Saturday, April 10, 2010

How To Avoid Sore Backs On The Golf Course

By Terry Lane

Want to lower your golf score? Looking for that competitive edge among your friends? What you need to know to avoid injury on the golf course starts with proper golf preparation off the course. And it's called exercise. Don't believe me? Take a look at the younger generation of golfers now on the circuit. The majority of them don't possess a fat belly. These golfers are not your dad's generation of professional golfers. So if you are serious about your golf game than you need to be serious about golf and exercise.

If a casual golfer thinks that all you have to do is tee it up high, rear back and swing with his big head driver, then he is going to be in trouble. Without proper warm up or properly preparing the muscles in the lower back that golfer is looking at a sore back. And if he thinks all he has to worry about are sand traps and water hazards he should think again. His back may not be sore that day but wait till the next day. He can benefit from light stretching otherwise his golf swing may not have full extension.

If this sounds like you, what you might have to do is make a conscious effort in gaining strength in your core muscles and getting your lower body stronger. To do this you are going to need some help. It's called Golf Preparation and Exercises For Your Golf Game. Of course you may not be able to afford the expensive physical trainers that work the pro circuit, but if you seek the help of a certified personal trainer in your town, you should be in good hands. Working off the golf course during the week will bring more enjoyment to your golf game on weekends. Working on specific exercises to get you in golf shape may not lower your golf handicap but it will help you avoid injury.

The golf swing goes through a series of positions. That is why it is important to include rotation, extension and forward flexion. And make sure you warm up before teeing up. If you prepared yourself properly at home then playing a round of golf becomes more enjoyable because you should experience less pain in the lower back. A great weight training tool is the kettlebell. Used by Russian strongmen this piece of fitness equipment is now popular here at home. Don't start with a heavy weight at first. You can always move up in weight as you become stronger. To use the kettlebell, begin by slightly bending your knees. Then slowly swing the kettlebell left and right for an easy rotation of the spine. And also make sure while doing this to keep your abdominals engaged.

Another great piece of fitness equipment for the golfer and affordable too is the resistance band. Bands come in various resistance levels. Start off with one low in resistance at first and do more reps. Once you become comfortable you can move to a heavier resistance. Again find some exercises online. Resistance bands are very popular and you can find them once again online at a fitness store. The beauty about these bands is you can go from one exercise to the next in a fluid motion. Much easier than with a heavy weight.

For core strength a BOSU or a balance pad is a great way to gain stability. A golfer knows that a golf swing is all about proper balance. So what better way to improve on it then with a specific exercise product that was developed to do just that. Balance boards are another piece of fitness equipment that helps develop balance and coordination. It may need a bit getting used to, so at first you may need to hold onto something secure before going solo on a board. Not sure what these boards can do? Just take a look at snowboarders or skateboarders. Balance board training is becoming more popular with non-athletes. With time spent on these balance boards you will develop better coordination and stronger lower body muscles and as a direct result, improve your golf game with a stronger, and more balanced, swing.

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