3 warm-up stretches for golfers
Golf is a well-loved sport that is played around the world. It's an effective form of exercise for building your cardiovascular and muscular fitness, as well as your coordination and flexibility. However, as with any form of exercise, golf comes with a risk of muscle strains and joint injuries Stretching is important for golfers to enhance flexibility, improve swing and prevent injuries; a limber body leads to a fluid swing and better golf performance
To help you get started, here are three warm-up stretches for those of you who are keen golfers.
Shoulder stretch
You use your shoulders a lot in golf, which is why it is important to stretch the muscles around your shoulder joints. With flexible and mobile shoulders, you’ll be able to rotate properly for a better swing.
To perform this stretch, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Take hold of your golf club with a hand at each end, palms facing down (overhand grip). Slowly raise the golf club up and over your head, keeping your elbows straight. Move your hands back further behind you so that you feel a stretch across your shoulders. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 3 times.
Hamstring stretch
You’ll also need to stretch your lower body as a golfer because you’ll be using your legs to gain power and momentum in your swings. The hamstring stretch helps keep your lower body nice and flexible so you can gain a decent amount of movement with every swing.
To perform the hamstring stretch, sit on the ground with your legs extended straight out in front of you. Reach forward and try to touch your toes (or as far as is comfortable for you). Hold for 15-20 seconds. You can also perform a version of this stretch standing. Lace your fingers together behind your back, hinge at the hips and bend forward keeping you back straight, moving your hands over your head and towards the ground. You should feel this stretch in your shoulders and hamstrings.
Hip flexor stretch
The hip flexor stretch helps to loosen up the muscles in your hips, which will help you to make a full hip turn when swinging the golf club.
To do this stretch, adopt a lunging position with one knee bent at 90 degrees and the other on the floor. Place your hands on your front knee or extend them above your head. Gently lean forward until you feel a stretch in your back hip and hold for 15-20 seconds before repeating on the other side.