Exercises for golf during covid

ballzo · July 31, 2020

I am really missing my gym time since covid. I used to go to the gym sometimes twice a day so I'm missing something that I feel I need to play good golf especially over the long term. While my swing has improved alot since the lockdown my waistline has also expanded some. I am able to work on my game/swing alot more than I was previously. I wondering how I might be able to add some workout stuff to my day without needing to build a home gym. I may build a home gym at some point but I'm just ready to do that yet ( I don't have the room in my garage). So I'm wondering, does anyone have any tips or places I could look to help me figure out some workouts in the park style or at the range etc to add to my routine.

rx7mark · August 1, 2020

This might be a little extreme, but I will share my Covid exercise story. Like you I was gaining weight, and missing my gym that I previously used in the morning prior to work. So with my work at home extended to the end of the year my wife and I invested in a home gym including: TRX station and foam mat (good for yoga and stretching also), a used recumbent stationary bike, and a water rowing machine, and some adjustable kettle bells.

But none of that really helped my golf much, but my weight came back down!

The revelation was when I realized that the Kayaking that I was doing every week starting in March, was having a profound impact on my golf game in a good way. I am a newby at sea kayaking and have been learning from a gentleman with 50 years experience who is 72. We go out for a 8-10 mile paddle that takes 2-2.5 hrs depending on conditions. At first he was kicking my butt. I wear a heart rate monitor that tracks pace and calories, and I burn about 1200 calories on one of these outings, so we are working hard and I am warn out afterword's. Done right you use a torso twisting motion to power the kayak paddle. Well I have been getting stronger and faster with more stamina as the season has gone on. I can now keep up with my friend.

So what does the kayaking have to do with golf, well all my woods and irons have gotten about 15 yards longer this season, and I can hit my long irons again for the first time in 20 years. The very same back muscles that I usually hurt at some point in the golf season are now strong and seem to be immune from that risk. I am swinging like I did in my 30's now at 60. Sure feels great!

Somehow finding a exercise that strengthens those twisting muscles is what I am recommending.

ballzo · August 1, 2020

Thats great, we live right on the American river and have been considering kayaks for a while........ What a great idea. This would be a great workout!