Your favorite green golf course is covered in white snow and ice. While your friends in warmer climates continue to improve their games, your clubs remain in the closet. But cold weather does not mean you cannot work on becoming a better golfer.
Mental and physical strength can be honed throughout the year. As winter sets in, consider the following tips to keep in shape and ready for the spring:
- Enhance physical stamina with aerobic exercise. Fatigue often occurs during the final holes of a game, especially in the spring when your body is unaccustomed to working out. Use these winter months to build cardiovascular endurance by walking, cycling, swimming or using an elliptical machine four to five days a week.
- Develop balance and power with strength training. Squats, crunches and other exercises can build strength in your lower body and core to enable you to hit the ball harder and farther. In addition, therapeutic stretch bands can help strengthen your shoulder and chest muscles, essential components for an effective golf swing and for staying injury-free throughout the year. These exercises can be performed indoors, either at a gym or at home.
- Increase your flexibility. A regular stretching regimen, not only during the off-season but throughout the year, can make your swing more effective. More importantly, a flexible body means less stress and a reduced chance of injury.
- Swing and putt every day in your home. Use a small portable green or carpet in your home to work on your putting. Focus on grip and setup, and make small changes to improve your stroke. Take practice swings while visualizing the perfect shot. This will keep you in touch with your clubs during the off months.
Don’t let winter handicap your game. Visit our office before the cold sets in. We can design a customized program you can follow all winter long to keep you in shape and ready to hit the links when the snow melts.
