FITforeGOLF™ - Strengthen Your Game
Jason Zuback, the World Long Drive Super-star, was once asked what his best advice was to help the average player hit the ball further. His response was simply to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
The abdominal muscles are some of the strongest muscles in the body. There are actually several layers of abdominal muscles in the trunk and not all of these are involved in trunk rotation. The oblique and transverse abdominal muscles are the main muscles involved in trunk rotation. In addition to rotating the trunk, these muscles have the additional benefit of bracing the spine thus protecting it from injury. The POWER and PROTECTION offered by the abdominal muscles makes them the most important golf muscles in the body.
The following is a very effective abdominal exercise that can easily be incorporated in one’s home or office. The advantages of the exercise are that it is a good workout for the abdominal muscles plus it is very specific to golf. It can be performed by carefully attaching elastic exercise tubing to an existing golf club or by purchasing an inexpensive ready-made FITforeGOLF™ device available in the Products section of this website.
ABDOMINAL GOLF EXERCISE:
Place the anchoring strap in a door frame at about mid-thigh height and close the door so the stopper prevents the tubing from being dislodged. With the tubing securely fastened move away from the door until initial resistance is felt at the set-up position shown in the Backswing diagram.
While holding the Strength Trainer grip like a normal club, start the backswing exercise by first GENTLY drawing in your lower tummy and belly button about 1 cm. Now slowly move your arms straight back (as one stable unit) against the elastic resistance. Your arms will not get very far before the elastic resistance stops further motion. DO NOT let your trunk or hips move, only your arms. Your elbows should remain straight.
Return to the start position and repeat 15-25 times. CONCENTRATE on feeling your abdominals tighten on each repetition. Once you have finished the Backswing direction, turn and face the opposite direction so you can repeat the exercise in the Downswing direction.
The abdominal muscles are some of the strongest muscles in the body. There are actually several layers of abdominal muscles in the trunk and not all of these are involved in trunk rotation. The oblique and transverse abdominal muscles are the main muscles involved in trunk rotation. In addition to rotating the trunk, these muscles have the additional benefit of bracing the spine thus protecting it from injury. The POWER and PROTECTION offered by the abdominal muscles makes them the most important golf muscles in the body.
The following is a very effective abdominal exercise that can easily be incorporated in one’s home or office. The advantages of the exercise are that it is a good workout for the abdominal muscles plus it is very specific to golf. It can be performed by carefully attaching elastic exercise tubing to an existing golf club or by purchasing an inexpensive ready-made FITforeGOLF™ device available in the Products section of this website.
ABDOMINAL GOLF EXERCISE:
Place the anchoring strap in a door frame at about mid-thigh height and close the door so the stopper prevents the tubing from being dislodged. With the tubing securely fastened move away from the door until initial resistance is felt at the set-up position shown in the Backswing diagram.
While holding the Strength Trainer grip like a normal club, start the backswing exercise by first GENTLY drawing in your lower tummy and belly button about 1 cm. Now slowly move your arms straight back (as one stable unit) against the elastic resistance. Your arms will not get very far before the elastic resistance stops further motion. DO NOT let your trunk or hips move, only your arms. Your elbows should remain straight.
Return to the start position and repeat 15-25 times. CONCENTRATE on feeling your abdominals tighten on each repetition. Once you have finished the Backswing direction, turn and face the opposite direction so you can repeat the exercise in the Downswing direction.
