Greg Barnett
Online Assistant
Golfers aren’t conventional athletes. They don’t run, jump or do back flips. Golfers twist and rotate their bodies to hit a little white ball in as few strokes as possible to win. However, golfers still need to work out and exercise their bodies to become the best athletes possible.
John Geiberger, head coach of Pepperdine’s men’s golf, said his teams have had mandatory workouts since the late 1990s, and this year’s team is no different.
The men’s golf team works out three times a week to ensure it is in top shape to compete at the highest level in NCAA Division I golf. One day a week is devoted to strength training, one for stretching and cardio and one for rotation and core strength exercises.
According to Rob Mottram, a registered physical therapist and athletic trainer who assists the team in its exercise regimen, hardcore weight lifting for strength isn’t the biggest priority when it comes to golfers. More importantly, golfers’ bodies need to be able to repeat muscle movements, in order to have a consistent golf swing with each shot.
“When you look at football and baseball players, size and bulk does matter because they are looking for strength,” Mottram said. “For golfers, we have a combination of strengthening exercises, movement rehearsal skills and [create] a firm foundation to rotate at a fast speed just like they do in the golf swing.”
Tiger Woods is often given credit for the late 1900s workout craze in the golf world. When Woods first turned professional and joined the PGA Tour in 1996, he instantly won two tournaments in Las Vegas and at Walt Disney World. Woods had been working while at Stanford University and was leaner, stronger and fitter than most players on the PGA Tour.
“In terms of fitness in golf, Tiger Woods has raised the bar,” red shirt junior Carl Smith said.” Tiger’s attitude is that he is an athlete, and therefore he should train like one. One of the reasons I workout is because I feel the same way, and if the No. 1 player in the world is doing it, then why shouldn’t I?”
One of the key aspects of the team’s training is using elastic bands to mimic the golf swing. This is called “resistance training.”
Junior Andrew Widmar said one of his favorite exercises is using an elastic band, which is connected to the wall, while balancing on his knees on a large ball. He then grabs the elastic band and pulls it away from the wall to rotate his body. This helps with core stability and trunk rotation.
“Using the elastic band emulates a golf swing, and it really helps you understand where your power comes from in the golf swing,” Widmar said.
Medicine balls are also used to help the golfers work the muscles that are used specifically for the golf swing. These muscles cannot otherwise be worked out by lifting weights.
The men grab a medicine ball and set their bodies as if they are hitting a golf shot and release it to a teammate. This simulates a golf swing. The players will do most of the exercises both right and left-handed to balance the muscles in the body.
Widmar said all of the exercises he does both individually and with his team have improved his golf game in multiple areas. He hits the ball farther, controls his ball’s flight better and is more consistent.
“Working out has helped me quite a bit with not only gaining distance, but controlling how far I hit each shot,” Widmar said. “I feel that it is easier than ever to flight my ball different trajectories, and in college and professional golf that becomes key in shooting low scores.”
Smith said it frustrates him when people say golf isn’t a sport, because it involves as much training and practice time as any other. He said his summers revolve around practicing, working out and traveling the country for tournaments.
“For anyone who thinks golf isn’t a sport, look at who the best athlete in the world is: Tiger Woods, thank you very much,” Smith said.
09-04-2008
