Fitness Tip #2: Golf and Flexibility

Golf is a highly dynamic sport that requires stability, balance, flexibility and coordination in addition to body awareness so using explosive and reactive power will generate the golf swing that a player desires! In the explosive power movements, you create a single movement in one direction but reactive power combines two or more muscle movements or create power.

If the goal is to create more acceleration with the club head, then increased flexibility would logically produce more power. The hips and legs generate most of the force in a golf swing but a stable trunk and upper body must deliver the striking action of the club. Therefore, the combination of strength and flexibility in the core will allow consistent swing deliveries through proper posture.

The two types of stretches are dynamic for warm-ups and static for after a round or practice. Pre-round activities include arm swings, trunk rotations, side bends, supported squats and lunges to increase the blood supply to major muscle groups. Post-round static stretches from head to foot are held for 30+ seconds incorporate head tilts/neck stretches, pectoral stretches, standing shoulder stretches for the rotator cuff, hip flexor stretch, figure 4 hamstring stretch, calf stretch, wrist stretches, and finally seated spinal twist or child's pose for the lower back! –Kelly Shobe, Fitness and Nutrition at GNCGA

 Photo Credit: juniorgolfscoreboard