• Better physical conditioning can help you have a more powerful golf swing.he's a golfer image by Denise Kappa from Fotolia.com
  
  Hitting a golf ball a long way is the result of coordination and timing, not brute strength. Building large muscles through heavy weight training can actually restrict the length of the golf swing and make it more difficult to hit the ball a long way. Muscle tone, flexibility and general physical fitness are the goals of a golfer’s exercise regimen. Remember to speak with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
  
  

Basic Stretching

• Flexibility is improved through stretching, and greater flexibility allows a golfer to make a fuller shoulder turn and swing the club back farther. Having a long, free swing makes it easier to hit the golf ball a long distance. A simple stretch begins from a seated position, legs extended. Slowly extend your hands and arms and try to touch your toes. Another good shoulder stretching exercise begins by extending one arm across the top of your head, bending at the elbow. With your other hand, gently pull that elbow. You will feel the extension in your shoulders.
  
  

Cardio Training

• Fatigue is a factor in a golfer's losing clubhead speed and control in his swing near the end of the round. Tired muscles can’t coordinate as well as they should. The legs, shoulders, arms and hands no longer work in unison. Cardio training such as riding a stationery bike or using a treadmill improves stamina and allows you to perform at your peak for all 18 holes.
  
  

Running

• Many golfers underestimate the importance of leg strength in the golf swing. Your legs provide a firm foundation for the swing. The right leg (for the right-handed golfer) must be strong enough to form a brace as weight is shifted from the left to right side on the backswing. Running is a way to strengthen the legs. Running in the sand is particularly effective and puts less stress on the knee joints than running on pavement.
  
  

Core Training

• Strong abdominal muscles help a golfer develop a more powerful swing. The tension between the shoulders turning and the lower body resisting creates a coiling action on the backswing that is released on the downswing, generating power. Stomach crunches are a popular way for golfers to build up core strength. Make sure to use proper technique with these exercises to not put strain on the neck and back. You want to feel the pull in your abdominal muscles as you do each repetition.
  
  

Light Weightlifting

• You don’t need to bench press heavy weights to reach your fitness goals for golf. Muscle tone and strength in your arms can be improved through lifting light hand weights. Choose a weight that is comfortable for you so you can do a series of repetitions at various angles, such as extending your arms in front of you or off to the side or by keeping your elbows close to your side and pulling up with your forearms. Weights in the eight- to 10-pound range are sufficient.
  
  

Exercise with a Golf Club

• When you get to the course, use a golf club for warm-up exercises. Grasp the club at the end of the shaft with one hand and on the grip with the other. Extend the club in front of you. Rotate the club from side to side. You will feel your shoulders and spine loosen up as you stretch. When you swing for real, your shoulder turn will be wider and you will generate more power.