One of the greatest differences between professional and amateur players and therefore the injuries sustained by each group, is the importance given to warming up before play. The average tour player spends at least 45 minutes on warming up before play.
Golf is a sport. In no other sport do participants simply pick up their equipment and start to play.
When do you feel you really start striking the ball well in your game? The third hole? The fourth?
Well…..consider these holes YOUR warm up! Imagine what it can do for your score by spending just 10 minutes BEFORE you play getting that body of yours ready for the game.
Did you know that warming up for at least 10 minutes before you play can increase your distance by 10%?
Try this simple warm up before you play.
- In your Address position, hinge forward from the hips and allow your arms to hang from your shoulders
- INHALE and swing your right arm into your backswing position while keeping your hips facing forward.
- Take your arm back as far as keeping your hips facing forward will allow. You will notice that your arm will go further with each repetition! PAUSE for a brief moment at the top range of your stretch.
- EXHALE and swing your arm down through the IMPACT ZONE and into a partial follow thru, all the while keeping your head still.
* As you progress, do a full follow-through allowing your hips to turn towards the intended (imaginary) target.
KEY POINTS: BREATHING – KEEPING YOUR HEAD AND HIPS STILL – MAKE THIS A CONTROLLED MOTION
BENEFITS TO YOUR GAME:
- Breathing will help establish tempo in your swing and the oxygen will give you a quick burst of energy
- Warming up your shoulders will help prevent injury
- Taking your backswing FAR beyond where it needs to go will really loosen those lower back muscles and they will not strain as easily when you are swinging
Keeping the hips still and facing forward promotes the separation between lower and upper body for maximum coil, X factor = distance!
Contact me for advice on a proper warm-up routine.