Rory McIlroy….... body builder or athlete?

There has been a bit of a social media frenzy this week surrounding Rory McIlroy and the amount of work and weight lifting that he has been doing in the gym.

Golf Channel analyst, Brandel Chamblee voiced concerns on Twitter over McIlroy’s “extensive weightlifting” and taking the same path as Tiger Woods; who we all know has suffered in recent years with knee and back injuries as well as multiple surgeries which are currently preventing him from competing.

Rory quickly responded to the comments, posting a video on Twitter of him back squatting some 120kg in the gym. Support for Rory’s ‘lifting’ and ‘squatting’ was then shown from Gary Player; renowned fitness fanatic, as well as several respected strength & conditioning coaches working within the sport of golf.

So does Chamblee have real cause for concern? Could McIlroy really be doing more harm than good and potentially face injuries like Tiger, later in his career?

Well scientific research, studies and S&C/fitness coaches would disagree.

Chamblee like others who do not have suitable knowledge of strength training, associate the lifting of heavy weights with body building and bulking up muscle. This is not wrong and is a part of lifting weights; but weightlifting is also used to develop strength (without the muscle bulk), which is then used to develop power and speed. All of which are key physical attributes required for high athletic performance in sports.

Look at 100m sprinters, tennis players and cricketers; all these athletes require strength, power and speed to ensure optimum performance within their sport. They all lift weights to gain strength, and golfers should be no different.

Strength training has been proven in multiple studies to increase distance, rotational trunk power and club head velocity. McIlroy amongst others who work hard in the gym (Dustin Johnson, Jason Day to name a few) are all great examples of athletes and amongst the top ranked golfers in the world as well as the biggest hitters, this is no coincidence.

Obviously these guys also have great golf swings and amazing short games and I am not saying that if you hit the gym you will become a top ranked touring professional. But getting fitter and stronger in the gym can only be a benefit to your game and put you at an advantage?!

I don’t suggest that everyone hits the gym this weekend and attempts to back squat 100kg, like Rory we all have to start somewhere. So for you this may be just improving the balance and stability of your lunge, getting lower in your squats, increasing the number of good form push ups you can do and finally being able to do those wide arm pull ups. Find your starting point and build from there – safely and progressively.

Story has it that Rory initially took up strength training to help resolve his lower back pain (another huge benefit to strength training - reducing your risk of injuries) and then as he saw the benefits of the control and stability that he had gained in his golf swing, this then had to become a definitive part of his training, approach and lifestyle so that he could become the best golfer he could be.

It has helped him transform his game, his image, his confidence and his health; and contributed to him already becoming one of the greatest golfers and athletes of his time.