April 2008
Pain, no gain
Trevor Moore highlights the importance of warming up and stretching before games
Golf is not what you would consider to be a high impact sport like soccer, football, hockey or lacrosse, however it does not mean injuries aren’t present. I see numerous golf injuries each year, many of which may have been prevented with proper warm-up and stretching.
Words of wisdom: Consider hitting the range prior to playing.
Warm-up and stretching is an important part of golf and it provides a variety of benefits to you and your game. Not only can stretching decrease your risk of injury, it can improve your overall athletic performance, as well as increase your general body strength and flexibility.
You will often see golfers heading straight out to the range each spring, only to grab their driver and immediately start swinging for the fences. This sight is not only limited to the driving range. Golfers often head straight from paying their green fees at the pro shop counter, to teeing the ball up on the first hole. Both situations are simply accidents waiting to happen, and believe me they do more often than you would think.
To those golfers that do not stretch at all, consider this. You have likely not swung a golf club in five months, your body is stiff, your flexibility is poor and your muscle strength is likely not what it was at the close of last season. Mix that with a less than smooth swing technique, a driver, and you are simply playing with fire. It is often not a case of if injuries will happen it is more a case of when they will happen.
To the avid player that does take the time to stretch, be aware of some seasonal factors that are present. Firstly, the weather is usually not as warm as it would be in mid-season and secondly, your muscles are likely tight due to lack of use. These factors both require a slightly slower, yet longer, warm-up period. Consider hitting the range prior to playing and begin by hitting shots with some shorter clubs first and save the driver for the golf course.
Take my word for it, if you miss playing golf during the winter months when the course is closed, you will certainly miss it infinitely more when you are forced to stop playing—due to injury—during the prime season when the weather is great and the courses lush.
Trevor Moore is a CPGA professional based in Medicine Hat, he owns and operates Advantage Golf Academy. You can contact him via his website www.advantagegolf.ca.