[N0rs3man]

Strength =/= speed

 

Some people are like monkies and have small frame but can sprint 4.2 40s. Some people's make up is just faster twitch muscles and they can move faster. If someone is stronger then the club/ body mass will slow down their speed less, but does not mean that their maximum speed is that of someone who is weaker.

[CardsChamps11]

Not necessarily but if you look at most of the long drive guys, they are not small by any means. Muscle certainly helps

[scooterhd2]

the ball goes further when the speed of the ball is faster. assuming a good strike and using good equipment, the speed of the ball is dictated by the speed of the club. So to hit the ball further, you need to increase your club head speed. Do you do that be being physically stronger? While that might not hurt, there are many other factors. Jessica Korda routinely drives it 275 and I am willing to bet that you can out bench her in the gym. Technique my friend. Technique.

[naval2006]

It’s more about speed than strength. Otherwise you couldn’t explain 15 year olders smashing the ball that long. And then in combination with a sound swing.

[Zitlow]

Quickness > Strength. How do you think little guys like Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas hit the ball as far as guys like Koepka and DJ? In addition to quickness you need mobility.

[oukeith]

Lots of threads on this subject lately.

 

Serious question: how is power in baseball different from power in the golf swing? Baseball power hitters are usually monsters...

[llewol007]

Helps to be strong but can also hurt you.

[Krt22]

> @oukeith said:

> Lots of threads on this subject lately.

>

> Serious question: how is power in baseball different from power in the golf swing? Baseball power hitters are usually monsters...

 

A baseball bat doesnt have a club face you need to square up.

[dpb5031]

Strength NEVER hurts, BUT...strength doesn't equate to speed.

 

If strength hurts, I'd love to see an example?

[SNIPERBBB]

Strength helps to a point, then you gotta have the technique. I blast it past most of the guys around me but I couldnt touch most of em in the weight room.

[MK7Golf21]

> @scooterhd2 said:

> the ball goes further when the speed of the ball is faster. assuming a good strike and using good equipment, the speed of the ball is dictated by the speed of the club. So to hit the ball further, you need to increase your club head speed. Do you do that be being physically stronger? While that might not hurt, there are many other factors. Jessica Korda routinely drives it 275 and I am willing to bet that you can out bench her in the gym. Technique my friend. Technique.

 

LPGA players are shorter than men and they have top technique, strength definitely plays a role in length as well.

 

[aliikane]

> @dpb5031 said:

> Strength NEVER hurts, BUT...strength doesn't equate to speed.

>

> If strength hurts, I'd love to see an example?

I have seen a lot of muscle dudes that can't hit the ball more than 200 yards because they are so inflexible and their muscle becomes a handicap.

 

Strength helps in situations like hitting out of thick rough, but more strength is not necessarily going to get you more speed. A lot of the slight slim LPGA player hit it much further than amateur men that are a lot stronger than them.

 

[MK7Golf21]

oh and btw- guys like Rory, Justin thomas who are average size and skinny have been working their rotation and all other muscles that work in the golf swing to swing the clubhead fast since they were like 3 years old. There is definitely strength for them in those muscles as it relates to the swing

[Krt22]

> @scooterhd2 said:

> the ball goes further when the speed of the ball is faster. assuming a good strike and using good equipment, the speed of the ball is dictated by the speed of the club. So to hit the ball further, you need to increase your club head speed. Do you do that be being physically stronger? While that might not hurt, there are many other factors. Jessica Korda routinely drives it 275 and** I am willing to bet that you can out bench her in the gym**. Technique my friend. Technique.

 

I would not be so sure about that. Bench press perhaps , but I bet most out of shape golfers would be put to shame by her (and her sister) when it comes to some core strength exercises as both are in exceptional shape.

[dpb5031]

> @aliikane said:

> > @dpb5031 said:

> > Strength NEVER hurts, BUT...strength doesn't equate to speed.

> >

> > If strength hurts, I'd love to see an example?

> I have seen a lot of muscle dudes that can't hit the ball more than 200 yards because they are so inflexible and their muscle becomes a handicap.

>

> Strength helps in situations like hitting out of thick rough, but more strength is not necessarily going to get you more speed. A lot of the slight slim LPGA player hit it much further than amateur men that are a lot stronger than them.

>

 

Correlation isnt causation. I already agreed strength doesn't = speed.

 

The "muscle dudes" either have poor swing technique, bad sequencing, or are otherwise just slow and unathletic...even though they may have big muscles. Their strength/muscularity is not what is causing their slow CHS. Plenty of skinny non-muscular guys/gals have slow CHS as well...and most of the long drive dudes are heavily muscled.

[Lakers2020]

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> Not necessarily. Lots of ifs there. Not to be offensive, but why are you so sure your swing is technically sound?

 

By technically sound I mean I have good fundamentals. I hit the ball pretty solid. I have a nice ball flight. I'm just weak as hell. I can't bench 135lbs. I think a lot of my "golf muscles" could be a lot stronger.

[Lakers2020]

> @scooterhd2 said:

> the ball goes further when the speed of the ball is faster. assuming a good strike and using good equipment, the speed of the ball is dictated by the speed of the club. So to hit the ball further, you need to increase your club head speed. Do you do that be being physically stronger? While that might not hurt, there are many other factors. Jessica Korda routinely drives it 275 and I am willing to bet that you can out bench her in the gym. Technique my friend. Technique.

 

your're right. speed is key. Korda def has faster CH speed and BS compared to me. I hope i can out bench her.

[MonteScheinblum]

> @Lakers2020 said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > Not necessarily. Lots of ifs there. Not to be offensive, but why are you so sure your swing is technically sound?

>

> By technically sound I mean I have good fundamentals. I hit the ball pretty solid. I have a nice ball flight. I'm just weak as ****. I can't bench 135lbs. I think a lot of my "golf muscles" could be a lot stronger.

 

I’ll put it another way. There are places your swing can improve, that you are likely unaware are inefficient, that will help you hit it farther.

 

 

[Lakers2020]

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> > @Lakers2020 said:

> > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > Not necessarily. Lots of ifs there. Not to be offensive, but why are you so sure your swing is technically sound?

> >

> > By technically sound I mean I have good fundamentals. I hit the ball pretty solid. I have a nice ball flight. I'm just weak as ****. I can't bench 135lbs. I think a lot of my "golf muscles" could be a lot stronger.

>

> I’ll put it another way. There are places your swing can improve, that you are likely unaware are inefficient, that will help you hit it farther.

>

 

where?

[MonteScheinblum]

I would obviously have to see it.

[Barfolomew]

Go Lakers!

With all things being equal.... YES!

 

I'm a gym rat and unequivocally will say that when I'm in better shape and stronger then other times the power is natural and not forced..... I'm a par golfer and when I'm feeling strong it feels as though I'm hitting the ball way more relaxed and softer then when I'm not and I'm able to compress the ball way more easily on ground shots..... plus if you want to swing harder and bomb one out there its obviously helpful..... Are the pro long bombers strong or weak.... very obvious. Same for all sports I used to play a ton of slow pitch and helped there too.... but don't think a skinny dude cant be strong where it matters... like JT or Jamie Sadlowski

[Sleeky_D]

> @Zitlow said:

> Quickness > Strength. How do you think little guys like Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas hit the ball as far as guys like Koepka and DJ? In addition to quickness you need mobility.

 

I would agree with this reasoning. While increasing strength will certainly help, building quickness and speed in transition should help even more.

[scooterhd2]

You got Monte watching the thread, I would definitely post a video at this point. I'm sure there is at least one power sucking flaw in the swing that you can improve on.

 

[tatertot]

one poster in this thread knows ALOT more than the rest of us ... i'd listen to him.

[northgolf]

> @tatertot said:

> one poster in this thread knows ALOT more than the rest of us ... i'd listen to him.

 

I wouldn't say he knows more about everything as that extends beyond golf, but he certainly has the experience swinging a club faster than any of us. When he was at his fastest, it would have been fascinating if he knew then all that he knows now about golf. Even as a senior, he puts a hurt on the ball that 99+% of can only dream of.

 

I definitely listen to him.

[SNIPERBBB]

Another thing on the hitting the ball solid...there are guys that I play with that hit the ball solid but don't hit it anywhere. The ball just floats out there.

 

Do you let the driver rip or do you have a controlled swing? I'm 5'11" 170# and can't hardly bench half my body weight the last time I was in the weight room conditions for baseball 17 years ago. Though my lower body strength was a lot better. I make a very aggressive move through the ball.

[RobertBaron]

> @Lakers2020 said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > Not necessarily. Lots of ifs there. Not to be offensive, but why are you so sure your swing is technically sound?

>

> By technically sound I mean I have good fundamentals. I hit the ball pretty solid. I have a nice ball flight. I'm just weak as ****. I can't bench 135lbs. I think a lot of my "golf muscles" could be a lot stronger.

 

TBF pectoral strength isn’t really that important in the golf swing

 

[SNIPERBBB]

> @RobertBaron said:

> > @Lakers2020 said:

> > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > Not necessarily. Lots of ifs there. Not to be offensive, but why are you so sure your swing is technically sound?

> >

> > By technically sound I mean I have good fundamentals. I hit the ball pretty solid. I have a nice ball flight. I'm just weak as ****. I can't bench 135lbs. I think a lot of my "golf muscles" could be a lot stronger.

>

> TBF pectoral strength isn’t really that important in the golf swing

>

 

That's a great thing cause I could never do Dips or military presses in conditioning for baseball. Probably would of spent more time fishing or umpiring baseball in the summer if you needed great pecs.