How can stretching help the golfer?
Quite simply, a golfer requires adequate flexibility to be able to play golf to his or her full potential. Some people are naturally flexible, for those who aren’t this can be developed. If you want to avoid injuries such as back, shoulder, wrist, hip and knee injuries or if you have any of these already, then you need to follow a good flexibility programme.
Golf is rotation
Since the golf swing requires the body to rotate almost every joint to its functional capacity, an adequate stretching programme of developmental and maintenance stretching is necessary. If there is a restriction in either the shoulder girdle, torso, pelvis or hips, then the body will compensate in other areas and cause injuries and faults in the golf swing.
For example, restricted shoulder range of motion is a common problem amongst golfers. This is often compensated with excessive spinal rotation which then leads on to back injury because most golfers already lack rotational flexibility in the spine. If the shoulder is restricted and the spine can’t compensate effectively, the golfer will experience excessive head motion or difficulty maintaining an optimal swing plane causing the golfer to hit either fat or thin shots!
If you have reduced flexibility in the shoulder, torso, pelvis or hips you will have REDUCED POWER. This means less distance on the drive, something that I’m sure you don’t want! By following a correct golf-specific stretching programme, performance can be improved in almost every aspect of the game and injuries can be avoided…. so what are you waiting for?
Please contact me for further information about golf fitness or visit my website www.extremegolffitness.com
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