When we look at golf, we might not believe it’s as physically demanding as some other sports, such as football or cricket. This is true to some extent, we don’t exert ourselves quite as much while we’re on the course; but this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take the time to warm up first.
Golf is often about endurance; after all, we spend a lot of our time walking the course, which can be extra demanding on a hot day. On top of this, taking a swing often involves using multiple muscles at a time, increasing the chance of tearing or straining one, which can end your golf game there and then until the muscle has had enough time to heal.
Warming up is important, and allows our bodies to be adequately prepared for a long day on the greens. Any professional sportsman will attest to the danger of not being prepared physically – it’s so important in some circles that it can affect AFL betting odds. These 5 warming up exercises can save you a torn muscle and give you peak performance on the course.
1. Arrive Early
It may seem simple, but getting to the course early is important. It means giving yourself enough time to have check through the golf shop, use the restroom, change your clothing for the day, and maybe catch up with other players.
Being relaxed and taking things slowly is vital, and arriving late and stressing about losing precious time is a good way of cramping up your muscles before you even start playing.
2. Start With The Putting Green
Putting makes up almost half of the time you spend on a golf course, and learning to put means having patience as well as full control of your body. Warming up on the greens allows you to start out by taking things slow, as well as getting to grips with the speed of the greens.
Start off by doing some small putting shots, slowly working farther from the hole before you fee comfortable enough to move on.
3. Stretching For The Full Swing
Stretching makes a huge difference, even if some people believe it has no value.
Experts believe that stretching before physical activity such as golf can improve your range of motion by up to 20 per cent. It’s also proven to help with joint pain, which can put a strain on you while taking full swings.
4. Use The Practice Tee For Full Swing Warm Up
The short tee is perfect for all shots on the range. This helps with ball control, and starting with wedge shots is the best way to start off. Start off by hitting at least ten wedge shots, before moving from the short irons to the long irons and then the woods.
Make sure to have stretched before taking long swings, and finding the right balance. Then it’s just a matter of taking the last club you use for the first tee of your game.
