Golf: Back in the Swing

After marrying a man who loves to golf, I quickly learned what the term “golf widow” meant.  If you are anything like me, then you know what it means to spend many spring, summer, fall and sometimes winter afternoons wondering when your golfer will come off of the course to come help with the chores!  Even though they say they don’t get to play much, we all know that a couple times a week adds up over the course of a year!  I often get asked why I don’t learn to play golf with my husband and I think about it sometimes myself, but then I realize I would have to give up shopping (the activity I find myself doing most when my husband plays golf) and hire a nanny—not happening!

Spring is the time of year when the golfers start taking advantage of any sunny day over 45 degrees to head to the course or driving range.  After a long winter indoors, getting back to golf can be quite taxing to your body.  Here are some tips to keep in mind for yourself (or pass them on to the golfer in your life)…

• Golfers spend hundreds on the best clubs, shoes, hand grips, lessons, etc., but rarely invest time or money on their best piece of equipment—their bodies.  Common injuries arise in even an “in-shape” golfer’s low back, shoulders, elbow, wrist, hip and other parts due to the huge forces and rotations involved with the swing.  The repetitive nature of the swing also contributes to these injuries, especially with an imperfect swing and poor technique.  Instead of paying hundreds for another driver, invest this money in golf lessons or visit a specialist who can teach you ways to better your body for the game and, subsequently, better your game.  Many physical therapists (I am one of them!) are now specializing in golf fitness programs and this would be an ideal program to start with.

• Regular (daily) stretching of key muscles of your legs, hips, trunk, shoulders and arms along with a proper warm-up will help reduce muscle pulls.  Gradually ramp up your golf swing over several sessions to allow your body to adapt to the extreme positions you are putting it in.  It is tempting to hit buckets of balls all at once, but a slow progression will decrease those early season injuries.  Once fatigue sets in, your swing will suffer and you’ll set yourself up for pain (bodily pain in addition to mental pain from all of your uncontrollable slices, hooks and shanks!).

• The address position is the most critical part of the entire swing.  Pay particular attention to your set-up posture and you will improve your swing, control the club and get better contact with the ball.  Additionally, you will protect your back during the swing.  If you are unsure of the proper address position… see tip one!

• Don’t ignore aches.  The nagging pains are your body’s way of warning you to change something about what you are doing—fast.  Simple injuries can become chronic or lead to a season-ending injury.

Even though I am not a golfer, I can see its draw by the many golfers out there. The beautiful and serene rolling hills, nature’s best of green grass, flowers, trees, and streams while leisurely walking or riding through it all with buddies for several hours…it doesn’t get much better than that, unless you are in pain.