Stretches Before Golfing

By Penny McGuire

Here's a few quick pre round stretches to get your mind and body ready for a great game!

Stand with your feet hip width and parallel to each other. Take a club, hold each end with each hand behind your back. Positioning your hands shoulder width. Gently swing side to side, relaxing through the hips and all the way up to your shoulders and neck. Imagine all mental and physical distractions moving down your neck, shoulders and arms and leaving out through the ends of the club.

Take a deep breath and as you exhale fold forward bending at the hips, keeping the knees bent, and letting your arms, still holding your club, extend up and over. Imagine (when your shoulders are completely open and relaxed) the club and your hands would touch the floor behind your head.

This combination stretch releases the neck, shoulders, arms, lower back and hamstrings all at once. Having your head below your hips also starts to slow your thoughts and regulate your breathing so you can more easily concentrate on the current moment. On an inhale slowly come all the way back up to standing.

Step the right leg back behind you into a short lunge. Bend the back knee and press the right hip forward and you twist the upper body to the left. You can place your left hand on your lower back and right hand on your left hip to help you rotate. Hold for 3 - 5 breaths then repeat with the left leg back and twisting to the right. This stretch combines opening the hip flexors and abdominals while twisting the torso - great preparation for bringing full range of motion and strength to your swing: the results being a much longer drive!

Try these before you start and even during the round and see instant feedback and results!

The Brent Morrison Golf Academy is located at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, 1025 Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1M5. (250) 752-8786. For more information on instruction programs for adults and juniors, contact the Academy office.

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