Don't put golf away for the winter! 

Sure it might be hard to hit balls when it's dark by 4:30pm, there's a nip in the air with temperatures and/or wind chills below freezing, and there's never a place to hit balls or play that stays open every day. But that doesn't mean that golf and your golf swing are done for the winter. Let's talk and winterize your golf game.

Get ready for Spring right now! 

Start a fitness programme to prevent common injuries and to strengthen and gain flexibility in your muscles. A good fit body will help avoid early season injuries that will take 4-6 weeks on the average to heal when they happen. That could take you right into the start of summer! 

Avoid those injuries by doing some exercises to strengthen the muscles in your lower back, shoulders and wrists. For your lower back, start by concentrating on your lower abdomen muscles. Strength in this area takes the majority of the strain off the lower back. The good ole common sit-up is a great place to start. Crunches work well too. 

For your shoulders and wrists, concentrate on the areas around the rotator cuffs and the top of the wrist. Push-ups and some light weight lifting (5-8 pound dumbbells work great) are excellent for the shoulders. Wrist curls with those light weights work wonders.

If you have a stationary bike or can ride a bike during the winter, this is great for your legs. 

With all these areas and exercises, consult a fitness consultant at a local gym and your doctor. You aren't trying to become Mr or Ms World body builder, just add some strength. 

As you add strength, learn some stretching exercises as well to increase your flexibility. This flexibility will not only aid in avoiding injuries but make your golf swing more effective.

The Swing

Now is the time to change those habits that have been holding you back. Since you cannot play as much or even hit balls, this is a great time to think about and work on your mechanics in a full length mirror or even with your home video camera. 

First concentrate (as you work on your strengthening and flexibility exercises) on your set up. The goal here is to get your body fit to achieve a posture that is well balanced. Since balance is a key element to any athletic motion, it becomes much easier to make the motion in balance when you begin in a balanced position. 

Come and have a lesson and get something to work on. Too many people go to the driving range over winter and practice just hitting ball after ball. I ask "what are you working on?" and the answer is normally 'nothing'. This is where bad habits creep in and your golf takes a turn for the worse. With a simple lesson we can suggest what you work on over winter to keep you improving, as well as specific exercises you can do at home to benefit your swing. 

To book a lesson or a swing/body assessment give us a call in the pro shop, or click here to get in touch.