Lowering one’s golf handicap especially if you are a casual weekend golfer earns bragging rights on Mondays. But before a weekend warrior tees up on that first tee it may be wise to do a little golf preparation. What I mean by that is to get yourself in golf shape through exercise. Even professional golfers today take exercise seriously because they know that today’s golfers are stronger physically. Some work as hard off the golf course as they do on the golf course. Just take a look at the new generation of professional golfers the next time you plop down in front of the TV.
If you are a weekend golfer and every Saturday you tee up your ball without doing some minimal stretching you may be heading for trouble. Sand traps and high rough won’t be the worst case scenario for you. If your muscles are not properly warmed up you’re going to feel the aches in your lower back and more. Your quad muscles may tighten. Your swing may not have the full extension. You’re looking at trouble and it won’t be a water hazard. Try coming back the next day and doing a full eighteen holes. Sooner or later your body will break down.
So how does the weekend golfer avoid injury? It starts off the golf course. Strengthen the core muscles and lower body with exercises that concentrate on these areas. Seek the advise of a personal trainer at your gym. If you do not go to a gym you should still seek professional advise. Personal trainers make house calls. Look for and buy quality fitness equipment you can work with in your home. Look for exercise videos online. There are online fitness stores that carry both exercise equipment and instructional DVDS. Balance fitness products, resistance training products as well as strength training products are all available for the home market.
With a golf swing, your body goes through a series of positions. These include rotation, forward flexion, and extension. It is extremely important to warm up properly before you take your first practice swing at the first tee. If you rather prepare at home and not spend money on a personal trainer, buy a few pieces of home exercise equipment you can use on your own. Purchase a dumbbell or a kettlebell. Both are great for strength training. If you use a kettlebell, start with a slight bend at the knees, slowly swing the kettlebell right and left for an easy rotation of your spine. And remember you don’t need a heavy weight here. Make sure you keep your abs engaged for support.
Resistance bands come in various resistance levels. These bands are extremely affordable and are easier to move in a fluid motion from one exercise to the next than if you were to use a heavy weight such as a kettllebell. Begin by using a light resistant band and do more reps. Resistance band fitness is really strength training. You can use the bands for a total body workout. They are versatile and portable so if you go on a golf vacation they are easily packed.
A good golf swing relies on good balance. Balance pods, balance boards, even balance pads all provide help in keeping you in balance fitness shape. Senior golfers can benefit from balance exercises. Balance training using a foam balance pad at home is one way to exercise. Step on the pad with one leg and come off and repeat with your other leg. Try holding your position on the pad a second or two. Repeat these steps to develop lower leg strength. Balance training boards are another good tool to strengthen the lower body, but with this it may be best to hold onto a secure object at first. Why the board? Look how good a skateboarder’s balance is. Now imagine your golf swing.
Golfers turn to balance board fitness to help stabilize their golf swing. Look for foam balance training products at an online fitness store if sport training is important to you.
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