Swinging into golf season

For golf lovers, spring is synonymous with swing. As soon as the snow has melted, they’re reaching for their clubs. However, before teeing off, golfers need to get back their groove. Prior to heading onto the links this season, make sure you properly stretch, check your equipment and get some practice in.

Pre-season stretching and exercise
Most people become less active during winter. Any return to athletic activity after a lull needs to be done gradually and should involve stretching. Even if you were active last winter, stretching remains imperative: given that your muscles haven’t executed the specific motions involved in the golf swing for months, they can injure easily if not properly stretched.

The most important areas to stretch are the wrists, fore¬arms, triceps, shoulders, neck, lower back, glutes and hamstrings.

As for pre-season exercise, Golf Digest stresses the importance of strengthening your glutes. These large muscles not only stabilize your golf posture but also protect the lumbar spine from the stress involved in swinging a golf club repetitively. Some exercises that help train your glutes are squats, glute bridges and deadlifts.

Getting your gear ready
Golf might well involve more equipment than any other sport. Before starting your season, you’ll want to make sure your gear is up to snuff. Inspect your clubs, grips, shoes and the individual cleats on your shoes to make sure everything is course-ready.

Additionally, ensure you have what you need in the way of golf apparel. If you’re looking to hit the links straightaway, make sure you have clothing designed for nippy spring weather.

Finally, make certain your golf bag is well stocked. That means balls, tees, markers, an emergency kit and the rest.

Getting your swing back
Don’t expect to be at the top of your game right from the get-go. Before heading out on the course, you’re going to want to visit the driving range. It may be tempting to unsheathe that driver and start letting them fly; however, the best method is always to start with the wedges and work your way up to the big guns.

Having done all this, you should be back in the swing of things and ready to venture out onto the tee box.