Around The Bend March 2019

GOLF TIP OF THE MONTH PAGE 10 AROUND THE BEND March 2019 Ron Nutty, PGA Head Golf Professional Pre Round Stretching will improve your game and keep you playing longer! Golfers are at risk for a variety of injuries, particularly as age sets in and joints and muscles stiffen. Many of these injuries involve the back, hips and legs. Fortunately, many of these tweaks and ailments can be averted by adhering to a stretching regimen before swinging a club. These stretches will keep the body loose, lowering the risk of injury and benefiting players on the course. Practice Swinging Slowly To stretch out the back before a round, simply rotate the shoulders and hips to about the same degree as in a backswing, doing so slowly in the early stages with a club to help loosen the muscles. Make sure to keep the spine vertical during follow-through to avoid hyperextension. Repeat as needed until the back feels loose. This stretch loosens the back, making the body more able to pivot during the swing, decreasing the chance of injury and increasing the chances of a quality shot. Reaching Lateral Side Stretch To complete this stretch, stand with feet shoulder-width apart, then slowly bend to one side while reaching over your head with the hand. From there, return to the middle and bend the other way, making sure not to bend forward. Repeat as needed. Stretching the sides is vital to a golf swing because of the amount of movement and torquing of the body during a swing. This stretch lowers the risk of a pulled muscle or other tweaks that can be experienced during a swing. Reaching Down Triceps Stretch To complete this stretch, reach behind the head with both hands and the elbows pointing upward. Then, reach down the back with the hands and return to center. Repeat until the arms feel loose and relaxed. The triceps help generate speed in a golf swing; keeping them loose and flexible is vital to a fluid swing and quality shots off the teebox or fairway. The HBCC Golf Staff

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