Do you play golf all year round, or do you only play during certain months of the year? Those of you who are forced to give golf a miss, for example during winter, often find that your skills suffer terribly once your golf season resumes. Many golfers who play seasonal golf find that they cannot hit the ball as far, their power goes down, their range of motion is decreased, muscles they did not know existed start aching after just a few hours of play. Every year, they are forced to rebuild their skills.

Did you know that this need not be the case? Surely you know someone who seems to get better and better every year. Unlike you, he does not have to start his golf from scratch every year because of the off season. And no, I do not mean that retired neighbor who spends his winters across the border playing golf where there is no winter.

Honestly, with proper year round golf fitness training, you will find your skills improving steadily, without that sharp drop in the off-season. With the right exercise program in place, you can preserve or even improve the strength of your golf swings. Your best choice is to find a local professional program dedicated to golfers. This may be at your local club, or an associated gym. That means you work with a personal trainer who will help you to keep fit and at the same time build up the muscles you need to swing your club with power and control.

Of course, not everyone has the wherewithal to work with a trainer. If you face this limitation, then you may want to get a video guide or book which teaches you a complete course of golf fitness exercises. With such a guide, you can keep yourself in good fighting trim without stepping foot on the golf course. Most golf fitness training guides will include some strength training workouts and flexibility exercises. Some will even include some form of low-impact aerobics exercises to help maintain your stamina. Where they differ from the more normal fitness programs is their special training exercises for golfers.

One of the typical exercises included in many golf fitness training programs is sometimes called the Russian Twist. This exercise helps to develop the explosive power you need in your swing. Here are the steps:

Get a medicine ball (weight three to six pounds)
Stand with your legs hip-width apart
Keep your stomach drawn in
Lift the ball to your chest level. Keep your elbows bent
Swing the ball explosively around to your right
You will end up facing your right hand side, both feet pointing to the right
Repeat the same steps to the left hand side


Do your golf fitness training two to four times every week, about half-an-hour each session. You will find your handicaps improving without even setting a foot on the golf course. Be the envy of your golf buddies.