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As a golfer, I know how important it is to work on the golf game. There’s nothing more valuable than achieving that perfect golf swing. Equipment like clubs do help when it comes to lowering scores, but what works even better is the overall strength along with flexibility.
So in this article, I’m going to discuss the top five exercises that will improve your golf game.
As is the case with any sport, physical training is necessary to make the muscles and the core stronger. Even when it comes to golf, you need to give plenty of attention to core flexibility and strength.
This helps in reducing the overuse of wrists and arms while also eliminating the chances of injuring the back.
When you perform golf specific exercises, the flexibility in your thoracic spine, hips, ankles, and feet also improves. And this means better rotational range movements.
When you’re able to wind the body to its maximum limit without messing with alignment, your swing becomes more powerful. And this results in striking a significant amount of distance.
So let’s get started!
#1 Supine Spinal Twists
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Twists are considered to be one of the best exercises for the golf swing. I mean you can buy the highest quality golf grips or golf balls; nothing will come close to the efficacy of these twists for improving your golf game. When you perform the exercise correctly, it stretches the shoulders and enhances torso mobility.
- Lie on the back with the feet raised. Bend them at the 90-degree angle so that the calves are in a parallel position to the ground.
- Extend the arms with your palms facing towards the floor.
- Then in slow motion, lower the legs towards one side of the body. But don’t forget to keep those knees together.
- Stay in that position above the floor for at least 30 seconds before returning to the center.
- Do the same in the opposite direction and repeat the exercise 3 more times.
#2 Glute Activation Lunges
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Before I get on with this particular exercise, there’s something you should know. Many golfers find it difficult to do any physical training when they have flat feet or fallen arches. So at such times, the best thing that you can do is opt for cross training shoes for flat feet.
Even something like knee sleeves helps in making the physical movements easier and safer for the body. The aim is to protect and strengthen those muscles and bones. So let’s not injure them in the process.
Now, time to talk about the top five exercises that will improve your golf game. The second one is standard lunges. They go a long way in improving hip mobility. And this, in turn, helps in achieving a mighty swing with high strength.
- Start with the feet together while keeping the hands on the hips.
- Take a huge step forward while bending that leg at the 90-degree angle. The goal is to align your thigh in a parallel position to the ground.
- Keep the back leg straight and strong.
- Take the forward leg back to its original position. Repeat the movement at least 12 times.
- Then alternate legs three times. But don’t forget to rest in between.
#3 Standing Wood Chop
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If you want to know the best exercises for golf swing flexibility, here’s one!
When you perform standing wood chops, you’re integrating the movements involved with the shoulders, back, and hips. On top of that, you also achieve greater strength and flexibility.
You can make the workout more fun and challenging by using the highly valuable resistance band. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t opt for free weight or medicine ball.
- The resistance band goes under the left foot.
- Bend the knees slightly while pulling that band above your head to the right. The motion is exactly like getting ready for swinging an axe.
- Perform as many as 12 repetitions before resting for 20-30 seconds.
- Then switch sides. Repeat the exercise 3 more times.
#4 Side & Front Plank
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You don’t need to know five exercises that will improve your golf game if you decide to master the skill of performing planks. Beginners and amateur golfers find it difficult to adapt to the physically challenging movements of the swing. So at such times, they don’t need the driver for beginners as much they need to work on doing planks.
This particular exercise activates the core muscles. And when that happens, you notice an improvement in torso strength and stability.
- Lie face down with your palms on the ground.
- Tuck the toes under before rolling the shoulder onto the back and away from the ears. Now you push your body away from that ground.
- Make sure to keep the back flat while engaging the abdominal muscles.
- Hold the position for a minute before returning to the ground.
- Repeat the exercise 5 times.
For the side plank, begin by lying down on the side with the legs stacked.
- Rest the body on the forearm and keep your shoulder over the elbow.
- Lift those hips, so your body creates a straight line.
- Hold this position for a minute and repeat the exercise 5 times on both sides.
#5 Lateral Lunges
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Golf swing exercises at home also contribute to making your body stronger and more flexible. You don’t necessarily have to go to the gym to improve your golf swing.
With lateral lunges, you can work on enhancing your hip movements, strength, and a range of other motions.
- Take a huge step to the left while shifting all your weight to that particular side.
- Don’t bend the left leg and keep the right one extended in that direction.
- Also, your toes should be pointing straight during the exercise.
- Then do the same for the right leg. Repeat these alterations for 12 repetitions. But don’t forget to rest between them for at least 30 seconds.
- You can perform as many as three sets of lateral lunges.
In the end, it’s all about consistency!
These are the five exercises that will improve your golf game, but only if you maintain consistency when performing them. You need to make it a point to incorporate such a workout into your daily physical training session. Only then will you be able to achieve greater strength along with maximum flexibility.
Don’t skip out on other healthy habits like eating right and drinking lots of water.
So tell me, what’s your favorite on the list? Are there any other exercises that you do to improve your golf swing?
Please drop in your comments and feedback in the section below. All you have to do is scroll down and tell us what you think about this particular topic.
I hope the content was useful. And I hope you start working on your golf swing as soon as possible.
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Author:
Felicia Taylor is not only a professional golfer but also one of the very few bloggers that have dedicated their whole website to the game. She believes in creating useful and engaging content about everything golf. So it comes as no surprise to know that her work consists of latest golfing technology and practical tips about how to get better at the game.
Sources:
- http://amfamfit.com/blog/16-simple-exercises-to-improve-your-golf-game/
- http://www.healthline.com/health/5-exercises-improve-your-golf-swing#exercise-34
- http://www.themichelicenter.com/10-exercises-to-improve-your-golf-game/
The wood chopper exercise is one of my favorites to make sure that I don’t injure myself on swings. Definitely recommend it to all golfers.
So glad you use these exercises to improve your golfing techniques.