" Proper Warm-up for Golfers"

How often have you shown up at the golf course 10 minutes before your tee time. You scurry into the clubhouse, slap down your credit card, hop into the cart and ride to the first tee. You pull the driver out of the bag take a half dozen practice swings while the fairway clears, tee off and you're off on your round. Four holes later and you have two double bogies and a stiff back to show for it. This is an all too common scenario that leads to poor performance and often golf-related pain. Even a recreational golfer needs to realize that golf is a physical sport that requires some of the same skills necessary in other major sports. It requires flexibility, strength, balance, timing and coordination. Even a recreational softball or basketball player will take the time to at least stretch before playing, why should golf be any different. Most learn at an early age that you should warm-up before commencing in physical activities. You are forced to stretch in Physical Education when you are a youth and it continues into all levels of sport. Coaches have caught on in the major sports, however golf instructors have been slower. It is about time that golf catches up to other major sports and starts applying general principles in injury prevention, including proper warm-up techniques. The following are some golf specific exercises that can be incorporated into a warm-up program. Start by showing up at least a half-hour before your tee time to give us time to properly warm-up. You have already committed to 4-5 so consider the additional half-hour as an investment into your round. It is best to stretch a muscle that is already a little warm. So, park you car on the outer limits of the parking lot and walk briskly to the clubhouse. Once there get some range balls and head to the practice tee. Before you ever hit a ball you need to stretch.