Golf Talk With Greg Holman – #71

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I got my first round of golf in this past Sunday. It was 72 degrees and a little windy and wet but it was so nice to get out in the fresh air and swing a club. I didn’t have any expectations. I was just out for a little exercise. Guess which club I hit the best? If you said the driver you’re correct. In fact, I hit the fairway on my first four holes. The drives weren’t long, although they never are anymore, but they were straight and playable. This is the way my dad taught me… to take a smooth swing and distance will come later.

After playing hundreds of rounds in my Junior High years, I could swing hard and you couldn’t tell I was swinging hard, the ball would fly 200 yards down the middle and roll between 20 and 50 yards almost every time. By the time I really tried to rip the ball in my college years I had developed a bad hook which cost me distance and definitely accuracy. Any time there was OB left I either blocked the ball to the right or snapped it OB. That is not the way beginning golfers are taught today.

Golf has become a power game. Most teachers teach from day one to swing from the heels and accuracy will come later. Take a fearless approach. Golfers today also do something we never dreamed of when I was in High School and College, in fact it was frowned upon. I’m talking about strength and conditioning.

There’s no doubt Tiger Woods was talented but he could hit shots no other golfer could because he had the strength, particularly lower body strength, which helps when trying to extricate a ball from the deep rough or a buried lie in the bunker. Yes the equipment has improved, but how many professional golfers do you see with a big belly, smoking a cigar. John Daly? The best players today have a health regimen.

Phil Mickelson can still hit the ball over 300 yards because he is in great shape and extremely flexible. Gary Player has always been an exercise nut, the king of the sit-ups and he has been rewarded by being able to play and compete as a super senior at the age of 85.

So no matter how old you are, work out. Walking is the best exercise. You can do that at the Y or at Walmart. If the weather is nice, walk around your block and do some stretching. If you are a junior golfer, hit the weight room and focus on your legs and reps on the bench rather than maxing out. That will help you develop more club head speed which is the name of the game.