Welcome to the inaugural President’s Corner, where golf fitness is less about flexing muscles in the mirror and more about what truly counts - mobility, stability, health and total-body wellness. In this edition, we’ll explore how smart training transforms swings, prevents injuries and fuels longer, healthier lives on and off the course.
Golfers today have more tools than ever to play better, feel better and stay in the game longer. From biomechanics research to applied movement systems, the consensus is clear: golf-specific fitness isn’t a trend - it’s a transformation. When you combine insights from elite training environments (like the PGA Tour and the LPGA) with systems developed by experts at institutions such as NASM, TPI, Gray Institute and ACSM, you’re not just supporting swing mechanics, you’re building a better golfer. The takeaway? To swing like an athlete, you have to train like one.
Let’s put to rest the idea that golf is just a long walk. It’s a sport - one that demands rotational torque, joint mobility, postural endurance and explosive control. According to TPI, the swing is a kinetic symphony of precision, balance and velocity. NASM agrees: every swing subjects the body to significant forces across multiple planes of motion.
Gray Institute adds poetic depth: the swing is a "symphony of joint actions." Translation? You can’t fake your way through a full turn.
It’s not yoga with a polo shirt. It’s rotational violence, executed in slacks. Believe it or not, improved technology and longer golf courses have discouraged the classic golf swing of Bobby Jones and evolved into the modern golf swing of Tiger Woods.
If your goal is to win the club championship or to walk 18 holes without feeling like you’ve been immobilized by fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, an integrated training program is your secret weapon.
Whether you're a seasoned player or a newcomer trying to survive your first round of golf with friends, science supports what common sense already knows: better physical preparation leads to better golf. Programs built on functional strength, mobility and stability have consistently been shown to reduce injury rates and enhance performance. These systems - from evidence-based corrective protocols to rotational power strategies - help the human body move more efficiently on and off the course.
For example, a study in the International Journal of Golf Science demonstrated that collegiate golfers in an 11-week program experienced improvements in strength, flexibility and clubhead speed without sacrificing accuracy. TPI's Body-Swing Connection™ reinforces that many swing flaws are movement problems first, not technical errors. Poor hip mobility? Say hello to early extension. Limited core strength? Prepare for inconsistency and compensation.
Meanwhile, Gray Institute’s Applied Functional Science® model supports a 3D movement approach - training in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes - to build total-body coordination and power. ACSM backs this up with long-standing evidence that functional movement and resistance training improve physical performance while also decreasing the risk of chronic conditions.
No one system holds all the answers - but together, they form a roadmap. And no, that roadmap does not include endless seated leg presses or stretching only when something hurts.
Think of your body as a Formula One race car. Now ask yourself, are you fueling it with premium training? Or are your glutes still stuck in neutral? Remember, Tiger said it first after an unsatisfactory round, “I did not activate my glutes today.”
Let’s be honest: half of amateur golfers will deal with lower back and shoulder pain. That’s not a coincidence, it’s feedback. According to NASM and ACSM, the culprits are usually underprepared muscles, poor posture and repetitive stress.
Common offenders? Limited hip mobility, underactive glutes and stiff thoracic spines. These issues don’t just remove performance - they’re injury invitations.
A research-based golf fitness screening can identify problems before they become pain. The best part? You don’t need a team of therapists following you on a golf cart. You need a plan that’s simple, specific and grounded in science.
Integrated training - like the kind championed by NASM and Gray Institute - isn’t a mix-and-match fitness buffet. It’s a blueprint: flexibility, core engagement, balance, plyometrics, resistance and cardio tailored for golf.
Let’s talk biomechanics. Transverse plane training develops rotational force. The stretch-shortening cycle harnesses stored energy on your backswing and unleashes it at impact. The result? More distance. Less dysfunction.
It’s like giving your swing a master's degree in human performance.
Fitness isn’t just for the muscles - it’s also for the mindset. For junior golfers, especially, self-image can influence performance more than swing technique. A 14-year-old who sees themselves as unathletic may sabotage their potential before even gripping the club.
TPI’s junior development systems are rooted in psychology and physiology. Movement becomes a confidence builder. Fitness becomes a self-esteem engine.
NASM and ACSM echo this: when young (and not-so-young) golfers master their movements, they also master their mentality. That’s why golf fitness solutions don’t just build stronger bodies - they build more resilient athletes.
This isn’t just about playing better golf - it’s about living better lives. Research from the Golf and Health Project, supported by the World Golf Foundation and the R&A, shows that regular golf play boosts cardiovascular health, mental wellbeing and life expectancy.
According to the International Golf Federation, golf uniquely combines moderate-intensity activity with meaningful social connection, two factors closely tied to longevity. One round of golf can cover six miles, burn over 1,200 calories and stimulate your mind with each strategic shot.
Add structured training, and those benefits multiply. Mobility supports joint longevity. Core training fixes posture. Resistance work builds bone density. Cardio conditions your heart.
The pros have known this for decades. But here’s the secret: you don’t need a tour card to train like one.
At the Golf Fitness Association of America, our mission is to facilitate environments where golf and fitness professionals can network, collaborate and share best practices with their peers. Whether it’s a 10-year-old learning balance and coordination or a retiree regaining strength and stamina, we aim to integrate science-backed, purpose-driven training into the heart of golf. That includes showcasing the work of PGA of America teaching professionals and fitness experts who are essential partners in advancing performance through education and individualized coaching for the promotion of health and wellness in golf.
We promote healthy golf lifestyle outcomes: fewer injuries, stronger swings, longer careers and better lives.
Our mantra? Train the whole athlete. Mind and body. Mechanics and mindset. Power and purpose.
If you’re serious about your game - and your health - it’s time to ditch the gimmicks and embrace the science of health and wellness. Train intentionally. Hire certified professionals. Be disciplined to the process.
Golf fitness is the bridge between potential and your best performance.
And yes, dropping a 30-yard bomb past your usual playing partner? That’s just a happy side effect.
To longer drives, shorter recovery times and a better back nine.
Dr. Steven Lorick is a golf exercise physiologist recognized by the PGA of America, Titleist Performance Institute and NASM as a global expert in golf and fitness. Dr. Lorick holds a doctorate from USC, an MBA from Georgetown University and over 20 advanced certifications, including from Stanford in nutrition. A military veteran, he was honored with the U.S. Congressional Award of Special Recognition as a member of the Presidential Escort.