Since joining forces with Scott Stallings on the PGA Tour, my mission has been to bridge the gap between fitness and golf for the masses. The challenge of launching a golf-tailored fitness program within a CrossFit®-driven brand is educating people that we are not doing CrossFit®.

Training for golf is very different from training for CrossFit®

While there are ways to make the program feel similar in format and terminology to help everyday or weekend golfers, the overall goals are very different. If playing golf is a priority in your life, HWPO GOLF is built for you.

Whether you're a passionate golfer looking to get in shape and increase club and ball speed, or an athlete looking to build on your current strength while focusing on a sport you love, HWPO GOLF is the perfect program. You can get healthier and fitter while getting stronger for your specific sport, and that’s where we find our success.

If you're struggling to decide on your training path, ask yourself: “What is my goal?” or “Where in my life do I want to see improvement?” Specific goals are the key to finding a program you'll stick with and see results from.

I’ve competed at a high level in both CrossFit® and golf. I participated in two CrossFit Games (third in the team division in 2017, ninth in the 35-39 division in 2022), five regional appearances, and three semifinal appearances. Before CrossFit®, I played college golf, and at each stage of my life, I trained specifically to be the best I could be at my sport—whether it was on the gym floor or the golf course.

I’m fortunate to work with Stallings

Scott has achieved longevity on the PGA Tour with three wins, a Tour Championship appearance, and 31 top-10 finishes. His success is no accident — it comes from hard work, commitment, and doing everything possible to gain an edge, including training for golf both inside and outside the gym. But does Scott train with CrossFit®? No.

Training for golf vs. CrossFit® has clear differences. There are countless movements in CrossFit® we don’t touch when training for golf, and vice versa. As golfers, we need to improve t-spine and hip mobility, swing speed, and ball speed. When those areas improve, we see the ball go farther and our general fitness improve. With better mobility comes better power and rotational speed, and we need strong legs, glutes, and core stability to create that power.

Golfers also need balanced strength on both sides of the body. We train to create lateral movement and use the ground for force, not just square up to a target like in CrossFit®. This is where trunk strength meets upper body strength, and combining pulling and pushing exercises helps develop core stability and anti-rotational strength.

A strong body is built on a strong core

That core wraps from front to back. Conditioning is also important for golfers! Stallings walks about 80 miles during a typical PGA Tour week, and at Augusta for the Masters, it’s closer to 120 miles. To condition golfers, we use interval-based training with short bursts of power and intentional rest. This might involve bodyweight movements paired with rotational and lateral exercises, or light weight movements that can be scaled to the golfer’s ability.

For us occasional golfers, walking 18 holes consistently requires conditioning. Maintaining longevity in our swing throughout the round and making our best swings consistently means we must be conditioned as athletes. It’s great to increase club and ball speed, but if you can’t sustain that speed for 18 holes, what’s the point? Consistency in training is key to success—with consistency comes success!

Pairing strength with conditioning is crucial for overall fitness and improving sport-specific movements. You don’t have to crush yourself daily to see results. In fact, finding a rhythm and making your training fun and sustainable will allow you to stay consistent. Why not improve both on the golf course and in how you look and feel?

At the end of the day, where do your goals outside the gym align with your goals inside the gym? Incorporate both, stay focused and consistent, and you will see the results.