Virginia Golfer January/February 2025 January/February 2025 | Page 38

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Fit for Play

Staying Strong

Strength exercises to keep you in shape during the offseason and beyond

by EMILY SIZEN
LUNGES
Lunges engage the muscles in your lower body , helping you build the leg and glute strength necessary for a powerful swing . The number of reps you do can vary based on your fitness level . Dr . Casey Edwards suggests beginners start with two sets of 8 or more lunges to build endurance , using a counter for support if needed . For more advanced athletes or those aiming to build more muscle , he recommends three sets of eight lunges while holding weights that challenge fatigue to transform the exercise into a full body workout .
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During the colder months , when the weather is less cooperative with your golf plan , don ’ t get too sad because you can ’ t tee it up on your favorite course . Take advantage of the time to work on improving your body for the game you love . The good news is , we spoke with a professional who has some recommendations for staying strong in the offseason .

“ When it ’ s too cold or the course is closed , it ’ s a great opportunity to get in the gym ,” said Golf Performance Coach Dr . Casey Edwards , DPT . “ If you ’ re not going to pick up a club for a number of months , you can lose some speed . But at the heart of it , if you want to gain speed or at least maintain it , the core part of that is having strength .”
A lifelong golfer and physical therapist , Edwards is a member of the golf instruction staff and fitness team at Congressional
Country Club in Bethesda , Md ., helping golfers of all ages recover from injuries , improve their performance and enjoy the game longer .
For golfers , rotational core strength is key to sequencing and power generation in the swing , and winter is the ideal time to target this area since peak playing months already involve plenty of rotational movement .
Edwards also stresses the importance of maintaining glute and leg strength , which
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