If your fitness routine could use an upgrade, look no further than Pilates. Pilates is a type of strength training, but it looks more like yoga than your typical weight-lifting strength classes. LPGA Tour players do it, and you should give it a try, too, because the moves in Pilates classes are perfect for golfers.
“Pilates is a great choice for golfers looking to increase their core stability and improve their posture, both of which are key when it comes to avoiding injuries around the lower back and hitting consistent shots,” Jennifer Fleischer, a Golf Digest Top 50 Trainer in America, said.
There are two different types of Pilates classes you can take: one is on a mat and the other is on a reformer. Both use slow, controlled movements, but the reformer allows you to target specific muscle groups in a more intense way. Springs on the reformer can provide more resistance on certain moves, increasing difficulty. On the mat, you’re only using your body weight. Both are low-impact, making them a form of strength training that is gentle on your joints.
Both Annika Sorenstam and Georgia Hall use Pilates to help their golf games. For Hall, it’s her go-to workout during off weeks. Below, Sorenstam demonstrates an exercise on the reformer that improves shoulder blade control, torso rotation and balance:
Pilates classes consist of exercises that build strength and mobility, and train balance – which are all things golfers need more of.
“The combination of core control and targeted shoulder and hip mobility Pilates offers can also improve the sequencing of your swing, helping you deliver more power to the ball with less effort,” Fleischer says. “Who doesn’t want that?”
• • •
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
