Golf just involves walking around, taking a swing, watching the ball, repeat. Well, that’s how it seems like for some people. But truthfully, golf isn’t quite simple. A swing takes much strength out of your body. Despite not requiring a good build to participate, golf is an athletic sport that isn’t to be taken lightly. Here are some exercises you could do to help you become better at the sport.
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The Focus of Pressure: The Spine
The spine, particularly the lumbar spine, receives the focal point of every swing’s pressure. Professional golfers still experience compression of the spine after every perfect swing. Amateur golfers also experience some shearing when they squat and run, should these be needed.
On average, professional golfers could take around 2,000 swings weekly. No warmup means an increase in potential damage.
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Improving the Swing Mechanics
Swing optimization focuses on improving your swing strength and form without placing much pressure on your spine and lower back. Even professional golfers may commit form and swing technique errors, which causes the likelihood of injuring and damaging the spine due to incorrect muscle compensation patterns.
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Strength-Training
Improving the capability of your trunk and lower bank involves having a routine exercise aimed to strengthen your trunk rotation. It also involves specific training for the upper body, trunk and lower body. Cardiovascular conditioning can also help, especially if you’re about to play in the heat or in extreme cold.
Try these:
EXERCISE | Set #1 | Set #2 | Set #3 |
Bird Dog – 10 reps – 10 sec holds | |||
Side Plank – 10 sec holds | |||
Front Plank – 10 sec holds |
EXERCISE | Set #1 | Set #2 | Set #3 |
Hang Twist – 15 reps | XX | ||
Lunge Twist – 15 reps | XX | ||
Prone Twist – 15 reps | XX | ||
Roman Twist – 20-25 reps | XX | ||
Russian Twist – 20-25 reps | XX | ||
Lat Pulldown – 4-6 reps |
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Record Your Results
Always record your results and measure your performance. Once you have enough strength and capability to perform all these exercises without trouble, increase your performance sets to ensure your trunk’s strength is well-maintained and your spine is preserved.