Physical training?

[Erik_K]

I did three full rounds of the original P90X. It was okay but I didn't really get stronger. I also tweaked a knee doing the plyo workout. First time I ever had anything close to a knee injury.

I've lifted a lot of free weights in my life and never got bulky. Getting bulky or not getting bulky really boils down to what kind of training you do and your body type.

Getting bigger depends on two things: I) what you eat & II) strength training

Clearly you need a calorie surplus to add on additional muscle. You can absolutely get stronger and not necessarily get a lot bigger from strength training.

P90x is OK for some people, some of the time. It's a "canned" routine that does have some good stuff in there. IMO the workouts are overly long and scaling may not be too easy for most folks. Also, like all canned methods, checking the form is all but impossible. Are you really performing the squat correctly? There's more to it than just watching a video (though it can help, don't get me wrong).

 

[suns11111]

PX90 was useful this winter, also TPI recently interviewed Jason Zuback and his method to train - can I do it exactly like that, no way, but use a slimmed down version.
JeffS

 

[Jwat]

Why do you think?

IMO, the only way to add flexibility when lifting free weights is during the resistance part of the rep. For example, if you are doing bench press. When you allow the bar to come down to your chest, hold and don't allow your muscles to contract for 3-4 secs. Your muscle will stretch to its full range before contracting for another rep. But since majority of people don't understand that the resistance is more important than the contraction, I believe that free weights do not help but hinder flexibility.

Do some research on fascia flexibility. I think this is the new thing in the sports world and probably with the PGA tour. I am not promoting this guy or his website in the link. I don't even know who he is but this page has excellent information on fascia movement around the muscles. So if this link shouldn't be here please delete. I have been getting my fascia repositioned for over a year now.

http://www.todddurkin.com/resources/educational-articles/fascia-flexibility-and-performance/

BTW, I am not some workout guru or junky. I actually haven't worked out since I played baseball in college 10 yrs ago. So take my info with a grain of salt.

 

[tilthatday]

While you may or may not consider them "golf specific", some exercises will pay more dividends than others. Perhaps you should consider including torso rotation, shoulder complex and core work in your routine. If you need specifics, the internet is full of information and YouTube has a plethora of videos showing golf workouts. Some of the same exercises appear time and again and seem to be consensus picks: chopping, med ball throws, rows, etc. You'll quickly see and assemble some good ones.
Don't worry about the effect on flexibility. Olympic lifters are some of the most flexible people on the planet.

 

[Billy McKinney]

Whatever you do, don't injure yourself and don't over-train.
I've been working with an 8 lb club bell lately and I'd say it's perfect for golf and any sport requiring rotation and grasp.
Clubbells

 

[Billy McKinney]

Wait! I've found a much better site: BODYROCK.tv | Fitness Advice, Workout Videos, Health & Fitness | Bodyrock.tv
You can grow muscle just by watching.

 

[coachwalls]

Wait! I've found a much better site: BODYROCK.tv | Fitness Advice, Workout Videos, Health & Fitness | Bodyrock.tv
You can grow muscle just by watching.

Holy shnike.

 

[coachwalls]

You can easily sub in any of: ring dips, pushups, regular dips (weighted/unweighted). The bench is actually a surprisingly technical lift and max efforts may require special equipment or a spotter. It's difficult to bail out on a bench press.

I believe the press is indeed a functional move. Tell a linebacker or defensive end to shed a blocker without pushing away (!). But for a few practical reasons, it's not so easy to train the press properly and alternative movements are perfectly fine.

The weighted dip, assuming no shoulder injuries, is a supremely beneficial movement - the shoulders, chest, back, and core are engaged. It's more or less a "go-to" move to increase your bench power for sure.

Erik

Once again well said Erik.

There are lot's of people that don't think the bench develops a functional movement and I tend to agree with them.

I rarely see anyone pushing something with their back against a solid surface in real life. Usually if you are really going to push something hard both feet are planted on the ground and the body is leaned into it. A strict press, push press, or any other overhead movement that involves having the feet connected to the ground more closely develops the strength and coordination needed to move something heavy away from your own body. But that's just my opinion.

The bench press does indeed have a huge following. Heck the NFL uses it in the combine.