Best Exercises & Stretches to Improve Your Golf Game

Living in Florida, naturally I took up the game of golf several years ago since it can be played all year long. Unfortunately, I have had a few set backs over the years which resulted in missing some prime time playing. The result was finding some stretches that I could do after having surgery in order to help me get use to swinging clubs again. Since golf can be a great form of exercise, that is if you don't get in the cart and drive right up to your ball every time, there are some things that you can do to help bolster the effects of your game. As with any form of exercise, it is best to do some stretches prior to starting. If you were a runner, you wouldn't start running without stretching your legs, right? If you happen to be a once in a while golfer, like I am, then you have probably experienced some pain the day after playing a round because you're using muscle groups that you probably didn't even consider would be affected. Here are some suggestions for stretches and daily exercises that will help you have a great day on the course and keep you from spending the next day in pain.

At the very least, as a golfer I would assume that you take a few practice swings before you tee off to stretch your arms. I usually held the club over my head, hands at each end, and stretched high to the sky while twisting left and right and bending over to each side. This didn't quite cut it after some some surgery left me sore and tight so I incorporated additional moves and stretches into my daily routine which also helped my golf game, amazingly. I have to admit it, my game was never that good to begin with. The other thing to consider is that you use more abdominal muscles than you realize so incorporating core exercises will not only help you avoid injury, it will help improve your game because you will have a strengthened core which will result in longer drives. So let's first go over some basic stretching exercises you can do everyday, but most importantly, before you tee off.

Here's a few simple ideas you can do at home before heading to the golf course or once you get to the course, so long as you don't do it while others are waiting for you to tee off. Once again, hold your golf club above your head with your arms fully extended and squat until thighs are almost parallel to the ground and repeat ten times. Another great stretching exercise is to stand a club in front of you for support , holding it with both hands placed on top then cross your leg so one ankle rests on top of your opposite knee and do squats until your leg is almost parallel to the ground. Repeat ten times and then switch to the opposite leg and do ten more squats. From this position you can then step back from your club so you can bend the upper half of your body parallel to the ground while your arms are fully extended if front of you, using the club for balance. You can also incorporate a variety of other stretching exercises such as resting a club across the back of your neck and hold both ends of the club while bending forward until parallel with the ground, then stretch side to side and back to where it is comfortable. Do not over-extend your stretches as you don't want to injure yourself.

To get an improved game all year long you want to strengthen your core muscles (your abdominal). Plank exercises will help to accomplish this and here's what you need to do. Lay down on the floor on your stomach and then raise yourself onto your toes and elbows resting your forearms on the floor. If this is too difficult, then you can do these exercises on your hands. You want to hold your body straight and rigid while looking at the floor and hold for at least 10 seconds. Over time you can lengthen the time you hold this position. If you can hold this position then you want to do leg and arm lifts. While in the plank position, raise one leg about 6 inches off the floor for a count of at least five. Make sure to keep your body and leg straight. Repeat this for both legs doing about 10 reps each side. Do the same for each arm and over time this will help strengthen your "core" which will certainly improve in a stronger and straighter drive.