Fitness Friday: Train like Luke Donald: The Instruction Blog: Golf Digest

Fitness Friday: Train like Luke Donald

Friday, March 16, 2012

Every week my colleague Ron Kaspriske, Golf Digest Fitness Editor, presents Fitness Friday on the Instruction Blog. This week he talks to trainer Ben Shear, who helped Luke Donald become the best player in the world (he's currently No. 2 behind Rory McIlroy). Look for Weekend Tip tomorrow, and remember to follow me on Twitter: @RogerSchiffman.

Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest

Here's Ron: How did 5-foot-9, 160-pound Luke Donald become the No. 1 golfer in the world last year? Sure, a phenomenal short game helped. But another key was his efficient swing. There is no wasted motion, and that comes from hours of practice, but also a commitment to fitness.

Donald is trained by Ben Shear (@ben_shear). Shear says because Donald is competing against bigger, stronger players, he can't afford an inefficient golf swing. A hallmark of Donald's swing is how well its width is maintained--that leads to more clubhead speed as well as consistently solid contact.

In Golf Digest's April issue, on newsstands now (Tiger Woods on the cover), Shear explains that strong shoulder blades are a key to maintaining swing width. He offers a few exercises to get you swinging better. Click on the link here to learn more.

Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest