Today, I’m writing to you from Bellerive Country Club here in St. Louis – the site of Brooks Koepka’s 2018 PGA Championship victory…on Day 1 of this year’s PGA Championship. Now, that’s poetic:)
Truth be told, I forgot to push send this morning. We just had a lightning delay, so I’ve got a little time here in the clubhouse to spread some mad knowledge.
So, here’s a myth I want to put to rest:
Of all the exercises we have in our arsenal, squats are the most misunderstood.
They’re kinda like the lyrics to Elton John’s Tiny Dancer…
Wrong: “Hold me closer Tony Danza”
Correct: “Hold me closer tiny dancer”
And of all the myths surrounding squats, here is the one I hear most often:
Squats are really bad for your knees.
Actually, the opposite is true.
Squats have been found to be beneficial for strengthening your knees, which prevents injuries.
They help us lose weight.
Improve cardiovascular health.
Create leaner muscle mass.
For us golfers, squats are a mandatory exercise.
Here’s why:
When you swing a club, you generate power from your hips. Because your glutes are primarily responsible for movement at your hips, weak glutes compromise your skill during your swing.
It reminds me of when I was a kid, and I picked up a replica Daryl Strawberry baseball bat.
Think about how heavy a pro ballplayer’s bat is to a 10-yr-old…
I could kind of swing it, but I didn’t have the strength to control it.
And THAT is what weak glutes will do – rob you of that same control in your golf swing.
That’s just one reason each workout plan in the 18STRONG Membership App has squats built-in.
If you decide to go rogue and cobble together a plan on your own, you have no shortage of squat variations: basic squat, split-squat, wall squat, sumo squat, goblet squat, pistol squat, single-leg squat…
I recommend you squat each time you do a total body workout.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the lightning has stopped. And the course is calling my name.
Your #1 Fan,
Jeff Pelizzaro
PS – If you haven’t done squats in a minute, don’t overdo it your first time out. You’re going to be sore two days later regardless, but you don’t want to have to have your wife pull you off the can.
You’ve been warned.
If you don’t want the hassle of creating your own program that you’re not sure will work, then I highly encourage you to start your 18STRONG App free trial.