How Simple Golf Stretches Can Add Yards to Your Drives

To quickly improve your golf, stretch your golf muscles regularly!

What's the difference between a "golf stretch" and an everyday stretch? The answer to this question may be your missling link to a great game and years of enjoyment instead of frustration and weak attempts at quitting the game.

The key is to do golf stretches daily. Yes, that's right - daily! It will take you only a few minutes to get them done, but the improvement in your game can be quick and dramatic. The return on this investment (of time) is well worth it.

Now, which stretches to do to get the quickest return?

That's a personal issue. Everyone has different limitations. Some are backswing related, others are follow through issues or even maintaining your golf posture.

I'm going to list a couple of golf stretches that will help you prevent back pain and increase your backswing range of motion for longer drives.

The first golf stretch is the Lying Leg Crossover:

• Lie on back with legs extended.
• Raise one leg and bend at knee to 90 degrees in knee and hip.
• Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground.
• Go until you feel a slight pull in the butt and lower back.
• Hold for 15 seconds and repeat once more.
• Switch legs and do opposite side.

This simple golf stretch will not only make your back feel better, but it will improve your ability to make a bigger turn, with less hip movement, creating torque and energy.

The second golf stretch is the Backswing Stretch:

• Extend left arm (for right-handers) out in front of you.
• Take right hand and put under left wrist.
• Pull with right hand against left wrist and make as big a turn on backswing as you can.
• Hold for at least 15 seconds, repeat once more.
• Switch to your other side, going the opposite direction, for the follow through.

This simple golf stretch will loosen up the muscles in the back of your shoulders and your upper back (lats), for more freedom on both your backswing and follow through.

Do these two stretches daily and you'll start seeing improvement in your game, including more yards off the tee.

Note: These are only two golf stretches isolating certain areas of the body. To get the full benefit for your golf game, you need to do golf stretches for each muscle group.

About the Author
Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, numerous golf fitness tips and founder of several online golf fitness sites.