Golf Exercises

The golf swing has many moving parts - arms, wrists, and legs all attempting to stay connected to impact the golf ball successfully. In tandem with proper golf instruction, one of the ways to improve your golf game is to improve flexibility. Stretching exercises really help to keep your "golf" muscles loose, and this will also lengthen your golf swing, which will improve your golf shot distance.

There are three areas every golfer needs to stretch:

1. Back Stretches for Golf

The game of golf is sometimes taxing on a person's lower back. This is especially true when 1) leg muscles are tight and 2) when a golfer swings the golf club using only their upper body. To alleviate these, try adding a side-step drill to your exercise routine: Step sideways moving from your right foot to your left foot to stretch the inside muscles of your legs. Just like it's suggested that you lift a heavy object using your legs, the same advice applies to a golf swing.

To loosen up your lower back and prepare it for a round of golf, carefully stretch from side to side. Then, bend forward and reach for your toes. Hold these stretches and repeat until you feel the tightness being relieved.

2. Hip Stretches for Golf

If you have hip mobility issues on the links, try this simple stretch before you tee off: Get down on one knee, with the other foot flat on the floor in front of you. Then ease yourself forward and feel the stretch in the hip and quad that's resting on the floor. Switch sides, and repeat as necessary.

3. Shoulder Stretches for Golf

Is lack of shoulder mobility holding you back from achieving a powerful swing? Pull one arm across your chest using the opposite hand. Hold for a few seconds and switch sides. For a deeper stretch, try this one before you leave your room for the day: lay on the bed face-down with both of your arms across your chest. Hold for 30 seconds, and then swap arms (the arm that's above the other will feel the most stretch).