Is it OK to Golf Everyday?

Many SCRATCH athletes, and golfers more in general, get the opportunity to play OFTEN.

They will play 18 one day, slap some balls on the range the next, play a member-guest the following day, the list never stops...

They play golf nearly every single day.

While I am extremely jealous of your golf volume, is it healthy to golf everyday?

Let's dive in.

FIRST, Understand the Body

Some health and fitness "experts" believe in the notion that we only have a certain number of X physical activity before we start to break down.

They believe the human body degrades over time and with every golf swing or exercise we complete, we are simply one rep closer to that point where injuries pop up.

I do not believe this.

I would consider this to be a very fragile mindset.

Thinking the body is a piece of glass that can only withstand so much force, so much volume.

I believe the body is adaptable.

The human body becomes stronger and more resilient when stress is applied.

This is why strength training exists in our world. It is also why we see 65-75 year olds still out golfing at a high level injury-free.

Our bodies adapt to the stress we apply them.

Of course, there is a limit to this. The stress of getting hit by a bus or falling off of a cliff is not a positive stress that we will adapt to.

But, in general, the body is adaptable. Feed it stress, it will get stronger.

GOLF IS A LOT LIKE STRENGTH TRAINING

We can think of golfing a lot like strength training.

Is it dangerous to strength train everyday?

For a 65 year old who hasn't touched a weight room since high school, yeah everyday is probably a bit too much.

But for the bodybuilder that has spent everyday for the last 8 years in the weight room, not at all. Their body is adapted to the stress of training everyday.

We can think of golf through this same lens.

If you are just beginning the game, or the season, I wouldn't recommend playing everyday.

But if you have played for a long time, have built up the physical adaptations that come with playing the game of golf then by all means, play away!

PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD

If you are somebody who seeks to play everyday, but currently don't think your body can handle it, you simply need to apply the concept of progressive overload to your golf activity.

Progressive overload is the idea that we apply stress to the body slightly more than we applied in the past, in order to create adaptations that push us in the direction we wish. We then allow recovery to happen, adaptations to form, and we apply slightly more in the next bout of activity.

Relating to the volume of golf you play, think of it as a week-by-week program.

Let's say your body currently can't take more than 8 hours a week of playing golf.

Then, next week, try to play 8.5 hours of golf.

The next week try playing 9.

Then 9.5. Then 10.

And slowly build up the volume of golf that you are playing on a weekly basis.

Over time, you will get to the point where your body is capable of playing every day.

I'll also add, not all golf stresses the body the same way. Just like a body builder works arms one day, legs the next day, and back the following day - golfers should make sure their play is varied.

Short game and range work today. Playing 18 tomorrow. Putting the next day. It all stresses the body slightly differently.

SUPPLEMENTAL STRENGTH TRAINING

Injuries happen. They are unpredictable.

To do our best to avoid them, we should be feeding our body a wide array of stressors in training.

To do so, we should be strength, mobility, speed, and power training on the side of our golf game... even if we are playing everyday!

This training is going to support the function of our body to play the volume of golf that we wish to.

So, IS IT OK TO GOLF EVERYDAY?

Sure, IF you have built up the necessary adaptations over time AND support your volume of golfing with proper physical training / healthy habits.

If you need help supporting your volume of golf as well as keeping your body healthy and prepared for the game, JOIN THE SCRATCH COMMUNITY!

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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!