By following the important steps below you will improve your flexibility and golf and lengthen your drive.
Golfers have finally understood the important of flexibility, but many don't do it.. The more range of motion you have, the better your backswing and the more power you can transfer from your body to the clubhead and hence through to the ball.
You must not overstretch, however, and the frequency and type of the exercises have yet to be universally agreed. Although daily stretching exercises provide best results, you must consult your doctor regarding any problems with your joints or muscles. Such limitations may affect the frequency and character of your exercises.
As you get older, your range of motion deteriorates. Well, you would expect that, wouldn’t you. However, don’t worry, because the advice below will help you to improve your golf specific flexibility and start playing your best golf.
Cold muscles respond badly to sudden exercise and stretching. You should warm up slowly and rhythmically to get your blood circulating: walking or riding a bicycle for 5 or 10 minutes should do to warm up.
You should do some stretching after warming up to reduce the chance of injuring yourself during the flexibility exercises. If you also stretch after you play, you will avoid soreness and stiffness by helping your muscles relax, improving the circulation to your joints and removing waste products.
You will find you get the best results in range of motion if you do static stretching just after your cardiovascular program, when your core temperature is at its highest, and during or after your strength-training program.
You should also stretch before playing golf. If you want to perform to the best of your ability, you must carry out active or dynamic stretching exercises prior to your round. Make sure you warm up first – raising your core body temperature helps you to avoid injury while exercising. Walking briskly from your car to the practice range is a good way to do it.
The critical areas of your body are your shoulder joint, your hamstrings and your lower back. You can prepare for an aggressive swing on the first tee with arm crosses and circles. Touching your toes with slightly bent knees will loosen up your lower back and prepare your hamstrings for the swing.
You’ve finished your round and are heading for the clubhouse? Whoa right there! You need to spend 5 minutes on some static stretches. This is a crucial part of your flexibility training which prevents any soreness or tightness.
Consistent stretching exercises of the hamstrings, hips, lower back and shoulders, will enable you to play every day without residual effects on your flexibility.
In strength-training sets you work one muscle at a time. You improve your functional flexibility by stretching that muscle during each set. This maintains and improves the full range of motion during the recovery period.
When your strength-training exercises are complete, you will have stretched each muscle involved without needing extra time. It is a very time efficient method that will get you great improvements.
Are you afraid that strength training will cause you to lose your flexibility? No worries. This type of flex exercises during strength training will ease your mind, since you can maintain your full range of motion while improving your strength.
Through the application of all of the above principles you will improve your flexibility specific for golf and ultimately your whole golf game!
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If you don't know where to begin, and you need specific guidance, take a look at Mike Pedersen's Flexibility For Golf Ebook. With dozens of golf-specific flexibility exercises and programs, you will no longer wonder if you are doing the right stretches for your golf swing.
Mike Pedersen
Flexibility For Golf Professional
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Mike Pedersen is the creator of the "Power Golf Training Online Membership - What Every Golfer Should Know About How To Hit Longer Drives And Play Pain-Free Golf", and has taught thousands of golfers how to add up to 40 yards to their drives.