Baby Boomers Do It Better: Getting the Most From Your Golf Game

Even if you have played golf for years, there is always some improvement that can be made in your game. Golfers over 50 come with different issues than younger golfers and finding the right tips for you can make the difference between playing golf well or getting injured. Whether you are a beginner golfer that has just retired or you are a more experienced golfer, your game and body changes when you start to age. What are some golf tips that a golfer over 50 should consider?

- Stretch it out. Stretching is essential no matter what your age, but older golfers definitely need to stretch. This can warm up the body and help to prevent injury, as well as help your swing to be more rhythmic and fluid. Even if you are just going to the driving range, you will want to stretch before you pick up your golf clubs and begin swinging. Check out our article on golf stretching for golfers over 50 for more information.

- Build muscle. Losing muscle is a natural part of aging, which is why it is so important for golfers over 50 to begin a weight training program to help make up for some of this muscle loss. Whether you are already doing a weight training program or not, it is something that you need to consider in your exercise program to help make your golf game better.

- Evaluate your equipment. If you have been playing golf with the same equipment for years and years, you will want to evaluate your equipment. Technology continues to improve golf clubs and you might be making your game harder on you than it needs to be by playing with dated equipment. Many manufacturers even make golf equipment specially for golfers over 50 to help you maximize your game. If you haven’t shopped for golf equipment for a while, check out our article on golf club shopping for the golfer over 50.

- Evaluate your game. Having a golf pro evaluate your game can go a long way to helping your golf game and helping you to prevent injury in the future. If you are working too hard, a golf pro can help you to modify your swing and game to allow you to get results with less exertion.

- Quit procrastinating. Don’t waste time planning how you are going to make your body healthier and your game better. Start today with a weight training program, stretching program, and any evaluations you might need. Quit putting it off and begin to make changes to your body and your golf game.

Golf can be played well into your life – if you take care of yourself now. By stretching, building muscle, and continually evaluating your game and equipment, you can help to prevent injury and keep yourself playing golf for a very long time. By following these golf tips, you will soon feel your game getting better and your body getting healthier. What can be better than that?

How to Strengthen Your Hands and Forearms for Golf

As golfers age over the age of 50, more attention needs to be paid to the risk of golf injury. A painful and fairly common injury for senior golfers can be to the elbow or wrist. A good way to avoid injury to the elbow or wrist is to work on strengthening your hands and forearms.

Obviously, your hands and forearms are important in control of your club throughout the swing. As you strengthen your hands and forearms, you’ll improve your game by being able to keep the club face square through tough lies like thick rough.

Exercising your hands and forearms is pretty easy and it’s something you can do throughout the day. You’ve probably seen those ‘stress balls’ – the little rubber balls or the tension-relieving ‘hand huggers’. Try to find one that is a little tougher rather than ‘spongey’.

Simply carry the stress ball around with you and squeeze it repeatedly. You can work on your strength while at your desk, taking a walk, driving your car, or watching TV. Work on both hands and give a little extra focus on your weaker hand and forearm (if you’re right-handed, work a bit on your left hand and forearm more so than your stronger right hand).

It won’t be long before you start to feel the build up of strength and it will translate to the course for you. While today’s hybrid clubs swing through the rough much easier than a 4 or 5 iron, you will find improvement in your ball flight from these tougher lies by building up this strength.

Go get a stress ball today and take some stress out of those tough lies from thick rough!