fbpx
Fitness: The truth about improving your core muscles

Fitness: The truth about improving your core muscles

Why sit-ups are NOT the secret to better balance
 

You might have heard a ‘better core’ will improve your stability and balance, and therefore your swing.

That is perfectly true.

But you might also be under the impression that the way to improve your core is sit-ups.

You’re wrong – they won’t.

Well, let’s qualify that; they will help, but they are not the best way to improve this aspect of your fitness for golf.

Here, I’ll show you some exercises which will make you much fitter for golf, which will allow you to swing the club more like the way your local PGA pro would like you to.

What’s more, you can make these improvements in your living room while watching the PGA Tour on a Sunday night!
Sit-ups will help, but they are not the best way to improve this aspect of your golf fitness…

THE START POSITION

Get on the floor and place your arms shoulder-width apart, palms facing forwards. Have your weight evenly distributed between your palms and your toes. It’s a bit like a press-up position, and even merely getting into this position – which is only the starting point – is already starting to fire your core.

10789|c:520x330.img

FIRING UP THE ENGINE

Now we really get going – this exercise really fires your core. Raise your right hand and your left foot off the ground… and hold for 20 seconds. If you can hold for 30 seconds, do so. If you can’t make that your target to reach at some point down the line. Repeat for the left side, and do three sets of these.

10790|c:520x325.img

ALL-ROUND WORKOUT

An alternative exercise is this one; keeping both feet on the floor, raise your left arm and turn your trunk so you are effectively reaching for the ceiling. Really stretch out your arm and trunk – this is massively working the core and also adds in some work for the shoulders and the obliques.

10791|c:520x330.img

  • John Sheehy is a personal trainer based at David Lloyd gym in Leeds. He is also a golf professional. Call 07988 449 936 or visit davidlloyd.co.uk

Latest Posts

golf and mental health

Mental game

‘Bad golf shots are always blamed on the swing’: How working on your mental focus can improve your game

Read full article - ‘Bad golf shots are always blamed on the swing’: How working on your mental focus can improve your game

Mental game

What is The Golfer’s Sixth Sense?

Read full article - What is The Golfer’s Sixth Sense?
golf psychology tips

Mental game

How to use the lockdown period to get your game ready

Read full article - How to use the lockdown period to get your game ready
ryder cup injury replacement

Mental game

How visualisation can have a huge impact on your game – and life

Read full article - How visualisation can have a huge impact on your game – and life
mental health and coronavirus

Mental game

Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus crisis

Read full article - Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus crisis
10 tips to improve your sleep

Mental game

How to improve your sleep for better golf

Read full article - How to improve your sleep for better golf
why do i play golf

Mental game

Why you should ask yourself: ‘Why do I play golf?’

Read full article - Why you should ask yourself: ‘Why do I play golf?’
how to think for golf

Mental game

We’re always told to ‘stay in the moment’ – but what does that actually mean?

Read full article - We’re always told to ‘stay in the moment’ – but what does that actually mean?
mental tips

Mental game

Golf is brutal – so why do we keep coming back for more?

Read full article - Golf is brutal – so why do we keep coming back for more?