Why don't Golf Players work out?

Question

In every other sport it seems like players are huge physically except for golf. Why is that? I'm not saying Steroid huge, but wouldn't lifting weights help with distance? I know it's all about having the perfect swing and not trying to kill the ball. But this question has always puzzled me. Please don't flame me, I usually only Golf a couple times a year with my dad.

Answer 1

WHAT GIVES YOU THE IMPRESSION THAT GOLFERS DO NOT WORK OUT?  They aren't practicing to be interior linemen on the Green Bay Packers. They require supple muscles which accomodate a golf swing  which must change with almost every shot to be taken. There are training facilities at every PGA tournament where the player may exercise if he wishes. Most of them do to limber up, to take away soreness, to stretch and be ready to hit the ball at their tee time.

Answer 2

Actually, PGA Tour pros have become much more fitness aware over the last 10 years.  They also have to have feel and touch, and being bulked up would diminish these skills.  But the pros have all followed the lead of Eldrick Woods, and have focused on both strength and cardio training.  If you watch the long-drive contests...those guys are bulked up, but most of them have zero talent when it comes to the short game.

Your question is actually quite reasonable.

I also play hockey during the winter months, and if you look at hockey players...they're not behemoths like you'd find in the NFL, because they also have to be quite fast in addition to strong.

Answer 3

I'm surprised to see that you think Tiger looks average.  Not that I check him out, but he's pretty cut and he's in great shape.  Check out some of his golf digest shoots, he's got some pretty good sized arms, even compared to baseball players, basketball players and even hockey players.  Football players are another situation, they need size to succeed, all the others are more about quickness and agility.

Answer 4

Some guys do, but golf is more about skill and accuracy, than brute strength. If you hit the ball too hard, the ball won't go farther, it'll just go off in the rough :)

Answer 5

Golf is mostly about the flexibility and mechanics of the swing, not about muscle... i know some huge guys who don't hit the ball more than 230 and I know some tiny guys who can hit is 300 yards.  Most golfers know that lifting is  just not what golf is about, though I can assure you that almost all PGA tour players (not John Daly though!) have a workout regime of some kind.

Answer 6

Tiger works out with 350 and maxes at 400, but I know what you mean. People like Calc who look like an offensive lineman don't look athletic, but the best in the world works out like every day. Also look at Camilo Villegas, I wouldn't want to mess with him.

Answer 7

Pro golfers do work out. I hear interviews all the time with pros about their workouts and personal trainers. Last year on an episode of 60 Minutes, they showed tiger woods bench pressing 300+ pounds. He is a very strong man. Look at Phil Mickelson. If you saw him during the US Open, he looked very trim and somewhat muscular (compared to the old phil). You can tell that he has been hitting the gym. And yes you are right about the whole perfect swing thing, but after you have the swing mastered, you can always try to generate more clubhead speed to really jack your drives. I got on a lifting program (not for golf, just because i wanted to get stronger and more fit) and by the end of the summer i had added 25 yards to my drive, without even changing my swing. Best of luck. Hit 'em well.

Answer 8

Most golfer do work out, but too much muscle mass can get in the way of making a good swing.  Golfers need to be strong, but also lean and flexible.