Why Golfers Should Train More Like Athletes (If They Want to Hit the Ball Farther)
Most golfers don’t think of themselves as athletes when it comes to training.
They’ll play more rounds, hit the range, maybe stretch a little…
…but very few actually train in a structured way.
That’s usually the missing piece.
Because if you look at almost any sport where power and speed matter, the approach is similar:
You don’t just practice the skill—you build the physical qualities behind it.
Golf is no different.
The Problem With How Most Golfers Train
A lot of golfers around here fall into one of three buckets:
Just playing more golf
Random workouts without a plan
Jumping straight into speed training
underloaded or too golf specific
Without structure, you end up spinning your wheels. Strength doesn’t turn into power, and power doesn’t turn into speed.
What “Training Like an Athlete” Actually Means
It doesn’t mean training like a bodybuilder.
It means having some level of progression.
Most athletes build performance in phases:
Build strength
Convert it into power
Express it as speed
Simple—but effective.
Phase 1: Build Strength (Your Foundation)
This is where most golfers are leaving a lot on the table.
If you can’t produce force, you can’t produce speed.
This phase focuses on:
Getting stronger through full ranges of motion
Building muscle where it matters
Improving control and stability
Common exercises:
Split squats
Deadlifts or hinge variations
Rows
Core work
It’s not flashy, but it’s what gives you the ability to improve later.
Phase 2: Build Power (Use That Strength Faster)
Now we start to shift from just producing force → producing it quickly.
This is where training starts to feel more “athletic.”
You’ll see:
Faster intent with lifts
Lower rep ranges
More explosive movements
Examples:
Medicine ball rotational throws
Faster strength lifts
This is often where golfers start to feel their swing change—less effort, more pop.
Phase 3: Train for Speed
Now we bring it all together.
This is where things like overspeed training or faster movement patterns can be layered in effectively.
The focus becomes:
Moving fast
High quality reps
Lower overall volume
This phase works best when the first two are in place.
Why This Approach Works
Most golfers stay stuck because they never move through these phases.
They:
Stay in “random workouts”
Skip straight to speed work
Or just rely on playing more
Training like an athlete gives you direction.
You’re not just working hard—you’re building toward something.
What This Can Look Like
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Even a simple structure like:
4–6 weeks of strength
4–6 weeks of power
2–4 weeks of speed
…can make a noticeable difference.
Final Thought
If you want to hit the ball farther, it’s not just about your swing.
It’s about the body producing that swing.
And that’s where training like an athlete starts to separate people.
If you're in Nampa and want help figuring out what this looks like for you, that’s something I work through with golfers all the time at Habits Physical Therapy.