Fit For Golf Training App - 2024 Forum Review

[MaxEntropy]

My Introduction is up. Check it out and ask questions/provide feedback.

[MattF]

Congratulations testers.

 

@MaxEntropy does this mean I'll be the only fat one now?

[berkeleybob]

On 2/6/2024 at 6:01 AM, TSauer said:

Congrats, testers! I'm hoping to see a rendition of Ben Crane's workout video..

 

Great. Now where am I going to find a red outfit like that?

[fixyurdivot]

On 2/6/2024 at 12:14 AM, MaxEntropy said:

I know Fit For Golf is not a weight loss program, but I am hoping it will be a welcome side-effect of doing more regular workouts.

It would be awesome if it can provide a two-for-one.  I work out 3-4 days/week and it is not really directed specifically at anything golf... just basic tone and flexibility.  I have added the simple bar on top of my shoulders, arms over the bar and do a mock golf swing/turn.

I'm hoping some of what I learn from you guys I can emulate on the numerous machines we have and that I don't currently use.

[OdinSnipes414]

Congratulations testers this is a great opportunity I can’t wait to see how the app works and how you guys progress through the fitness! Before and after pics and what not will be great

[berkeleybob]

Hi all. Just added my intro. Whew!

Apologies if it’s a little long, but a lot happened between the ages of seven and 11. I call it my blue period. Afterward, of course, I discovered girls.

Enjoy the read, but let me know if you’d like (heaven forbid) more info.

Edited February 8 by berkeleybob

[rkj427]

Congrats. to this great, diverse group, and looking forward to your thoughts, and comments.

[berkeleybob]

On 2/5/2024 at 11:14 PM, taylorjonasher said:

I’m trying to figure out how I am going to covertly join the ranks of self videographers without too much added d-baggery.

I completely agree with you. I cringe whenever I see public selfies. I suppose these days, and for the purpose of this review, I’ll have to get over it. 

Still, it’ll be fun to see how we all do with the app.

[ILMgolfnut]

On 2/6/2024 at 2:14 AM, PJVicary said:

Having had neck surgery back in 2015 I have found that titanium is much more forgiving in a club head than in two rods screwed into your back.

I feel for you. For one thing, I worked for spine surgeons for nine years and as such helped put a lot of titanium into necks and backs. Second, I have it myself. Surgery at age 14 (scoliosis), it failed and had to have it redone at age 15. They weren't using titanium back then; it was stainless steel. As far as I know I've only set off one airport metal detector with that rod. But I never played golf before the surgery, so I don't know what it would have been like to swing a club with an unfused spine. My current teacher worked on my hip turn because of the limitations of what my back can do.

@taylorjonasher, I hear you on our shared aversion to selfies. Fortunately the GF has a tripod that I can use for that purpose, or even draft her as the videographer.

Edited February 9 by ILMgolfnut

[PJVicary]

10 minutes ago, ILMgolfnut said:

I feel for you. For one thing, I worked for spine surgeons for nine years and as such helped put a lot of titanium into necks and backs. Second, I have it myself. Surgery at age 14 (scoliosis), it failed and had to have it redone at age 15. They weren't using titanium back then; it was stainless steel. As far as I know I've only set off one airport metal detector with that rod. But I never played golf before the surgery, so I don't know what it would have been like to swing a club with an unfused spine. My current teacher worked on my hip turn because of the limitations of what my back can do.

@taylorjonasher, I hear you on our shared aversion to selfies. Fortunately the GF has a tripod that I can use for that purpose, or even draft her as the videographer.

 

[PJVicary]

Thanks for the note. Yes, the past 9 years have indeed been a journey. Not making excuses or whining about the surgery but having the rods inserted into neck and upper back have caused me to be very skittish about certain stretching exercises and pushing the envelope. However, doing nothing to very little is not the answer either. I have maintained close ties with my neurosurgeon who is currently the Neuro guy for the Steelers. I am going to pull him into whatever regime I have set up just to be certain there is no chance of re injuring the next and upper back

[Subdiver1]

On 2/6/2024 at 6:01 AM, TSauer said:

Congrats, testers! I'm hoping to see a rendition of Ben Crane's workout video..

 

How about some of this 

Edited February 13 by Subdiver1

[nvizble1]

Wow, congrats to all! I was realllllllly hoping for this one as an aging fitness-reluctant high handicapper, but that's how it goes.

Can't wait to see the gains!

[TSauer]

7 hours ago, Subdiver1 said:

How about some of this 

Even better!

[JeremyD]

I cannot wait to see these results. I'm fat, and slower than I used to be and am always looking for a way to improve both fitness and golf

[MaxEntropy]

On 2/9/2024 at 9:40 AM, berkeleybob said:

I completely agree with you. I cringe whenever I see public selfies. I suppose these days, and for the purpose of this review, I’ll have to get over it. 

Still, it’ll be fun to see how we all do with the app.

I agree with everyone on this point - maybe because we are "of a certain age." I'm hoping I can have my wife do some videos covertly.

[ILMgolfnut]

While we wait for the new version of the app, and thus the test, to go live, this is what I'm doing, along with cardio (mostly on the treadmill):

 

[Blayne Hobbs]

If you want to keep playing as long as you can you have to have some kind of routine to save some strength and flexibility. I fight it every day and want to remain competitive so I do some strength and flexibility stuff every day along with massage and revive therapy to help inflammation. Keep up the good work.

K

[berkeleybob]

Heyo!

As we wait for the testing to start, I am currently looking around our home for a place to establish what I would call a portable home gym.

This is our current gym room.

As you can see it conveniently doubles as our catch-all storage space, which I affectionately call the Upper South Wing. The North Wing behind me is the guest room/putting studio. Making this room more amenable to exercising shouldn’t be a problem. However, the ceiling height at its apex is only 16 inches higher than my head and the roof trestles are equally spaced far enough apart to ensure that jumping jacks will not be part of my exercise regimen here.

I’ve found some easy solutions online that will help with the transformation. Portable and/or mobile is key for me. I’ll have a better idea as soon as I see what’s specifically needed from the Fit For Golf app’s point of view.

Edited February 18 by berkeleybob

[GolfSpy AFG]

On 2/18/2024 at 8:00 AM, berkeleybob said:

Heyo!

As we wait for the testing to start, I am currently looking around our home for a place to establish what I would call a portable home gym.

This is our current gym room.

As you can see it conveniently doubles as our catch-all storage space, which I affectionately call the Upper South Wing. The North Wing behind me is the guest room/putting studio. Making this room more amenable to exercising shouldn’t be a problem. However, the ceiling height at its apex is only 16 inches higher than my head and the roof trestles are equally spaced far enough apart to ensure that jumping jacks will not be part of my exercise regimen here.

I’ve found some easy solutions online that will help with the transformation. Portable and/or mobile is key for me. I’ll have a better idea as soon as I see what’s specifically needed from the Fit For Golf app’s point of view.

Various forms of jumps are guaranteed to be a part of the program, regardless of which one you're on, I can promise you that.

And if you're intent to workout from home you'll likely need to invest in a set of bands.  If you follow Fit for Golf on X/Twitter there is a certain type of bands that he recommends, although really any will do.  

This is the set he repeatedly posts as his recommendation:  

https://www.amazon.com/SUPALAK-Resistance-Exercise-Protective-Anti-Snap/dp/B01MR6WRT7?th=1

$40.  I bought them; they're very good.

[GolfSpy AFG]

For the rest of the forum, we've bumped into a slight delay for our testers here in that the next iteration of the Fit for Golf app is not quite ready for release as quickly as we'd hoped. They are currently still pushing updates to the beta test of the app, but our testers are likely looking at another couple of weeks until they'll have access to the just-released "final" version of the app (and their annual membership).

Kudos to each of them for sticking with it and clearly gearing up to test the app when it does launch.  Feel free to ask our testers any questions you might have regarding their goals and training history.  I'll be posting a few snapshots and impressions of the "old" Fit for Golf app here as well so you all can get an idea of what's in store and what improvements have been made.

[TJ Hall]

Sorry to hear about the delays…am interested in hearing the variety of the routines and if it helps keep you interested/engaged/motivated to work out.

[berkeleybob]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

Various forms of jumps are guaranteed to be a part of the program, regardless of which one you're on, I can promise you that.

And if you're intent to workout from home you'll likely need to invest in a set of bands.  If you follow Fit for Golf on X/Twitter there is a certain type of bands that he recommends, although really any will do.  

This is the set he repeatedly posts as his recommendation:  

https://www.amazon.com/SUPALAK-Resistance-Exercise-Protective-Anti-Snap/dp/B01MR6WRT7?th=1

$40.  I bought them; they're very good.

Thanks for the link. That’s sort of available on the Amazon shop out here, along with others as well. I’ll see what I can get a hold of. 

I’ve been reading through his site and found a list of equipment I’ll be needing as I progress through the program. Weather permitting, I do have an adequate place outside to work outside (which will make my dog happy). So the delay may end up working in my favor.

Currently, I’ve been following his warm-up stretching exercises before playing golf. He has other videos available on his YouTube channel as well.

[MaxEntropy]

While we are in our holding pattern, I thought I'd give more details on what my current workouts look like and some insight into my psychology....

About 6 years ago, a gym near us was running a special for memberships. Included was a session with a personal trainer to help develop a workout plan. She had us splitting our workouts into blocks that we could do as much or little of as time permitted. The blocks would entail 5-10 minutes of cardio (bike, treadmill, elliptical, stepper) followed by 3 weight exercises. These weight exercises could be generally categorized as shoulders/arms, core, hips/glutes/legs. She also suggested rotating between the three exercises continuously for 3 sets instead of doing all 3 sets of each exercise back-to-back-to-back (mostly to keep us moving and keep our heart rate elevated). Getting through all the blocks she established would take about an hour and a half, maybe a little longer. I still have a picture of the sheet she created for me on my phone and reference it frequently.

I believe I mentioned in my intro, but just in case, I am not a gym rat and don't like going to the gym (in fact, I rather loath it). I know I need to go, though. I can't normally last more than an hour before I get too bored, so I pick and choose which blocks to do on any given day (also depends on which machines or areas of free weights are available at the time). Pre-pandemic, my wife and I were going to the gym 3 times per week. These days, I'm lucky to make it once per week. I know this needs to change and it will change once we get going on the review. Upon reflection, I suspect much of my attitude towards working out is a result of preferring short-term gratification that things like a goal, hoop, net, base, hole, etc. provide. It is much easier for me to motivate to go to a gym when the results start becoming apparent. Unfortunately, the results just don't come when I don't go as regularly as needed. It's a catch-22: no results = little motivation and little motivation = no results.

Fire away with any questions/comments!

[PJVicary]

On 2/6/2024 at 2:14 AM, PJVicary said:

Hi everyone. My name is Paul Vicary and I am a 73 year old who loves the game as much today as I did when I was introduced to it at the age of 2 1/2. I was born in Ontario and spent time in Vancouver, Pittsburgh (Go Steelers!) and Atlanta before calling calling The Villages here in Central Florida home. 

I have played the game competitively since the age of 12 and at one point was able to get my handicap down to as low as +1. However time has a habit of becoming the great equalizer and I now struggle to keep my handicap in single digits. (Currently playing to a 6)

Having had neck surgery back in 2015 I have found that titanium is much more forgiving in a club head than in two rods screwed into your back. Doctors said I should be happy to just being able play again but i was not satisfied. The competitive juices push me to try and get back to the way things were. 

I want to thank MGS for selecting me and helping to push me to become more fit. My current exercise regime consists of a 15 minute stretching routine before heading out to the course. Like many others I joined a gym and drive by it two to three times a week. I needed accountability and being chosen in this test might just be the answer.

My goal is to go from being less like Izzy Mandelbaum and more like Gilad Janklowicz/ I need to lose weight (20-25 lbs) Increase my stamina so that I can walk 18 holes . I need to build my core strength, range of motion, club head speed and by default feel stronger and hit the ball longer. Easier said than done. I am committed to do what’s necessary and report back to you, my peers how things are progressing. Stay tuned! 

 

[PJVicary]

In final preparation for receiving my app access , I have completed the necessary pre app mental preparation and check list. About to embark in my fitness journey tomorrow February 22nd a historic day for sure, with a trip to the Genesis gym for my first committed work out . While it may be a no more than a walk through combined with assorted stretching exercises I need to start somewhere. A line in the sand; a stake in the dirt. Call it what you will. This overweight guy has to start somewhere. Let the journey begin.  Some may call it baby steps. I call it a walk in the park.

Edited February 21 by PJVicary

[Bucky CC]

Some of you have already mentioned working out at gyms, but are any of the testers going strictly with the home workout aspect of the program?  I've dabbled in Fit for Golf before and Mike really likes cable machines for various pulls and twists.  I tried replicating using resistance bands, but it was always difficult to find something that was stretchy enough to complete the full motion, but strong enough to actually give me a good bit of resistance.

Eager to see how you all get along with the new program.  Good luck!

[ILMgolfnut]

4 hours ago, Bucky CC said:

any of the testers going strictly with the home workout aspect of the program? 

I haven't seen the full program yet, but the home gym GF just bought has cables and she also bought me a set of bands. So I can go either way and still work out at home. Dunno if they're any good (she loves buying stuff on Temu, with all that entails), but we'll see what Mike wants once the new app goes live and I get into the meat of the program.

[berkeleybob]

4 hours ago, Bucky CC said:

Some of you have already mentioned working out at gyms, but are any of the testers going strictly with the home workout aspect of the program?  I've dabbled in Fit for Golf before and Mike really likes cable machines for various pulls and twists.  I tried replicating using resistance bands, but it was always difficult to find something that was stretchy enough to complete the full motion, but strong enough to actually give me a good bit of resistance.

Eager to see how you all get along with the new program.  Good luck!

I’ll be strictly doing a home workout.

[MaxEntropy]

18 hours ago, Bucky CC said:

Some of you have already mentioned working out at gyms, but are any of the testers going strictly with the home workout aspect of the program?  I've dabbled in Fit for Golf before and Mike really likes cable machines for various pulls and twists.  I tried replicating using resistance bands, but it was always difficult to find something that was stretchy enough to complete the full motion, but strong enough to actually give me a good bit of resistance.

Eager to see how you all get along with the new program.  Good luck!

I think I would actually prefer to do most of the stuff at home, but I will have to see what I might need to purchase if I'm going that route. I've seen reference to resistance bands and "adjustable" dumbbells. I have the bands, but may need to buy some of the other stuff.