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Do golfers lift weights?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 14, 2026

When you look at two of the top golf athletes of the past two generations in Tiger Woods and McIlroy, you can quickly see that what they're doing is strength training, lifting heavy weights for a low amount of reps.

Do golfers need to lift weights?

Strong bones, strong body

As Pimentel explains, lifting progressively heavier weights can help you build bone mass. Stronger bones mean a stronger body and more time on the course to perfect that golf swing.

Do golfers weight train?

However, amateur and recreational golfers can also benefit from strength training. This is a four-phase weight training program that should suit most golfers. The first phase concentrates on building basic strength and muscle. In the second phase, you'll focus on power delivery.

Does lifting weights help you hit a golf ball further?

Increasing leg strength can help improve distance off the tee and in the fairway. Being able to hit longer golf shots, assuming they are accurate shots, allows you to lower your scores because you shorten the length of the golf course.

Should golfers go to the gym?

It allows you to achieve optimum positions so you can swing efficiently and consistently. And it's not just about how far you can move, but how well you move with control and stability. You need to be able to control the positions you get into so you have an awareness of where your body is at any particular time.

18 related questions found

Will squats help golf?

Squats are a great exercise that work different areas of the body, particularly the trunk in keeping an upright position using the back extensors, and also the big powerful muscles of the quads and the gluts, which are really important in the golf swing.

Are push ups good for golfers?

Pushups. Pushups are a terrific upper body exercise you can do anywhere and modify for your needs. For golfers, pushups strengthen your pectoral muscles and improve the stability of the tissues in your shoulders. Your rotator cuff muscles and deltoids are vital to controlling the club as you swing.

Is hitting golf balls exercise?

Conclusion – Hitting balls is most likely light exercise, but certainly not intense “golf exercise”. It probably falls into the 150 minutes of moderate activity that the American Heart Association recommends per week.

What muscles help you drive longer?

The 5 Best Exercises for Longer Golf Drives and a Stronger Back

  • Strengthens: the chest, core stability.
  • Strengthens: glutes, hamstrings, lower back.
  • Strengthens: hips, torso, arms.
  • Strengthens: hips, core.
  • Strengthens: shoulders, core.

Do biceps help in golf?

Building your bicep muscles can certainly add strength to your body and help you hit the golf ball much farther. In order to do so, exercising and working out weekly is very important.

What is Tiger Woods workout?

Tiger Woods shares his fitness routine during offseason

“Then I'd go to the gym, do my lift. Then I'd hit balls for two to three hours. I'd go play, come back, work on my short game. I'd go run another four more miles, and then if anyone wanted to play basketball or tennis, I would go play basketball or tennis.

Does muscle help golf?

“It can affect it completely, but you don't have to be muscular to hit a golf ball far. The extra muscle can affect the swing, but it can also help. But if you want to play golf at a scratch level, flexibility is still the most important thing.

Can you get fit from golf?

Golf offers both cardiovascular and strength exercise. A full round normally equates to around 3.6 to 3.8 miles, depending on where and how you play. Granted, again, a cart user will walk a bit less but they will still get plenty of exercise and certainly more than you would sitting on the couch.

Should I lift before golf?

Some players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have taken weight training to an extreme, but you don't need to be as muscle bound to help your golf game. So spend a little time loosening up your body before you start your round rather than doing a few twists and turns with your club or iron before your first shot.

What muscles make you hit the golf ball farther?

Deltoids, forearms, legs, back, chest, and core muscles all have a considerable effect on how far you can hit a ball. Focus on these muscles and flexibility to add power and provide consistency to your game.

What muscles are most important for golf?

The most important muscles for golf are located in your core—which includes your chest and back—your forearms, and your butt. These muscles allow you to control the force and rotation of your swing, giving you more power over the ball itself.

Is golf good exercise with a cart?

Even golfers using a motorized cart can burn about 1,300 calories and walk 2 miles when playing 18 holes. When we asked adults who play sports which one they play the most, golf topped the list.

Is golf good for weight loss?

Golf can absolutely help you lose weight. Walking an 18-hole golf course in four hours can burn up to 800 calories, or even more if the terrain is hilly and if you are carrying your golf clubs in a carry bag.

How much exercise is 18 holes of golf?

A golfer can walk four to eight miles for all 18 holes, or less when using a cart. That can burn between 264 and 450 calories per hour or about 531 to 2,467 calories per 18 holes. According to Murray, people who play golf regularly have better lung function than those who do not.

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.

How do I strengthen my golf muscles?

5 Exercises That Will Improve Your Golf Game

  1. Side Step-Ups. The first exercise in this program is the side step-up. ...
  2. Lunges with Rotation. ...
  3. Medicine Ball Core Rotations. ...
  4. Cat Camels. ...
  5. Sword Draws (Shoulder External Rotation)

Should you squat golf swing?

The point of a 'squat' in the golf swing is to gain every ounce of power from the whole body. The squat lengthens the quadriceps (thigh) and set of gluteus muscles (backside) causing what is known as an eccentric contraction which then allows those muscles to contract (shorten) faster and harder.