How to Build a Better Golf Stance

Troy Anderson
From Troy's Weekly Post, "Blue Collar Mondays"
on the Better Golf With Fitness Blog

8/14/06
Golfers spend a good chunk of their time in the address position or the base athletic position, depending on how you look at it. 

The address position, although it may have many different variants, is the beginning of all things golf.  So it makes sense to start a golf conditioning program with this foundational position.  Like everything else in the world, it's imperative to have a solid and stable foundation. 

The exercise progression I am going to share with you today is called the Romanian Deadlift progression, or RDL.  I know Deadlift is a big scary word, but before you go and stuff your fingers in your ears, hear me out. First, here are some of the benefits of this exercise progression:

•    Develop postural/ upper back muscles
•    Develop trunk/”core” muscles
•    Dynamically stretch the hamstrings through full range of motion
•    Develop strength in the hamstrings and glutes

This progression will help give you flexibility, endurance and strength on entire backside of your body.   

How does this equate to on course performance? 
•    You won’t get so tired that your address position changes, altering your swing
•    Your trunk will be prepared to handle high force swings hopefully minimizing back injury potential
•    You will have the strength to call upon when you need a little more “oomph” on the back nine. 

So, let’s take a look at some of the more technical aspects of the RDL progression.

Click here for the
Building a Better Stance Progression Video

Tips for making the exercises more effective:
•     Always stand with good posture.
•    Throughout the movement, maintain some tension in your upper back, i.e. standing with a “proud chest”. This will allow the desired musculature to work properly.
•    It is an absolute necessity to “tense/brace” your trunk/abdominal area at all times during this movement. 
•    Knees should be slightly bent or “soft”
•    Maintain spinal integrity, while pushing hips backward
•    As you push your hips backward, try to keep your weight on the heels of your feet.
•   An excellent indicator of proper performance is that your hamstrings (back of upper leg) should feel like they are being stretched.
•    Depth of the movement is NOT the goal,  so do not worry about how far down you go
•    Once you reach the point where you can no longer continue movement, without sacrificing your form, begin your ascent
•    Start your return to starting position, by contracting your Hamstrings (back of your up leg) and your Glutes (aka butt).
•    Start with no weight and perfect the movement, then choose a light weight.
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Exercise Protocol: Two or three sets of 10-20 repetitions each of any two of the exercises two to three times per week.  Increase your resistance only after you have perfected each movement.

If you are patient and give this exercise progression at try, I am sure that you will be more than satisfied with the results.  

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Troy M Anderson
troy@bluecollarathlete.com
bluecollargolfer.com
Troy is a golf conditioning expert, located in Tempe, AZ. To download your FREE copy of his special report "8 MUST-KNOW Tips for Starting a Successful Golf Conditioning Program”, go to www.bluecollargolfer.com

The articles at GolfFitnessProducts.net are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for direct examination and exercise prescription by the appropriate health professional.  It is strongly recommended that you do not perform any exercise program without the consent of your personal physician.