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Does working out hurt your golf swing?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 07, 2026

If the weights are too big and the body can't handle the pressure, the muscles will make compensations to perform the movement, which leads to a detrimental affect on the golf swing. Once in a while you may smash a ball 300-plus yards, but more often than not you'll struggle for accuracy, control and consistency.

Does working out mess up golf swing?

Adding weight to the golf swing changes the entire sequence and balance of the movement to accommodate the added resistance. It might look like your golf swing in the mirror, but you'll wind up sending your brain mixed signals about the timing and sequence of your swing.

Is working out good for golf?

Don't Forget About Cardio

If done properly you can burn more calories in 15 minutes than you would in 60 minutes with a traditional cardio exercise like jogging. These workouts are actually more beneficial to your golf game because they can build strength, increase speed in your swing, and increase your stamina.

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.

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.

43 related questions found

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.

What workouts are bad for golf?

5 Exercises That Are Bad for Your Golf Game

  • Leg Press Machine. ...
  • Seated Leg Extension Machine. ...
  • Machine Hamstring Curls. ...
  • Biceps Preacher Curl. ...
  • Standing external shoulder rotation with dumbell.

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.

Can you build muscle from golf?

Swinging a golf club, in and of itself, is not very difficult from a strength training point of view. However, as discussed above, golf courses typically have lots of hills and valleys. Walking up these hills is sure to work the quadriceps and hamstrings, which help to make up the muscles of the lower body.

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.

Does benching help golf?

If you look at most “Golf Conditioning'' programs they focus on strength and recommend weightlifting. There are programs that include exercises like Squats, Deadlifts, Woodchops and for some reason Bench Press.

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.

Can you lose weight playing golf?

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.

Do you burn calories playing golf?

Depending on how much an adult golfer weighs, they can typically burn anywhere from 300-600 calories per hour while playing golf as a walker. That can mean a lot of weight loss for a golfer who learns to walk instead of ride in a cart.

Does golf tone your arms?

If you think that Golf is a low-impact, leisurely sport then you are mistaken. This game is great for your upper body, including your arms and back. The act of hitting the ball with a golf club has a strong impact on your core and arms muscles.

How far does a pro golfer walk in 18 holes?

The short answer: a long way. More than any other professional athlete. The average course length on the PGA Tour is approximately 7,200 yards. That's 4.09 miles.

How do you get stronger in golf?

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)

How do I strengthen my golf core?

3 Core Golf Exercises

  1. Standing Anti-Rotation. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart holding the handle of a resistance band in both hands. ...
  2. Side Planks. Lie on your right side propped up on your elbow with your left foot slightly in front of your right foot. ...
  3. Glute Bridges.

Is 18 holes of golf a good workout?

The World Golf Foundation estimates that golfers who walk an 18-hole course clock about 5 miles and burn up to 2,000 calories.

Is walking 18 holes of golf good exercise?

Walking golf is a great exercise for children and adults who love playing this invigorating sport. People who forgo the golf carts and hoof it on foot can find themselves burning off between 1,000 to 1,500 calories when playing all 18-holes. You can burn off more calories by carrying your clubs.

How many calories do you burn golfing 18 holes with a cart?

When you play golf with a cart, you will burn around 1000 calories during an eighteen-hole round. You can expect about half as much when you play nine holes of golf. The exact number of calories burned while playing is going to depend on your physical condition and the type of course you play.

What muscles do you need for a golf swing?

The most active muscle during the forward swing phase in the lower body are the upper and lower gluteus maximus (100% MMT and 98% MM) on the right side along with the biceps femoris (78% MMT). On the left side, the most active muscles are the vastus lateralis (88% MMT) and the adductor magnus (63% MMT).

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.