TRICEP AND SHOULDER EXERCISES

[DES]

Since it appears, if I'm reading TGM correctly, that the Triceps and Shoulders are a key in hitting (swinging?), would it not be profitable to do excercies to strengthen these areas?

I'm doing push-ups (well, I had to start with ladies'), push-downs and just started on a machine that strengthens shoulders. I do have the benefit of using a gym and machines on my lunch hour.

Would appreciate any thoughts. I have always considered myself toward the weak side.

Dave

[Bagger Lance]

Triceps are important, especially in hitting. Shoulders muscles are important, and according to Homer in the 7th edition, Chest and Lats are also important. Strenghtening these areas along with your abdominals WILL help your game and very likely increase your distances. But, don't fall into the trap that there are specific muscles that you can train and develop to the exclusion of others. The golf swing is a total body motion, from the feet to the head so in order to maximize your physical potential train the whole body.

In addition, strengthening a set of muscles to the exclusion of the supporting muscular structure invites injury due to the potential overload on the supporting muscles. For instance, lets say you focus your training entirely on the upper body to the exlusion of the abdominals, lower back, hips and legs. Over time, your upper body will be able to handle double or triple it's current maximum load. But your supporting muscular structure will break down (muscle, tendon, and ligament damage) due to the increased stress.

Take a Holistic approach to your strength training. You can always give more focus to your golf muscles, but make sure you prepare the body infrastructure with them.

Bagger

[leegee38]

Excellent answer, Bagger. As a former competitive bodybuilder I can assure you that it is very important to development the entire body to maintain balance between the various parts. Golfers tend to round their shoulders forward as part of their swing and if they over develop the frontal deltoids (shoulder) and chest at the expense of the rear deltoid and lats they will often wind up with horrible rotator cuff and back problems. A good workout for the entire body is normally about as "golf specific" as anyone needs, unless of course they already have some imbalance that they need to work out of. Basic exercises for medium repetitions will work just fine.

[Vickie]

Well I agree with all of the reply's to your queary Des but . . . I do think if you know you have weak areas then you have to evaluate the reason. It is a typically prevalent occurance in the gym to train incorrectly both in terms of the balance of the body and also in the form attributed to the isolation of your various 'parts'. So I suggest that while you should most definitely be holistic in your training and find a balance in your work you have to recognize and re-educate the relationship of your extremities to the core muscles to execute the very specific application's of TGM.

What you need to know is that you need to create a balanced program and then check your form and insure that you are using the extremities and rotator cuff muscles (the greatest problem in shoulder function, by the way) in difference to the power of the core muscles. Be sure you have appropriate flexibility and strength between the muscles that relate to the shoulder, on of which is the tricep. And finally be sure you start with appropriate posture.

We are working on providing audio and video capability to refine exercise suggestions for you. Hopefully it will come very soon. Before I watch the Falcons move on toward the Super Bowl tomorrow I will post some very chapter specific responses to your questions.

In the mean time, isn't this a great new site. Vickie

[DES]

Great site it is!

Thanx for replies and I'll be looking forward to the additional comments.

Well I was rooting for Manning and the Colts, even tho I'm in TN . . . so much for this season.

Oh, perhaps I should mention I'm 60, weigh 210 in case that affects the exercise program. And aren't pushups somewhat of an "all-around" exercise? I've been doing 3 sets of 25 of women's. I'm going to switch to men's SOON!

Dave

[Vickie]

Oh yea, Women's push-up ( do one arms by the way) are just fine. The secret is always to do thing with great precision since . . . after all . . . we are in love with a precision game. About to sing off for this day but can assure you that this next drive to the super bowl is much desired and I can empathize with your dismay, and for the record I had money on the Colts, is a dollar still considered money?. Well, thanks for the extra infor and til tomorrow. Vik

[Bagger Lance]

Oh yea, Women's push-up ( do one arms by the way) are just fine. The secret is always to do thing with great precision since . . . after all . . . we are in love with a precision game. About to sing off for this day but can assure you that this next drive to the super bowl is much desired and I can empathize with your dismay, and for the record I had money on the Colts, is a dollar still considered money?. Well, thanks for the extra infor and til tomorrow. Vik

When my wife was 39 she decided to fulfill a dream. She decided to become a police officer. She is 5-4 and the perfect weight for her height. She entered the Academy without much prior conditioning, and she was never much of a fitness buff. Within 6 months she was doing 100 full push-ups, bench pressing 150% of her body weight, doing 150 sit-ups and running sub-eight minute miles. She was the oldest female to ever graduate from the Academy.
I learned a great deal about her and she about herself. It is interesting what motivation can produce.

Bagger

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Vickie

Oh yea, Women's push-up ( do one arms by the way) are just fine. The secret is always to do thing with great precision since . . . after all . . . we are in love with a precision game. About to sing off for this day but can assure you that this next drive to the super bowl is much desired and I can empathize with your dismay, and for the record I had money on the Colts, is a dollar still considered money?. Well, thanks for the extra infor and til tomorrow. Vik

When my wife was 39 she decided to fulfill a dream. She decided to become a police officer. She is 5-4 and the perfect weight for her height. She entered the Academy without much prior conditioning, and she was never much of a fitness buff. Within 6 months she was doing 100 full push-ups, bench pressing 150% of her body weight, doing 150 sit-ups and running sub-eight minute miles. She was the oldest female to ever graduate from the academy.
I learned a great deal about her and she about herself. It is interesting what motivation can produce.

Bagger

Wow!

The more I learn about TEAM LANCE, the more impressed I get!

[Bagger Lance]

The point I'm trying to make is that you can and should exercise for golf and anybody can make gains in strength and endurance. Triceps and Shoulders are important, and any exercise you do is beneficial. With Vickie's help, we should be able to get some programs posted that will assist you in getting started.

The beauty of golf is even non-athletes can enjoy the game. But physical conditioning makes golf a much more enjoyable sport, and helps keep you out of the Doctors office.

My wife added over 30 yards to her driver by the way, and she never had time for golf when she was in training.

Bagger

[DES]

Thanx again for all the helpful information and I'm looking forward to the forthcoming ideas. I must confess that I'm not real keen on long workouts. I walk into the gym, do the pull downs, the shoulder press machine (3 sets each) - and then it's to the ping-pong table - great for my eye-hand coordination. I mean, I could do a little more, but if it gets too long and involved I tend to give up. I just started the shoulder press machine on Friday. Sometimes I use the medicine ball to do "twists".

Then at home in the evening I do the push-ups and I use a weighted club to do exercises with the wrists, keeping the hand at the waist, I lift the club to horizontal position. This is probably the MOST workout I've done in my 60 years!

Oh, 30 yards sounds GREAT!

Have a great evening and a wonderful tomorrow.

Dave