| Some people like to debate whether or not golf is a | | | | and legs. Any basic stretching exercises you do on a |
| "real" sport. I think it's safe to say that most of us do | | | | regular basis will improve your range of motion which |
| consider it a sport. It may not be as rigorous as football | | | | will improve your golf swing and make you a better |
| or as demanding as running, but it does require physical | | | | player. Stiff or tight muscles will prevent your from |
| skills and it involves competition. Sounds like a sport to | | | | realizing the full potential of your golf swing. Don't skip |
| me.As with any sport, practice is of the utmost | | | | the stretches. It's not a good idea to walk right out onto |
| importance. Practice right to play right. We've all heard | | | | the course without warming up at all. Not bothering to |
| the cliches. Practice makes perfect. Have you found | | | | stretch is a good way to get hurt. It's simple, if you |
| that despite all the time spend practicing your golf | | | | want to improve your golf swing you'll exercise in |
| swing, you just can't seem to improve much? Do you | | | | addition to practicing your swing.Another key to |
| have nearly perfect form but you feel like your game's | | | | improving your golf swing is strength training. I'm not |
| become stagnant?What could be lacking when you | | | | saying you need to be a body builder to improve your |
| practice all the time? Maybe what you're missing out | | | | golf swing, but I am saying that a little working out will |
| on is exercise. You can't just swing and swing and | | | | improve your game. It stands to reason that, all other |
| swing and expect to improve. As you know, you'll find | | | | things being equal, the stronger person will hit the ball |
| yourself improving quickly at first but then your skill | | | | farther than the weaker one. This is pretty obvious, so |
| level plateaus and you get stuck in a rut. What you're | | | | it's surprising that so many supposedly serious golfers |
| probably missing out on is tuning your body as a whole. | | | | never hit the gym. As with stretching, basic strength |
| It's not enough to simply practice your golf swing | | | | training will help you be more resistant to injuries.Finally |
| technique. It's important to do a variety of exercises to | | | | you need to consider your cardiovascular health when |
| improve your golf swing and lower your handicap. | | | | looking for ways to improve your golf swing. As you |
| These exercises are simple ones that anyone can | | | | already know, it's not easy to knock the cover off the |
| do.First you need to start stretching more. Stretch all | | | | ball on the 14th hole. You can be pretty tired by then. |
| your muscles every day, both before golfing and after. | | | | But if you've been doing some aerobic exercises, then |
| This will help prevent injuries and keep you from feeling | | | | you'll be stronger in the end than your non-exercising |
| sore after a grueling 18 hole battle with your buddies. | | | | opponents.Exercise is the key to improving your golf |
| Golf's a sport, right? Then treat it like one. All sensible | | | | swing and lowering your handicap. By stretching, doing |
| athletes stretch regularly, and golfers should be no | | | | some strength training, and running or biking regularly |
| exception. There are tons of different stretches you | | | | you'll find that your golf swing practice will be aided |
| can do that will help your game in the long run. Basically | | | | tremendously and your game will improve for |
| you need to stretch your arms, shoulders, neck, back, | | | | sure.Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. |