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?

Stretching It Out For Golfers Over 50

Every golfer needs to be sure that they stretch before they play golf, but it is even more essential for a golfer that is over 50 years old to stretch before playing or hitting practice golf balls.  Stretching will enable you to play better and allow you to play longer.  Finding the right stretching program will help you to be looser and allow you to play golf to the best of your ability.

If you’ve ever been to a professional golf tournament and watched the pros warm up, you’ll notice they all stretch on the driving range and loosen up on the first tee. This is particularly noticeable on the senior circuit of the Champions Tour. Whether they are playing competitive golf or practicing, you will find that they will always stretch.  This is just as important to you and your game, too.  Stretching warms up your body to play golf and it will decrease your chance of being injured. So what are some stretching programs that you should consider?

Yoga is one stretching program that many golfers are turning to. Many PGA Tour and Champions Tour pros are turning to yoga to help condition their bodies and improve their flexibility. Yoga builds up muscles and stretches them, so you will find that it can allow you to swing the club better and more fluidly. If you have been looking for a way to condition your body to help your golf game, yoga can be a great choice to stretch out your body.

If you want to go more old school, you can stretch the different parts of your body.  From arm stretches to neck stretches to leg stretches and more, you’ll find that there are many different stretches that you can do to help make your swing have better rhythm and tempo.  By stretching before your round and doing stretches daily, you will help your muscles to become stronger and make your golf game more competitive.

If you’re in a rush, a couple of easy stretches that you can do on the golf course include:

• Take a couple of your shorter clubs (like an 8-iron and 9-iron) and hold them both together. Now swing a three-quarter golf swing and full follow through. Do this 10-15 times. This extra weight added to your natural golf swing will loosen up your swing muscles very quickly.
• Grab a longer iron (like a 5-iron) and hold it over your head with one hand on the grip and the other on the club face. Spread your legs wider than shoulder width apart. Now pull your shoulders back as far as they will go and hold for 15 seconds. Next, lean over from the hips and push the club towards the ground. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat this sequence 3 times.
• Using the same club and grip with your 5-iron, hold the club your in front of you at shoulder height. Twist as far as you can to the right and hold for 15 seconds. Now twist as far as you can to the left and hold for 15 seconds. Repeat this sequence 3 times.

These three simple stretching exercises will get your swing muscles loosened up in less than 5 minutes. Now your body will be warm and fluid, ready to hit some practice balls or tee it up on the first tee.

Due to the fact that you are over 50 and more susceptible to some injuries, you will want to be sure that you have a stretching program in place.  Stretching should be an essential part of your golf routine to allow you to warm your body and help your swing be more fluid and comfortable.  Whether you choose to use stretches that you learned in yoga or you use a tried and true stretching routine, you will want to be sure to consistently stretch before playing and between rounds to stay flexible.  Stretch it out and watch your golf scores decrease and your health improve.

How do you stay loose and warm when playing golf? Share your favorite stretching program, yoga program, or pre-round stretches in our comment section.

For a great stretching DVD, check out Mike Pederson’s 7 Minutes Golf Stretching DVD.

Stretch to Prevent Low Back Pain

Many baby boomer golfers suffer from lower back pain. In fact, it’s been reported that approximately 80% of golfers either play with back pain or have experienced low back injury at some point in their golf life. Baby Boomer golfers are even more susceptible to low back pain affecting their golf game.

The only way to prevent low back pain or injury is to strengthen and stretch your lower back. Learn more with this video from Mike Pedersen of Perform Better Golf.

Learn more about Mike’s best selling DVD on golf stretching. This is a must-own for your golf collection.

Add Up To 30 Yards And Drop 6-8 Strokes Off Your Score With…

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      • Easy Golf Stretches Anyone Can Do.
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Click here to visit Mike’s site and see a sample of the best-selling golf stretching DVD.