We’re not going to entertain the debate whether strength-training is beneficial for golf. In short, it is – big time. Literally thousands of trainers, golf coaches and elite players will tell you that the gains in golf performance as a result of getting stronger in the gym aren’t speculative. There are too many metrics that prove it.

While mobility and stability are two areas of fitness golfers can’t ignore, two others, strength and power, often get shorted when it comes to allocating gym time. If you want to adjust, Golf Digest Certified Fitness Trainer Steve Evans has three great exercises for you to incorporate into your routine. However, and this is a big however, form is everything when it comes to reaping their benefits. Don’t worry, he’ll explain all three correctly and give you a few pointers of things to avoid. He just wants to make sure you get them right, even if it means starting with lighter weights or virtually no weight at all.

“I chose these exercises because while they focus on helping improve golf performance by making you stronger, they also have other benefits for golfers such as improved mobility, stability and injury prevention,” Evans says.

Barbell overhead squats

Benefits: Improves mobility of ankles, hips, spine and shoulders; strengthens legs, hips, upper back, core and shoulders.

Common errors: “I see lifters with weight too far forward in their feet,” Evans says. “Also, there’s a lack of engagement with the hips and upper back, and the path the bar takes up and down is not kept in line with the middle of the foot, it sways forward or back.”

Snatch-grip Romanian deadlifts

Benefits: Strengthens hamstrings, glutes, low back, lats, traps and grip.

Common errors: “Just like the squats, the lifter has his weight too forward in the feet,” Evans says. “Also, there is a lack of engagement with the hips and upper back. It’s too arm dominant. And also the path of the bar doesn’t stay in line with the mid-foot.”

Kettlebell reaching planks

Benefits: Develops anti-rotation and anti-extension specific core strength.

Common errors: “I see a lack of engagement with hips, lats and abs,” Evans says. “Also, there’s a lack of stillness in the hips during movement. They tend to tilt.”