This winter has been hard on many of us as many of the activities we have done in the past were not available. Many of you missed being able to travel to play golf . We missed hitting ball at the Dome this winter and it is likely that a large majority of us have been more inactive than we would have liked. This lack of movement during the winter months is one of many contributing factors that can increase chance of injury during the golf season. If you become injured, you can’t golf at your best. So, why not prepare beforehand? There are numerous exercises that can be done to prepare both your upper and lower body and core strength, but more importantly, just get moving. In the weeks to months before the golf season opens, walking, cycling or any form of exercise can be beneficial to your body. By being active, you are preparing the muscles and tissues in your body for some of the motions you will perform on the course.
It’s no secret that flexibility is one of the most important factors when it comes success in golf We went and tried out virtual golf and didn’t know why our shoulders and back were sore. Tightness in the shoulders, back, hips and legs restricts the extension of the club as you swing. Improve your flexibility by doing the following stretches now and also prior to playing your round. Stretch your arm muscles by holding one arm straight out in front of you, palm up. Take your other hand and put it on the palm of the outstretched hand. Gently push the bottom palm down so your fingers are pointing toward the ground. Stretch your back by standing up straight and bringing your left arm over your head with the elbow bent so the left hand is behind your head. Grab that elbow with your other hand and tug it toward the right. Or grasp a golf club with your hands about 24 inches apart. Hold the club straight out in front of you at chest level. Stand with your knees slightly bent. Swing your arms and club to the right and then to the left, keeping your arms parallel to the floor at chest level, without turning your chest and head. . In addition to stretching before and after your regular workouts, consider adding yoga to your exercise repertoire,
There are also many training aides on the market which can help you get your game in shape before heading out to the links. It is always good to start with your short game and what’s better than putting teaching aides, or if you are like Edie and Mike, have your own outdoor putting green? Check out Lisa’s video in this regard it is very informative and always great to watch, she is inspiring.
Don’t forget to warm up before heading out to play. Go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls – but don’t overdo it! Before you swing the club for the first time, perform a warmup routine consisting of upper and lower body movements, as well as trunk rotations from side to side to mimic a golf swing. Perform this same routine each time before you play a round.
It can be difficult to get back into the swing of things after a long winter but maybe next year we will be able to hit balls again at the dome. Also there are plans for a new indoor golf experience LaunchPad. Golf entertainment complexes can make it fun and easy to shake the rust off your swing. Plenty of practice before you’re out on the course can go a long way … and it can be fun, too! We all love to have a wine and a snack when we hit balls so if it doesn’t go too well your first time out, you can always blame it on the wine.