Stretches for improving your golf game

Though many normal activities are not happening right now, the golf world is still very much alive. Some may see golf as a leisure sport, which is hard to argue against. Socializing and driving a motorized cart doesn’t exactly spell out athleticism — at first glance. However, it is important to understand that the golf swing places extreme forces on the body, even if it lasts only between three and five seconds. Over the course of a round, this force can add up and, if not taken care of properly, can lead to aches, pains and injuries.

After winning the 2019 Masters Tournament, Tiger Woods described his intense workout and pre-round warm-up routine. “I’ll wake up around 4 a.m., maybe 3:45 a.m. [to] start the process of getting this body ready and get after it,” he said.

If Tiger Woods is waking up that early to get his body warmed up for 18 holes, I imagine it would be good for amateurs to take notes. 3:45am is a bit extreme for the average person, but a proper warm-up — and cool down — is essential to anyone who wants to find success and be pain-free on the golf course.

Dr. Ben Langdown with the Titleist Performance Institute conducted a study on proper stretching and warm-ups prior to a round of golf and the effect stretching has on the golf swing. There were 3 groups in his study – control (no warm-up), dynamic stretching group and a group that used resistance bands. His study concluded that the dynamic stretching and resistance bands groups increased ball speed and carry distance for the average golfer. If nothing else than simply maximizing distance, a good warm-up with proper stretching is vital.

Proper stretching is beneficial to the body in many ways, from the warm-up to the cool down. Golfers should not only stretch before a game, but after one, too. Recovering from the force that a golf swing places on the body must be an ongoing part of your routine. Otherwise, you will only reap half the benefits that stretching can give. It allows the body to bounce back from stasis (such as sleeping or lack of movement) or recover after a day’s game.So, what are some good stretches you can do to stay in optimal shape? Here are some that I recommend my clients: