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The secret to playing great golf is the same for everyone - whether you're an amateur or a pro. It's what you do with your body, not the fancy equipment you buy.

By: Bodybuilding.com Writer

The secret to playing great golf is the same for everyone - whether you're an amateur or a pro. It's what you do with your body, not the fancy equipment you buy. Look, it's a simple fact: golf is physically demanding. It's also a fact that the sooner you meet these demands, the better golf you'll play.

A customized, golf-specific conditioning program is the answer. No question. You have the power to take your game - and your drives - beyond where you ever thought possible. Not sure? Imagine the look on your partners' faces when your powerful swing blasts you on to that par 5 in two. Or you finally reach that long par 4 in regulation.

F.I.T.'s Strength Training program shows you the absolute best exercises for playing exceptional golf. What's more, it's easy enough to do at home. And it suits every golfer (yes, even you!) because it's customized for any level of fitness, golf skill and age. I personally make sure the exercises you do are the right ones for you. The longer you put off doing what it takes to become a better golfer, the more frustrated you'll get when you don't play to your potential. Here are just some of the benefits you'll experience by signing up today.

Hit longer drives with less effort
Improve your accuracy
Reduce the risk of painful or recurring injuries
Practice more efficiently without getting tired
Enjoy more energy
Look more youthful and fit
Improve your overall quality of life

Don't miss out on the chance to improve your performance, your health - and your life.

Aerobic Training
Strength Training
Nutrition
Training at Home
How to Stick to Your Golf Fitness Program

Aerobic Training

Because golf in itself is not an aerobic activity, it has always been considered as a leisure game. However, golf involves walking 4-5 miles; even in a cart, it still takes up to 4.5 hours to complete. If you do not participate in cardiovascular training off the course, your game will suffer. How many times have you run out of energy on the back nine?

The reason for this is usually poor nutrition and very low aerobic capacity or endurance. Aerobic capacity is your body's ability to use oxygen for longer periods of time. The older you are, the more likely you have lost some cardiovascular efficiency.

The direct result is a decrease in coordination due to mental fatigue Doing 2-3 aerobic sessions each week is a small commitment of time to dramatically improve your golf performance. Most players on tour do 4-5 aerobic sessions each week and that is while playing in a tournament! Make the commitment and you will reap the rewards.

Strength Training

80% of Golfers Have the Power to Improve Their Swings Right Away. Are You One of Them? Do you dream of hitting longer drives? Wish you had a bigger turn? How about making more consistent shots? So what's holding you back? Believe it or not, it probably is your back!

The golf swing creates a lot of torque and undue tension in the lower back. Yet 80% of golfers complain of stiff and sore lower backs. 80%! That means if you're like the majority of golfers you could easily drive the ball further than you have in years with a little limbering up. But the longer you wait, the less chance you'll have. As you age, you lose range of motion. This is never a good thing, but for golfers, it's especially bad news.

The tighter you let your muscles get, the shorter your drives get. Period. Why wait until you're mis-hitting almost every shot? Do something about it now! Better flexibility improves your game - and your quality of life. Here are just some of the benefits you will experience when you participate in the F.I.T Flexibility Program.

Make a bigger backswing and increase distance
Hit your ball with greater club head speed
Improve your posture for better performance
Maintain your spine angle for more consistent shots
Enjoy a tension-free golf swing
Reduce your risk of injury, especially in the lower back
Feel younger and more limber

You can hit hundreds of balls a day and hope for better mobility. Sorry - it won't fix your tight muscles. Or the fact that your range of motion will keep getting more restricted every year. A customized stretching program is the only solution.

Nutrition

Healthy eating and better golf are seldom connected. Most golfers don't think that their nutritional habits affect their performance. But if you expect to play your best, what you eat or don't eat is crucial. Food is fuel for your body, and just as a high performance car needs "premium octane fuel, so does your body. Like many golfers, you may wonder about the standard recommendations for proper nutrition:

What are the best foods to eat on the course?
What should I eat for breakfast the morning I play golf?
How do I eat to maintain or lose weight?
How much water should I drink during play?

If you are seeking guidance for nutrition, F.I.T. will provide you with the knowledge you need. We make it very simple to understand what you need to eat to improve your golf, to give you more energy to work out, and to maintain or lose body fat. We are confident that if you follow our simple, realistic nutrition program, you will get the results you are looking for!

Training at Home

Many golfers now choose to exercise at home. With the endless options for exercise equipment what is the right choice?

In golf, some specialized equipment has advantages. In other cases, basic equipment will serve golf improvement purposes very well. In each case, equipment quality is related to cost. If you want a club-like feel to the equipment, then expect to pay accordingly. Before selecting specific fitness components, go through the following checklist to determine the pieces and approach right for you.

Set goals of what you want to accomplish, as those will help to dictate equipment choices. For example, gaining strength means some type of resistance training options, while weight loss means having an aerobic training option. Next, determine the forms of exercise you like and enjoy.

If you are new to exercise, then invest in a week-long or month-long membership at a local club to try various pieces of equipment to determine your preferences. Before you set a budget, try to determine a short-list of the equipment pieces you will need. Compare this list with your available space, ceiling height, general access and power options.

Even if you have tried various options at an athletic club, then you should try those same options in a fitness equipment store in a real workout for at least 10 minutes per piece. A reputable store will want you to try a demonstrator as they want a happy customer.

How to Stick to Your Golf Fitness Program

How many times have you started an exercise program only to quit soon after? We are all guilty of this. Why does it happen? How can we see it coming and get through it? Good questions, right?

Well that's what I'm going to talk about. I'll bet you've said some of these statements before:

Don't have the time
Don't have the energy
I've tried, but just can't lose the weight
Overwhelming and don't know how to get started
Too many other commitments
It's the holidays, I'll start right after
I'm getting older, aren't I supposed to be getting stiff, sore and overweight

As you can see, this can be a vicious cycle that you may never get out of. The only way to stick to your program long-term is to realize the benefits that lie ahead. If you can picture yourself losing weight, getting stronger, hitting your drives further and playing your best golf - it will make it much easier to be consistent with your program.

Here are a few tips to help you stick to your program:

Be realistic as to how many times per week you think you can exercise. It's so easy to say you'll do it everyday, but remember where your starting point is. If you haven't been exercising for 3 months or more, I would strongly recommend picking a goal of 2 times a week for starters. As you prove to yourself you can do this, then bump it up to 3 or more times a week.
Assess your strengths and weaknesses, and prioritize accordingly. It is much easier to break down your workout times to just the areas you need work. For example, if you need to lose some weight (fat), spend a greater percentage of time doing cardiovascular activity. If you want to improve strength and lean muscle, spend more time strength training.
Choose a time that is consistent each day you work out. I know for myself, if I do it first thing in the morning, I am much more consistent. If I get up late and try to do it later, it's much more difficult and easier to come up with excuses. Be aware of when you have the most energy. Are you a morning person or an evening person? This is very important when it comes to sticking to your fitness program long-term!
Find a motivational calendar that gives you a different tip or statement every day. I think these calendars work great! I have one next to my computer with success quotes I read everyday. It helps you plug along.
And lastly have a support network of family or friends. Even go as far as getting a workout partner. This is one of the best ways to keep each other motivated. When one of you doesn't feel like exercising usually the other one is there to keep you going.

For questions or comments please visit www.FitFranco.com

Bodybuilding.com Writer

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