2022 has been an ELITE year.
I've gotten to connect and work with hundreds of athletes.
I've learned from some great coaches and mentors.
I've experienced successes and failures.
Here are three things I've learned about training for the sport of golf in 2022...
Thing #1: Flexibility and Core Strength are OVERRATED
Everybody in the golf world talks about flexibility.
Just search something like "how to gain clubhead speed" and every article that pops up talks about flexibility first and foremost.
Bullsh*t.
Flexibility and mobility are important physical qualities but they should RARELY EVER be prioritized over strength, power and speed training.
A proper strength, power, and speed program will simultaneously improve your mobility - probably even more so than any static stretching program you take on.
A close second in the running for "Overrated crap the golf fitness world needs to chill on" is core strength.
Again, it's important, but not that important.
"But the golf swing is rotational"
Okay?
It also requires massive lower body forces and huge amounts of upper body power.
And the minute you bring up "core training" it elicits ideas of light flimsy band pallof presses, planks, and sit-ups, none of which are ideal.
Want to improve your "core strength"? Read this.
Thing #2: Speed swings are a MUST if you truly want to gain speed
Want to jump higher?
Start jumping high often.
Want to run faster?
Start running fast often.
Want to swing faster?
PLUS, in an ideal world you have an external feedback tool that provides real-time feedback regarding your speeds.
When it comes to gaining clubhead speed, there is NOTHING more valuable than simply grabbing a PVC pipe or weighted stick and swinging it as fast as you possibly can.
Thing #3: Nothing beats practice.
When it comes to improving our golf performance, NOTHING is more valuable than going out and PLAYING GOLF (or practicing).
Story time...
This spring, I got out and played weekly.
I was practicing at the range often.
I was striping the ball.
My handicap reached it's career low of 7.8.
I was clicking.
Living in the low 80's.
Flirting with the 70's.
Then summer came.
I got stupid busy.
I was running SCRATCH.
Posting on Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube, etc. daily.
Writing blog posts.
3 weekly newsletters.
Coaching in-person athletes for ~25 hours weekly.
Caddying at Erin Hills 5 days a week.
Lifting 3-4 times per week.
My golf time suffered... and so did my scores.
By the end of the summer, I was lucky to break 90.
And the teaching point is this:
When it comes to performing on the golf course, nothing is more important than going out and playing golf - swinging a golf club - hitting golf shots.
Even as a golf fitness coach that lives in the weight room, I push my golfers to PLAY MORE GOLF.
If they want to improve, fitness and physical prep is only part of the equation... and a much smaller part relative to actually playing golf.
Lesson learned.
Play more golf in 2023 Carter.
Deal.
Carter Schmitz
Founder and Head Coach - SCRATCHGolfTraining.com
CSCS, TPI
Carter is a strength and conditioning coach out of the Milwaukee area working with athletes, in-person and virtually. Having helped hundreds of athletes, ranging from the middle school to the professional level and beyond, Carter brings a breadth of experience and knowledge to every athlete he works with. He launched SCRATCHGolfTraining.com in the summer of 2021 to help empower golfers to greater performance and longevity.
Carter believes ALL golfers are athletes, and they should be training accordingly.
Become a SCRATCH Athlete today, and start training like the ATHLETE you are!
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