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Athleticism, Fitness Now a Staple in Golf

The 21st century has given way to a new type of golfer: A golfer who recognizes physical fitness as a staple in his or her development. A golfer who hits the gym between rounds. A golfer who simply is in better shape than his or her predecessors.

The notion that golfers are athletes has always been perceived as a matter of opinion rather than a matter of fact. But the problem with that is it shouldn't even be debatable. At least not anymore.

The 21st century has given way to a new type of golfer: A golfer who recognizes physical fitness as a staple in his or her development. A golfer who hits the gym between rounds. A golfer who simply is in better shape than his or her predecessors.

"Golfers are athletes," said professional golf fitness trainer Sean Cochran. "I would challenge anyone who says golfers aren't athletes. No doubt in my mind."

As one of the most recognized golf trainers in the world, he should know. After spending year stints training the Major League Baseball League's Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, Cochran took the position of Phil Mickelson's personal trainer near the latter part of 2002. The rest speaks for itself.

During the 2002 PGA season, Mickelson ranked 25th in driving distance with an average of 288.8 yards per drive. In 2003, he ranked third, averaging 306 yards. Not bad for one offseason of training.

"Number one, when you go back and look back at his game, he's gotten longer in driving distance," Cochran said of Mickelson, who ranks 24th in driving distance in 2020 with an average of 299.2. "It basically showed he improved his strength and power output. He's able to generate more speed and power in a shorter backswing -- More power in a shorter arc."

Cochran said that Mickelson, like many other professionals and amateurs he has worked with in the past nine years, is part of an "evolution" of the golfing industry.

"Basically what has transpired over the last decade is the acknowledgement and awareness at the pro and amateur level that, to be successful, it is necessary to be on a strength and conditioning program," Cochran said. "We know in this industry that in order to have an efficient golf swing, certain physical components are required -- There is not a golfer I know who has not acknowledged strength and conditioning as an important part in the game."

As fitness training has seeped into the amateur level over the past decade, a correlation between playing performance and physical fitness has emerged.

A study done in September 2020 by the National Strength and Conditioning Association showed that high flexibility, muscular strength and endurance is consistent with low-handicap players, while high-handicap players maintain lower levels of these qualities.

According to the study, 10 low-handicap golfers (with an index between scratch and .8) and 10 high-handicap golfers (with an index between 17.9 and 22.7) "performed 10 swings for maximum velocity and accuracy with their own 5-iron golf club at a wall-mounted target." As expected, the low-handicappers hit the target 115 percent more and had a 12 percent faster clubhead velocity than the high-handicappers.

But the point was made when the low-handicap golfers were 30 percent stronger in bench press, had a stronger golf swing-specific cable woodchop by 28 percent and made 24 percent less of a right hip internal rotation in their swing.

According to the study, the results show that "golfers with high golf swing-specific cable woodchop strength and perhaps greater bench press strength and longer arms may therefore be at a competitive advantage, as these characteristics allow the production of greater clubhead velocity and resulting ball displacement."

College golf programs have been a staple in the transformation of the new golfer, because NCAA play is more or less a bridge to the professional level of competition.

Scott Schroeder, head coach of the nationally-ranked University of North Florida Division I golf team, has been a witness to Cochran's theory of evolution. Schroeder played for UNF from 1994 to 1998.

"I think kids are significantly stronger than they used to be," he said. "It used to be that some of the players were overweight or out of shape, but now you have kids out there that you look at and say, 'Man, these guys are pretty jacked.'"

Schroeder said he worked out three-to-four times a week when he played in college. But unlike the team he now coaches, "We actually had no organized training when I played."

Cochran said competing players' work both on and off the course, without a doubt, qualifies golfers as "athletes."

"With the general population, there is a lot of misinformation out there in regards to bodybuilding and what is considered in shape," he said. "You train your body to the requirements of your sport. When you look at the cover of bodybuilding magazines, almost all of the time what these guys do is non-conducive to an athlete of a specific sport."

Cochran added that, as time goes on, more golfers will continue to hit the gym more often as they become informed about its benefits.

"I think, 10 years from now, any golfer with the slightest interest in improving their game will incorporate golf fitness training," he said.

At this pace, 10 years might be a modest estimate.