As golfers look for that elusive elixir to improve their game—be it the newest driver or putter to hit the market—many recreational players are looking  into the mirror and working to improve their physical conditioning and strength in order to achieve a better game.

Golf fitness is one of those areas that has increased in awareness and popularity over the last decade plus, driven in large part by the role that the improved fitness level on the professional tours has played in those players ability to hit it longer, shoot lower scores and competes at an increasingly high level for longer periods of time.

For recreational players, the ability to play better and play more, avoid injury and feel better at the end of a day on the course is being driven by an increased awareness of the need to not only practice on the driving range, but to spend time in the gym as well.

Given the time constraints of today’s fast-pace world, the ability to achieve the necessary cardiovascular and strengthening workout in as little time as possible is of paramount importance as never before.  Now, a simple centuries- old training device combined with some 21^st century techniques are coming together to form one of the best golf workouts available—and you can see some dramatic results in as little as 20 minutes, three times a week. It is a complete golf workout program as it builds stability and the strength to move functionally in more than one dimension as is the case with machines.

Kettle Worx™, is a Minnesota-based company that is making some serious in roads into the fitness arena and has built an excellent program around the cannon-ball-shaped iron weight with a handle attached called a kettlebell that has been used in many gyms and by personal trainers over the past few years with increasing popularity.  The kettlebell was first developed by Russian strongmen in the early 1700’s as a way to build strength, balance, flexibility and endurance.  If this sounds familiar, that is what most golf-specific training programs are out to achieve today.

These days, many kettlebell themed fitness classes are popping up across the country to promote all body workouts that are one of the most efficient and effective workouts available. Professional athletes such as Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and cyclist Lance Armstrong are now using kettlebell workouts

“It’s great because it brings cardio and strength training together in one quick exercise,” said Michael Shade, kettlebell instructor at Sports Club/LA in Miami.  “Instead of lifting weights for half an hour and doing the treadmill for another half hour, you can get everything done with kettlebells in 20 minutes.”

The Kettle Worx program accomplishes this in spades.  With as little as one weight and several of their DVD training programs, you pretty much have a complete, versatile workout regimen that can be performed in front of your TV or computer in your own home.

These expertly produced videos by Jimmy Clark at Kettle Worx are about as close as you can get to having a class taught by a world-class instructor at your disposal.  They are filmed at an easy one-on-one pace even for beginners, but more advanced exercisers will find these workouts challenging as the six-week program ramps it up each week as you improve your level of fitness.

These DVD’s feature Toronto-based fitness trainer Ryan Shanahan, a former hockey player,  who has established a reputation as one of the top trainers for celebrities who want to get in shape quickly and efficiently.  His enthusiasm for the workouts and the results is evident, but he is just as adept at explaining the details of each of the 200 exercises and 36 individual workouts in the 12 hours available in the Kettle Worx DVD catalogue.

Even though much of the emphasis in the program is about weight loss and losing inches—the exercises in the three basic DVD’s—Cardio, Resistance and Core--are some of the best methods for building greater strength in those muscles groups that are key to the golf game. Another outstanding feature is the 64-page e-book healthy eating guide that is included on the introduction DVD that features some outstanding nutritional information, recipes, meal plans, suggestions and work sheets to go along with the 42-day, six week body transformation program.

In addition to the basic three DVD’s, Kettle Worx also offers some excellent 10-minute mini-workouts that accent certain muscle groups such as arms and shoulders, legs and thighs and chest and back. The kettlebells themselves can be ordered in four different weights—5, 10, 15 and 20-pounds.

For more information: www.KettleWorx.com