60 replies to this topic

[Nick75]

Basically as the title says.  Are push-ups good or bag for the golf swing, and if good, what type of routine?  I've been working out some in the off-season, but just to get fit, not bulk up.  Thanks for all replies.

[m5power]

I do pushups regularly for the same reason as you. I haven't found it to affect my golfswing one way or another.

[Timanator]

Push ups will not affect your swing much unless you do enough to really grow your chest muscles. Last year I was having a hard time getting my arms over my chest on the back swing, when my workout had 2 days of benchpress and dumbell chest workouts at the gym. I have since changed the chest work outs to 3 set of 30 declined, and 1 set of flat pushups every other day. I'm not as bulky but my swing is no longer restrictive.

Hope that helps you as well.

[Miscue]

I agree with Timanator.  Your better off doing lower weight with higher amounts of reps.  Builds lean muscle mass instead of bulk.

[russc]

I do 2 sets,15 reps of 1 arm pushups.Can't say it helps my golf swing,but is great to showoff.

[darkhelmet]

It also depends on what your build is like going in.  If you're super skinny, you can get away with doing heavier weights for a while to build some more muscle mass, then switch to lighter weights/more reps and pushups.

If you want to get an idea of where to start with weights, get a bathroom scale out and get into a pushup position with your hands on the scale -- that will tell you how much weight you're lifting during a pushup.

[tembolo1284]

You will need to develop pretty massive boobs before they get in the way of your swing.  You should be fine doing push-ups.

Will lean you up and make you taut in more areas than just your chest.

[mizunostaffer]

i dont believe it will help golf power in anyway, as most of the muscles involved are pull muscle movements, so things like  lat pull downs, rows, rear deltoid flys, tricept dips are better

ive recently heard that water sking is fantastic for golf performance, as its posture related and full extension strength etc, like hammer throw

[QuigleyDU]

tembolo1284, on 06 January 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

You will need to develop pretty massive boobs before they get in the way of your swing.  You should be fine doing push-ups.

Will lean you up and make you taut in more areas than just your chest.

Wasnt it McCord who said something to this effect a while back?

But unless you want to be a chicken chested wennie, do a push up or two.

[beckk10]

lots of perfect pushups are the only workout you need.....kind of. im talking about the rotating discs with handles.

[clearwater]

general health improvement will make you a better golfer. do the pushups and P90X.

[pompiputter]

I'm in the gym about four days a week pressing pretty heavy. I have no issues swinging at all. If anything, it has allowed me to be more aware and responsive to subtle movements in my body, which really does wonders for my form. The only issue I see with push ups is if the push up is the only exercise that you are doing, your body will become off balanced. Remember that you have to train the stabilizers as much as you train the muscles you are targeting. If you train too much in chest, your shoulders will rest in an unnatural forward position, and you will have difficulty putting your shoulders back in a neutral position, which can then affect your golf swing. To counteract this, you must also train your lats (back). As many push ups that you are doing, return the favor by doing pull ups and rows.

Edited by pompiputter, 07 January 2012 - 08:49 AM.

[ChipDriver]

Nick75, on 06 January 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

Basically as the title says.  Are push-ups good or bag for the golf swing, and if good, what type of routine?  I've been working out some in the off-season, but just to get fit, not bulk up.  Thanks for all replies.

Pushups are a great full body exercise.   As with any exercises you can get tight so make sure to add stretching to keep your range of motion.

[A.G.Blade]

so from the above posts, the general consensus is push ups are ok, but heavy bench press is not good?  Just wondering because I love to bench but have stopped doing it for fear of hurting my swing

[Gupps01]

Miscue, on 06 January 2012 - 11:01 AM, said:

I agree with Timanator.  Your better off doing lower weight with higher amounts of reps.  Builds lean muscle mass instead of bulk.

Eh? Doing high volume, low intensity weights is exactly what builds bulk. Why do you think people looking to get bigger go programs with 4-5 sets of 12-15reps with 60-70%1RM? If you want only a small amount of hypertrophy but large amounts of strength you lift low volume high intensity (6 sets of 4, 8 sets of 3, 12 sets of 2 with 80-100%1RM). So much broscience on this forum

Edited by Gupps01, 17 November 2012 - 05:19 PM.

[YMark]

Miscue, on 06 January 2012 - 11:01 AM, said:

I agree with Timanator.  Your better off doing lower weight with higher amounts of reps.  Builds lean muscle mass instead of bulk.

Right. Because it is so easy to add bulk to your chest. You'd have to lift weights and bulk up for the next 10 years before it would affect your golf swing.

[Jacob Mac]

Eating in excess of your caloric needs makes you bigger.  Eat the same amount as always and do pushups.  You won't gain any appreciable mass.

[Rosco1216]

You can lift as heavy as you want and as many reps as you want and you can add bulk and/or strength.  Bulking up isn't was causes issues, it's the common loss of flexibility when you do that restricts the golf swing.  No matter how you work out..stretch stretch stretch..before and after.  Also a big mistake is lifting weights over a length of time without picking up or swinging a golf club.  I've found over the last 10 years you can workout however you want and as long as you continuually stretch and keeping swinging a golf club.  You'll be fine.

[russc]

I would put pullups and chinups in the same category as pushups .I can knock off 30 without any trouble and can do 10 with 35 lbs on my feet.Has this helped my golf swing .Not one iota

[TeeAce]

I do see them just stealing time from better things you could do. Pushups with 6-8 reps weights are increasing the muscular mass and can't be very helpful. Long sets with low weight or 1-2 reps with max weight are less harmful.

Anyway there is no mean to spend time and energy for them as you got so much better ways to take care about your body.

[DLiver]

I do multiple sets of pushups everyday. It helps keep my shoulders strong, flexible and pain-free. That definitely helps my golf.

[Rosco1216]

TeeAce, on 18 November 2012 - 04:28 AM, said:

I do see them just stealing time from better things you could do. Pushups with 6-8 reps weights are increasing the muscular mass and can't be very helpful. Long sets with low weight or 1-2 reps with max weight are less harmful.

Anyway there is no mean to spend time and energy for them as you got so much better ways to take care about your body.

You can do pushups until you're blue in the face and will never add enough "mass" to hurt you in your golf swing.

[Joe26]

Gupps01, on 17 November 2012 - 05:15 PM, said:

Miscue, on 06 January 2012 - 11:01 AM, said:

I agree with Timanator.  Your better off doing lower weight with higher amounts of reps.  Builds lean muscle mass instead of bulk.

Eh? Doing high volume, low intensity weights is exactly what builds bulk. Why do you think people looking to get bigger go programs with 4-5 sets of 12-15reps with 60-70%1RM? If you want only a small amount of hypertrophy but large amounts of strength you lift low volume high intensity (6 sets of 4, 8 sets of 3, 12 sets of 2 with 80-100%1RM). So much broscience on this forum

Bro-science = 50% fact, 50% magic, 100% results

[Gupps01]

Joe26, on 18 November 2012 - 10:56 PM, said:

Gupps01, on 17 November 2012 - 05:15 PM, said:

Miscue, on 06 January 2012 - 11:01 AM, said:

I agree with Timanator.  Your better off doing lower weight with higher amounts of reps.  Builds lean muscle mass instead of bulk.

Eh? Doing high volume, low intensity weights is exactly what builds bulk. Why do you think people looking to get bigger go programs with 4-5 sets of 12-15reps with 60-70%1RM? If you want only a small amount of hypertrophy but large amounts of strength you lift low volume high intensity (6 sets of 4, 8 sets of 3, 12 sets of 2 with 80-100%1RM). So much broscience on this forum

Bro-science = 50% fact, 50% magic, 100% results

More like 25% fact, 25% blind luck, 50% results. Take an elite rugby league second rower, often bench 150kg+, squat 175kg+ but perform large amounts of high intensity aerobic exercise to be able to run out the 8-10km of a NRL game. Doesn't this go against the bro-science theory that doing large volumes of cardiovascular exercise ruins strength gains? Or that squatting below parallel with knees past toes is bad for your knees and more unstable when we have the EMG and biomechanical data that says otherwise. Bro-science is more chinese whispers than anything else.

Edited by Gupps01, 18 November 2012 - 11:23 PM.

[inpresX]

I heard on "On the Range" that Rory can now bench 200lbs. Likely just a few reps. His average clubhead speed is 120mph so bench press has to be helping.

[Golf Ball Wacker Guy]

Push ups will not hinder your golf swing. Maybe if you have some general soreness the next day or something. But I've played my best rounds with extreme muscle soreness. I like to think it keeps me from over swinging.

Left all the weights you want. Just make sure you use full range of motion and proper form. Invest in a foam roller and learn self miofascial release techniques. AND STRETCH AFTERWARDS EVERY TIME. Greater range of motion will gain more distance and club speed than than any new club.

I'm a NASM Golf Fitness Specialist in Houston TX. If anyone has questions or anything feel free to message me

[360_CS]

I do some push-ups. Just like any exercise make sure you stretch before and after to help maintain flexibility. You could also do clap push ups.

[Gbyeball]

Golf Ball Wacker Guy, on 19 November 2012 - 02:20 AM, said:

Push ups will not hinder your golf swing. Maybe if you have some general soreness the next day or something. But I've played my best rounds with extreme muscle soreness. I like to think it keeps me from over swinging.

Left all the weights you want. Just make sure you use full range of motion and proper form. Invest in a foam roller and learn self miofascial release techniques. AND STRETCH AFTERWARDS EVERY TIME. Greater range of motion will gain more distance and club speed than than any new club.

I'm a NASM Golf Fitness Specialist in Houston TX. If anyone has questions or anything feel free to message me

Thanks for chiming in,  I always apprieciate it when someone that is quailfied adds to the discussion.

I am curious about foam rollers, just heard about them a few months ago on this site. Because I don't know much about them can you recommand a certain type and were I would find information on how to use them.

Sorry for thr thread jack. I agree that push ups can't hurt particulary if you activate your core to stabilize your midsection, similar to planks

[russc]

Gbyeball, on 19 November 2012 - 06:59 AM, said:

Golf Ball Wacker Guy, on 19 November 2012 - 02:20 AM, said:

Push ups will not hinder your golf swing. Maybe if you have some general soreness the next day or something. But I've played my best rounds with extreme muscle soreness. I like to think it keeps me from over swinging.

Left all the weights you want. Just make sure you use full range of motion and proper form. Invest in a foam roller and learn self miofascial release techniques. AND STRETCH AFTERWARDS EVERY TIME. Greater range of motion will gain more distance and club speed than than any new club.

I'm a NASM Golf Fitness Specialist in Houston TX. If anyone has questions or anything feel free to message me

Thanks for chiming in,  I always apprieciate it when someone that is quailfied adds to the discussion.

I am curious about foam rollers, just heard about them a few months ago on this site. Because I don't know much about them can you recommand a certain type and were I would find information on how to use them.

Sorry for thr thread jack. I agree that push ups can't hurt particulary if you activate your core to stabilize your midsection, similar to planks

I use two sizes ,one  for self myofascail release and one for spinal mobility.I have had problems with tight ITbands,so much so that i incorrectly thought i needed a hip replacement .These  foam rollers were almost a miracle cure .At the start it was very painful to roll over my IITband and my quads,but in time it became much less painful.The smaller , less dense size is excellent for spinal mobility,an important but little talked about requirement in a  proper golf swing

[Golf Ball Wacker Guy]

I will get back with everyone. I've been swamped with at work squeezing in everyone for the short week. Sorry I haven't been able to reply to PM's yet