It’s crazy how fast a game of golf can turn around. All it takes is a hole in one or an under-par hole to fix your score.
On the other hand, one wrong move can mess up your whole game. This isn’t always in terms of your score, either.
Imagine setting up to hit the first swing on a new hole only to hurt your back, or not being able to put your best shot because you have pain in your wrist.
These are just a few reasons why it’s so important to make golf stretches a part of your routine. A few simple movements before stepping out on the course can transform your whole game.
Here are 4 stretches for golf you should do every time you’re about to play.
1. Hamstring Stretch
Golf is all about the swing, but the best swings are a combination of upper and lower body strength. As such, you need to give your legs just as much love and care as you do your back and shoulders, particularly in your hamstrings.
One of the best ways to stretch this muscle is to do a forward fold. You can bend your knees slightly if you’re not too flexible in order to get more of a release. It helps to step your feet apart a bit instead of having them touch, and, this stretch actually releases tension in your lower back, too.
2. Back Stretch
Speaking of releasing back tension, try getting on the ground and doing a twist. Lay on your back and twist one leg over the other, and then look to the opposite side. So, if you’re twisting your right leg toward the left, you want to face the right with your arms sticking straight out like a letter “T.”
You should immediately feel the stretch in your spine even if your knee doesn’t touch the ground. You might even get a nice little crack out of this stretch.
3. Shoulder Stretch
Once the back is warmed up a bit, you can focus on the shoulders. Stand up and find a flat wall to lean up against (not a textured brick or round column).
Face the wall and stick one of your arms out to the side so it’s perpendicular to the rest of your body. Stand as close to the wall as possible and place your arm and palm flatly against the wall. Then, turn your head to the opposite side and start to lean back a bit to put pressure on the arm on the wall.
Repeat on the other side, and then do some circles with your shoulders in both directions (clockwise and counterclockwise).
4. Wrist Stretch
The final stretch worth doing before a round of golf is a wrist stretch.
This is the easiest one on the list. All you have to do is hold one hand out in front of you with the palm facing up. Then, turn your fingers down toward the ground with your palm still up, and use your other hand to push your fingers in your direction. Push gently at first, and then build up more pressure for a deeper stretch.
More Golf Stretches and Other Things to Improve Your Game
It’s incredible how much your game improves when you start making golf stretches a part of your routine. Usually, it’s small adjustments like this that make the biggest difference.