Fitness App for Golf

[CardsChamps11]

Is there a golf specific fitness app out there that makes workouts specific to you? I know there's a lot of workout apps that use assessments to create workouts for you but none are golf related. I would love an app that not only creates workouts specific to you but also helps you peak for tournaments and such.

[bluedot]

I'm not aware of such an app, but even if there was one, it's effectiveness would be really limited; maybe better than nothing, but really limited.

The reason I say that is because if you go to a TPI-type facility, they will do a VERY thorough evaluation of your strength, flexibility, and mobility before they devise a workout program for you. 5 guys could go in together, and, based on their evaluations, be given 5 different workout programs to follow. An app is going to have NO idea what your particular strengths and deficiencies are, so a workout might include stuff you don't really need to be doing and not include stuff that would give you bigger gains.

But you're on the right track; a golf-specific workout looks NOTHING like traditional weight room workouts, yet is far more beneficial. Good luck in the process.

[larrybud]

Wife and I bought the BeachBody subscription. It's $99 / year, and you can watch it on your phone, tablet, computer, or most smartTVs (amazon fire, etc).

TONS of exercises, and the girls who work out are easy on the eyes, so there's some motivation there too! Lots of different instructors with different personalities, different workout lengths, etc.

For $99 a year we've gotten our money's worth, and all the exercises I've seen are body weight, free weight, or bands.

[jah7838]

I was going to make the same suggestion. I've done LIIFT 4, all 3 of the versions of P90X, Insanity Max 30, and various other workout programs, including yoga. There's plenty of variety, and all the programs have workout calendars that you can follow. I've gotten to the point where I mix different programs together to give me a few days of weights, cardio, and stretching with yoga at least once a week. We stream our workouts through our Roku and an iPad. I download my workouts and then stream them when I go down to our apartment gym in the morning.

[Gamble Gamble]

Train like an athlete with compound lifts and HIIT and you will be in the best "golf" shape of your life. Add in some yoga/stretching and enjoy the extra athleticism.

Focusing on golf related fitness is a misuse of your time if you are not doing the compound lifts (squat, power clean, deadlift, bench press, shoulder press) first. Start light weight, master the form then add weight.

 

 

 

[bluedot]

I mean this with all due respect, and I don't disagree about the benefits to golf from the lifts you list, and/or from HIIT training. I've been lifting for nearly 40 years, and I'm as addicted to working out as I am to golf itself. And in ANY serious lifting and/or fitness program, there unquestionable benefits to golf.

But a golf fitness program is going to be completely different, and it's going to involve a LOT of rotational stuff AND a lot of anti-rotation stuff that is of huge value, and is very demanding despite very low weights. The type of workouts that TPI-type professionals devise based on the specific individual's abilities and deficiencies are completely different from conventional weight work, and FAR more beneficial to the golf swing, IMO.

[Gamble Gamble]

 

“you had my curiosity, now you have my attention”

Would you think that most golfers would see more improvements initially with standard compound lifts? (Squat, deadlift, bench press etc) or do you think that these TPI movements are going to add significant value greater than compound lifts?

 

have you seen gains on the course from these other exercises?

[bluedot]

I think it completely depends on the individual, assuming a good golf swing is already in place. When a TPI type facility designs a golf specific workout, it's always after the individual has been evaluated pretty carefully, and his profile has been put into percentiles for an age group so that there is a pretty good idea where he's deficient and where the workouts ought to be concentrated.

I think that most "golf specific" workout programs are going to include the compound lifts that you listed, but probably with less weight and higher reps than most people who workout regularly might do. Also, they would be combined with a couple of other exercises that build on the compound lift. So, for instance, after a set of deadlifts, you'd do a medicine ball slam, and then dead bugs before you go back to the second set of deadlifts, and you'd do three or four sets that way. Or after a set of bench press, you do a set of medicine ball "machine gun" throws into the wall as fast as possible, followed by a set of 3 point dumbell rows. But in each case, the weights in the compound lift would be relatively light, with the emphasis more on continuous movement, if not speed. There is also a lot of myofascial release work, a lot of mobility/activation work, and a lot of core work in a golf specific workout, with the strength segment pretty much in the middle.

So the compound lifts, plus rotational work with medicine balls and cables, plus anti-rotation stuff, also mostly with cables, plus a ton of core stuff. But all designed around the particular guy to get him to where he needs to be.

Hope I did an decent job of that.

[Gamble Gamble]

That actually sounds solid assuming they are using the larger lifts to build the base level strength.

[bluedot]

They are using the larger lifts as the base for the other stuff, and then building on that. And I've got to say, I've have REALLY enjoyed these workouts, not only for the carryover to golf, but just for the change. I know that you know the danger of falling into a routine with your workouts if you've been at it a long time, and feeling like the only change from one workout to another might be the order of the exercises.

The other thing that has caught me by surprise is how demanding the total workout is; when I first looked at them on paper, I didn't think so, but when I finish, I'm FINISHED!

[Ghost_Hands_Protocol]

I can't recommend "18 Strong" highly enough. Jeff Pelizarro (sp?) is a Physical Therapist based in St Louis. He offers several programs, all golf specific, for the beginner to the advanced fitness enthusiast. The programs are cookie cutter, in that they don't really adapt to the individual, but they're excellent. Very detailed and clear videos to explain each exercise, and he has a facebook group where he will respond very quickly to any questions about technique/form (he recommends you post videos of yourself and he will critique them). It's not an app, per se, but the website is very easy to use and mobile phone friendly. I love that he gives you a monthly program to follow day-to-day, and provides tracking sheets and quick video examples of each move and highlights the most common causes of poor form. It might not be the best for someone just getting into fitness with no real gym experience (on hand guidance would be best), but if you have even a little familiarity with working out, it's fantastic.

[EagsGolf11]

Second this comment.

[DShepley]

I've done TPI as well as traditional lifting and honestly, you can't go wrong either way. Being in better shape and stronger will have a positive impact either way. The basic premise of TPI is that the screening will identify deficiencies in your mobility and stability and assign exercises unique to the individual to correct these deficiencies. Having a tailored workout plan targeting those deficiencies is beneficial and was eye opening for me. I found it a lot of stretching and band work initially but soon moved on to a more traditional strength program. I'm not sure how much time you have to work out, but I enjoyed a structure of 3 traditional strength days, (Mon, Wed, Fri), with two cardio and mobility days (Tues Thurs). The cardio days were generally 30 minutes over intervals, (bike / treadmill), and 20-30 minutes of mobility work, (mostly thoracic spine work and hips, because that's where I sucked!)

[Krt22]

No affiliation and no personal experience, but the Chasing Scratch guys did this program and both gained significant CHS over their off season. https://fitforgolf.blog/

[Warrior42111]

I would say any total body workout plan would be good for golf. Too many to name so it's what fits your time availability and any limitations.

The reason is golf is a explosive compound movement sport, so any workout where you are working and firing different muscle groups at the same time will help with golf. Of course you can supplement with isolation moves on weaker areas of the body that may be hindering your game.