STRETCHING FOR GOOD GOLF

STRETCHING FOR GOOD GOLF

The importance of stretching for your golf game cannot be
stressed enough. Because a good golf swing requires that your body
be in a relaxed, tension-free state, you will want to release some of
that tension before you ever pick up a golf club.

The good news is that these stretching exercises are easy and
only take a few minutes. That means you can effectively stretch right
before you start your round.

For the first exercise, take your driver and place it across your
shoulders. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Wrap your
arms around the club at either end. Bend slightly back stretching your
back muscles. Bend side to side so that you loosen up your side
muscles and shoulders. Bend forward to extend your back.

Next, perform a partial squat with your golf club in hand. Stand
with your feet shoulder width apart and place the club in front of you
holding with both hands for balance. Lower your body by bending at
the knees, not the hips, and raise the club at the same time. Raise
back up and repeat ten times. During this whole stretch, you need to
keep your upper body very erect.

This exercise will increase your blood flow and circulation
throughout your body. This is a great total body warm up to allow
your body to make a relaxed, comfortable first swing. It also
increases the range of motion in your hip which encourages a more
synchronized swing from the ground up.

Finally, you can do a standing rotation twist stretch. Hold a golf
club chest high with the grip at shoulder width apart. While keeping
your feet and hips fairly stable, rotate the club to the right and the
left. Try to breathe out on every turn to release tension. Repeat each
side ten times.

By doing this stretch, you will be preparing specific muscles of the
trunk to make an aggressive move from the first tee on. This also
prepares proper sequencing of the swing while warming muscles. This
exercise will improve body movements during the swing from the
beginning. This way you will not sacrifice strokes on the first couple of
holes.
STRETCHING FOR GOOD GOLF