Pre-Golf Exercises Loosen You Up

Golf requires concentration and a relaxed mood – and relaxed muscles. Before a game, the worst thing you can do is to rush to the course, pull your shoes on and dash to the tee with your clubs where your pals are waiting. Do that and you can be sure to make a mess of the first hole – or at least the first shot – and that can affect your mood for the whole game. Don't do it! Here's a simple alternative.

First, give yourself time to arrive at the course, get changed, get your clubs out and have time to just look out at the course, with a sense of expectation of an enjoyable game. Then you need to consider your muscles. What have you been doing beforehand? Getting up, working in the office, lazing at home or ......?

A Few Minutes with Simple Exercises

Chances are that you have not been exercising, and your muscles need warming up and loosening up. Here are some simple exercises that only take a couple of minutes.

1.Arms stretch

Extend one arm straight out, bend the wrist at a right-angle so the palm faces inward, toward your face. Extend the other arm, and bend the wrist the opposite so, so the palm faces inward, away from you. Now, your palms should be overlapping and touching, at arm's length. Push the palms toward each other for a few seconds. Repeat 6-10 times. Then turn the hands the other way and repeat. You can do this still sitting in the car when you arrive at the course if you wish.

2.Stretch upward

Pick any club, and hold one end in the left hand and one in the right, with the club horizontal in front of you. Lift the club up, till your arms are upright or as far as you can go comfortably – then stretch a bit further. Repeat 6-10 times.

3. Rotate

Still holding the club, put it down to the horizontal position, waist high, and rotate it round your body, turning as you do when you swing. Do this 6-10 times as well.

4.Shoulder turn

Now, take the club, still holding it both ends, and place it behind your head across your shoulders – the lower the better. Lean forward and turn right and left, just as you would when swinging the club. Do this 6-10 times, until you feel nice and loose.

5.Half-swings

Now pick up the club – or two or three if you prefer – and swing the club, starting with a very short swing, gradually getting longer until you have a full swing going. Some people prefer to swing two or three clubs together as the extra weight slows them down, which is important when you start off from cold – most of us swing too fast on the first tee.

These exercises, recommended by physiotherapists, will warm up you muscles so you are less likely to strain them, and also you will start off swinging the way you want to.

Hit some balls if time and facilities allow

If you the time and the facilities are available, I recommend hitting a few balls on the practice ground and putting green – start with a wedge, then go to a 6 or 7 iron, and then with the longer clubs, just a few balls for each. Then, putt a few balls – it is best to hit a few of different lengths just to get the feel of the greens.

These exercises will help you enjoy your game more. Have fun – that's what golf is all about!

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