Golf Stretches = A Better Golfswing

If your hamstrings are tight, it is going to wreak havoc on your swing. Golfers are notorious for having tight hamstrings, hips and glutes. Ooops!! These are the muscles that you want to be strong and flexible.

If these muscles are tight, then you will not be able to get into the proper positions in the swing, and as a result will have to make compensations. Not something that you want to start doing. Remember the rule of Cause and Effect? Well whatever happens has an equal and opposit reaction.

For example, if your hamstrings are tight, then your right leg will want to straighten as you coil to the top (Notice how Vijay has kept the flex in hist right knee as he has coiled to the top). If this happens, then you will have to make the necessary adjustment on the downswing. To check if your hamstrings are tight, grab a golf club in each hand and hold them three feet in front of you. This is to help you keep your balance.

With your right leg, take a step back two feet. From here, keeping your legs straight, you went to lower the upper body down as far as you can. If you can't get your upper body parallel to the ground, then you have a problem with your hamstrings. Does for both legs.

If you have tight hamstrings, then I want you to lie on the floor on your back, with one leg on the ground and the other in the air. Wrap a towel round the bottom of your foot and grab each end in your hands. Gradually straighten your leg against the towel and see how far you can go. Hold the stretch for thirty seconds and then repeat for the other side. You should do this twice for each leg and once per day if possible.

This is a great stretch and will soon have those hamstrings loose and you making a better swing in no time.

Fitness Level Up, Golf Scores Down!

Put your hand up if you work on your fitness? Give yourself a patt on the back. Golf Fitness is all about tuning your body to allow it to do what you want in the golf swing. Have you ever considered your body as a 15th golf club? Why not? It is essentially a tool in your bag.

If you are in good shape, then you won't tire as much towards the end of the round, you will also be able to hit the ball longer, better and use less energy. There are PGA tour pros that don't work on their fitness, but they are becoming a rare breed. Spending 15-20 minutes a day working on your fitness is nothing compared to the benefits that you will receive. How about knocking your drive past your playing partners? Or being able to reach that par 5 in two.

There are three main components in

fitness

. You need to combine strength training, stretching and cardio. You need to strengthen and lengthen your muscles when you train. This will prevent injury and improve the range of motion. What is the point in strengthening your legs if you can't even touch your toes. Doing some cardio work e.g. running will make a round of golf feel like a walk in the park, like it should be, rather than a trek across the Himalayas.

One gentleman that has helped my game significantly is

Mike Pedersen

. He deals with golf specific training and knows everything you could possibly want to know about fitness. One of the most frustrating things I find as a teacher is pupils not being able to get into the correct positions because their body won't allow them.

Please, for your golf game's sake, invest some time and effort in your fitness. You will be glad you did. You can visit Mike Pedersen's

Perform Better Golf

site by clicking

here

.

Hit them Long and Straight!