Golf Core Exercises

Here are some of the best golf core exercises I have used in the past 30 years of playing golf.

The older we get the more important it is to warm up before playing golf and for golfers it is important to target the core muscles to add flexibility (and potentially more yards through a greater coil) and avoid against injury.

Golf stretches for your core muscles

Stretch your core muscles:

Your "core" is, very basically, his midsection - all the muscles, bones and ligaments from above the knees to below the chest

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and fold your arms across your chest .
• Bend your knees and lean forward slightly .
• Rotate your trunk in your backswing motion .
• Continue from the top of your backswing position to your follow-through.
• At home, you may want to try this stretch in front of a mirror to check the different positions of your swing.
• The importance of golf stretches

Golf stretches can help prepare you for a day on the course. These golf stretches may help promote a fluid, full golf swing, which can improve your performance.

 Before you start your golf stretches, warm up with five to 10 minutes of light activity, such as walking around the practice tee. If you have time, complete the full series of golf stretches outlined here.

Hold each stretch for about 10 seconds. Repeat three to five times. Do one set of golf stretches every day and another set before and after each round of golf. Keep stretching gentle. Don't bounce. If you feel pain, you've stretched too far.

Golf stretches for your quadriceps

Start off your golf stretches by first stretching your quadriceps, which are the muscles in the front of your thighs:

• Stand with your back to a chair or bench and cross your arms over your chest. Place your left foot on the chair or bench (image 1). You can use a chair with a lower seat than the one shown here.
• Keep your left knee even with or behind your right knee. Tighten your left buttock muscles. You'll feel a stretch in the front of your left thigh.
• To mimic your back swing, rotate your shoulders and torso to the right and bend your left shoulder and trunk slightly toward the ground
• Repeat the stretch on the opposite side.

Golf stretches for your back

Next, stretch your back muscles:

• Stand with your feet apart, facing the back of a chair.
• Grasp the back of the chair with your hands.
• Holding on to the chair and keeping your spine straight, move your body down and away from your hands until you feel a stretch near both armpits.

Golf stretches for your hamstrings

Now move on to your hamstrings, which are the muscles in the back of your thighs:

• Hold your golf club behind your shoulders. Stand next to a step, low table or tee bench. Put your right foot on the step and bend your right knee slightly .
• Bend your upper body forward at your hips, keeping your spine straight until you feel a comfortable stretch in the back of your right thigh.
• Maintain this stretch while rotating your back and shoulders to the left and to the right.
• Repeat the stretch on the opposite side.

Golf stretches for your hips while seated

You can stretch your hips several ways. Try this seated stretch first:

• Sit on a chair, low table or tee bench. Place your right ankle on top of your left thigh .
• Push down on your right knee with your right forearm. Then lean forward at your waist until you feel a gentle stretch in your right hip.
• Repeat the stretch on the opposite side.

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Golf stretches for your hips and back

Then try this hip and back stretch:

• Sit on a chair, low table or tee bench. Place your right ankle on top of your left thigh. Raise your right knee and grasp it with your left hand .
• Keeping your spine straight, pull your right knee up toward your left shoulder. You'll feel a stretch in your right buttock.
• Mimic the position of your right hip when you're at the top of your back swing by turning your shoulders to the right .
• Repeat the stretch on the opposite side.

Golf stretches for your front hip muscles

Here's a final hip stretch:

• Kneel on your right knee, holding your golf club with your right hand. Place your left foot in front of you, bending your knee. Place your left hand on your left leg for stability (image 1).
• Keep your back straight and abdominal muscles tight. Lean forward, shifting more weight onto your left leg (image 2). You'll feel a stretch in the front of your right hip and thigh.
• Repeat the stretch on the opposite side.

Golf stretches for your wrists

Now stretch your wrists upward:

• Hold your right arm in front of you with your palm facing down.

• Keeping your elbow straight, gently pull your wrist up by grabbing the top of your fingers.
• Repeat the stretch on the opposite side.

Next stretch your shoulders:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart as though you're addressing the golf ball. Hold your left elbow with your right hand.
• Keeping your left thumb pointed up, bend your left wrist toward your left thumb.
• Rotate your trunk to the right.
• Pull on your left elbow until you feel a stretch in your back.
• To stretch the trailing (right) shoulder, grab your right elbow with your left hand. Then rotate your trunk to the left.

Golf stretches for your core muscles

Stretch your core muscles:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and fold your arms across your chest .
• Bend your knees and lean forward slightly .
• Rotate your trunk in your back swing motion .
• Continue from the top of your back swing position to your follow-through.
• At home, you may want to try this stretch in front of a mirror to check the different positions of your swing.
  

  Turn your golf swing into a high-precision rifle

  
  

  Every small imbalance ruins your perfect swing

  Golf is a gentle sport, right? Think again!
  A golf swing travels at 100 mph and involves potentially dangerous twisting of the spine. And a typical player makes something like 120 swings during the average round of golf.
  That's a lot of wear and tear!
  If your body isn't in balance, every one of those swings takes you one step closer to injury.
  And every small imbalance you carry gets in the way of the PERFECT SWING. Tight hips, weak shoulders and a lack of mobility in the upper back can all sabotage your best efforts at great technique.
  You can spend as many hours as you like with an expensive golf pro. It won't make any difference to your game if your body can't do what your pro is asking.
  
  

  Take a look at a great set of videos of YOGA FOR GOLFERS