⛳️ Will Going to the Gym Hurt My Ability to Increase Clubhead Speed?
A common question among golfers is whether hitting the gym will help or hurt their ability to increase clubhead speed. The short answer? It depends. Let’s break down some key points you should consider when balancing strength training with your speed training.
Strength vs. Speed Training
Before diving in, it's essential to understand the distinction between these two. Strength training is about building muscle and increasing your power output, while speed training focuses on moving your body (and the golf club) as fast as possible. For many golfers, the first step is identifying if their speed deficiency is due to a lack of strength or a lack of dedicated speed training.
-
Strong Enough, but Not Fast Enough: Some players already have the strength but haven’t worked on the specific skill of increasing speed. If you’re only focusing on lifting weights and not including speed training, you’re missing out on a vital piece of the puzzle.
-
Too Weak to Generate Speed: On the other hand, some players may lack the necessary strength to increase their clubhead speed, no matter how much they focus on speed drills. In these cases, adding strength training can provide the foundation needed to build speed.
The ideal scenario? Combine both strength and speed training to maximize your potential. But there are some critical factors to consider when juggling these two.
Prioritize Speed Training
When planning your workout schedule, always prioritize your speed training. If you’re training for speed and going to the gym on the same day, make sure you do your speed session first. Here’s why:
Your body is freshest after your warm-up, and that’s when you’ll be primed to move quickly. When you lift heavy weights, it taxes your muscles, making them slower and less responsive. If you tackle your speed training after a tough gym session, your body won’t perform at its peak, limiting your speed gains.
Balance Your Schedule
If you’re spacing out your speed training and gym workouts over different days, be mindful of how they impact each other. For example:
-
Avoid Heavy Lifts the Day Before Speed Training: Let’s say your speed session is planned for Thursday morning, but you have a heavy lifting workout on Wednesday night. Going all-out on your strength training right before can leave your muscles sore and fatigued, ultimately slowing you down during your speed session.
-
Plan for Recovery: Ideally, you want your body to be as fresh as possible for speed training. If you lift weights on Wednesday morning, try to hold off on your speed session until Thursday evening. This allows your muscles more time to recover, so you’re primed to generate maximum speed.
The Bottom Line
If you want to gain speed, it's all about how you manage both aspects of your training. Strength training can complement speed training when done correctly, but it’s crucial not to overdo it and end up compromising your speed gains. Prioritize your speed sessions, plan your workout schedule wisely, and always keep recovery in mind.
Train smart, stay balanced, and watch your clubhead speed soar. 🏌️♂️💪