Improve Your Golf Swing

Your golf swing plays an important role in your performance on the greens. Many golfers fall for the mistake of swinging beyond their physical abilities, resulting in inaccurate and weak swings. Golfers should focus on having better posture and flexibility so they can maximize the distance and power of their swings. There are several exercises that golfers can do to improve their posture, flexibility, and body alignment so they can improve their golf swing.

Having a good swing does not depend solely on a golfer’s strength. The range of motion, particularly on a backswing, is important for any golfer. Golfers should be able to easily turn their shoulders at 90 degrees and the hips at 45 degrees. Only flexible and physically fit golfers are able to acchieve these positions with consistency. If golfers are not capable of such positions, then they won’t be able to maximize their accuracy and distance even if they have a powerful swing.

The flexibility of the lower body is likewise important. A good swing starts with the golfer dexterously rotating the lower body, and followed with the upper body staying back. This takes a lot of upper body strength, so golfers should always be in shape so they can deliver a hard swing and stay behind the ball afterwards. At times, even the most physically fit golfers are not able to do this consistently.

Golfers must be able to work on their upper body strength and flexibility by taking on stretching and weight training techniques incorporating rotational movements. This is the most practical way of improving one’s golf swing and consequently getting longer drives.

Here is a basic routine that golfers can do to improve their golf posture and flexibility. Standing with the feet shoulder width apart, golfers should reach out their arms and take their left thumb with their right hand. The arms should then be lowered until they touch the rib area, or a portion lower than the armpits. The arms should be kept close to the rib area. The left thumb should be pulled downwards as far as possible. This routine should improve the golfer’s flexibility, helping him to swing any type of club without digging it into the ground.

Then, golfers should try to bend forward at their hips, keeping their back and head straight. Golfers must be able to bend their hips at several angles when doing this step.
Knees then should be bent, allowing the muscles above the kneecaps to strengthen and prevent the person from falling on his knees.

Another routine focuses on accomplishing the right body alignment while swinging. The shoulders and hips should be properly aligned with the feet when swinging. From the same posture position described above, golfers can determine if their knees are aligned with their feet by checking if their shoes are visible beyond their knees. Once the knees are in line with the feet, the hips are also parallel to the feet.

To check if the shoulders are aligned with their feet, golfers should be able to bend at their hips without discomfort. At this position, the shoulders, along with the hips, are parallel to the feet.