Did you ever think that you could improve your golf with some simple golf exercises before your round? Most people get up in the morning looking forward to their round of golf, and do their normal thing. They then get in the cars, drive to the golf course, pull their clubs out of the trunk and head off to register and then on to the tee.
That is their preparation! They then take their first swing and carry on with the round, and then wonder why their game is not getting better, why they seem to find harder the older they get and why they end up with so many injuries these days. Have you never wondered what the pros do before their round? Do you think Tiger drives up (well, is driven up), gets out the limo then strolls to the tee and drives off? Of course not!
Of course, you don't have the facilities that he has, with his private trainer, tutor, masseur, and all the rest that goes with golfing success, but you can sure do better than you do. Golf might not seem a strenuous game to many people - "a good walk spoiled", Mark Twain called it - but he was a writer and not a golfer, and what he didn't realize is that it takes a high level of strength, flexibility and fitness to play at a high level. You have to have a training and fitness regime if you want to be good at the game, and even if you are a rank amateur, you must prepare and warm up if you want to keep playing as long as you can without injury.
Let's rewind the scenario. You get out of bed. No need for push-ups and all that nonsense, but at least have a good breakfast. Your tee time is 10 am so you want some easily digested carbs and a quick energy rush. Some toast and marmalade is fine, and then perhaps some fruit to provide you with energy over the next three or four hours. Cereal is also good, but easily digested like porridge.
Warm up before leaving home. Sit in a chair, back straight, and do a few turns from the waist with your arms straight in front of you (as long as you are not too full of porridge). That will warm up the rotational muscles in your back. Press-ups and touching your toes are not much use to you, but twisting and rotational warm-ups are good.
Pack the car and drive to the club. Get out the car, stretch your arms and then try one or two windmills to loosen up your shoulder joints and muscles. Get your clubs and walk briskly to the office. Don't dawdle - walk briskly, and get the blood pumping. Make sure you have a glucose or energy drink with you to top up during the round.
Now you head off to the practice range for a few drives. I didn't mention that, did I? But that is what the pros do, and is what you must do if you want to improve your game, and want to keep playing as long as you can. If your golf club range needs to be booked, then book it for about 15 minutes before your round. That's all you need. Have a few practice swings on the practice range, and then try a few drives. Practice some chips if you want, but the objective is to loosen up, so that when you hit the tee you are at peak flexibility.
More injuries are caused through cold and tight muscles suddenly being asked to explode into action, that any other cause. Now is the time for a couple of back bends to touch your toes and loosen up your back muscles.
When you get to the tee, have a few practice swings again, and then blast that ball three hundred yards down the fairway without turning a hair, because you will have conditioned yourself properly to start your round of golf.
A few simple golf exercises make all the difference before your round of golf, and if you get into the habit, then you can improve your golf and your game will get better and better because you will suffer fewer injuries.
