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    Golf Digest Logo Happy Hour

    How to train your body to fix your golf swing

    October 21, 2024
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    If you’re not happy with your ball-striking, you know you have a golf-swing problem. But what if your swing issue is the result of physical limitations? Simply trying to fix your technique won’t work if you don’t have the strength or mobility to get in the proper positions. The first step to better golf is improving your fitness.

    That’s what we discussed during our Golf Digest Happy Hour: How to train your body to fix your golf swing. Our guest was one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Fitness Trainers in America, Darin Hovis. He is the founder of Par 4 Fitness in Bonita Springs, Fla., where he works with a range of players from professionals to college athletes to everyday golfers.

    Hovis led the webinar live his fitness studio in Southwest Florida, where he demonstrated and explained a variety of exercises that can help golfers fix common swing issues. Scroll on for our key takeaways as well as the complete recording of the hour-long webinar.

    Key takeaways

    • The most common physical limitation that Hovis sees with everyday clients is limited mobility in the hips and shoulders. Free movement of these joints is crucial to solid ball-striking, and you can improve your mobility with a few daily stretches, which Hovis demonstrated.
    • There is a correlation between chest strength and swing speed. You can work to increase this pushing power by doing medicine ball throws, dumbbell chest presses and several other exercises.
    • Before a round, golfers should do a dynamic warmup as opposed to static stretches. Dynamic movement prepares the body for the golf swing, while static stretches do little to warm you up.
    • Golfers should strive to eat something every three holes on the course. Most golfers do not eat or drink enough on the course, which leads to decreased cognitive and physical performance.

    Golf Digest Happy Hour with Darin Hovis