Many golf injuries can occur due to an improper grip or swing mechanics, but a lack of fitness and flexibility also contributes to the most common golf injuries. These golf injuries usually occur in the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons) and joints (back, elbow, wrist and shoulder).

Let’s look at what can cause golf injuries?

• Overuse
• Mis-hits or duffs (hitting the ground during the swing)
• Poor swing mechanics
• Over-swinging
• Skipping the Warm-up
• Twisting the Spine During the Swing
• Incorrect Golf Club Grip

What can help prevent golf injuries?

• Proper swing mechanics and club grip
• Proper conditioning
• Proper equipment

You can reduce this stress and prevent back injuries by:

1. Rotating the shoulder and hip about the same amount during the backswing
2. Keeping the spine vertical (perpendicular to the ground) during the follow-through (and avoiding hyperextension of the spine).

To reduce shoulder pain and injuries by:

1. Shorten the backswing slightly (end with the club head at a 1 o’clock rather than 3 o’clock).
2. Strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular muscles.
3. Strengthen the chest and back muscles.

To reduce hand, wrist and elbow pain and injuries by:

1. Selecting larger club grips
2. Using softer grips
3. Using a neutral grip
4. Selecting irons with large heads and “sweet spots” to lessen vibration
5. Selecting graphite shafts are to lessen vibration
6. Selecting the correct club length (the end of the club should extend slightly beyond the palm of the leading hand)
7. strengthening the forearm muscles

If you are looking for a good fitness program I have a couple of recommendations for you.

You can check out Perform Better Golf or Turbulence Training.

Related posts:

1. Common Golf Injuries You Should Know I wanted to let you guys know about the common...
2. What to should you do during the golf “off season” when you can not play golf? Is there really on off season for golf.  I guess...
3. Create A Rock-Solid Golf Swing with Golf Balance Exercises Balance is an important part of a great golf swing. ...

Is your New Year’s resolution to become a better golfer?

My New Year’s Golf Resolutions for 2009:

1. Three putt less
2. Practice my short game more
3. Play more rounds
4. Drop 10 lbs. and get fit

To help me reach my fitness goal of losing 10 lbs., I have checked into this new fitness program that will work good for my busy schedule. This fitness program claims that I can “Burn Fat in Only 10 Minutes”.

You can download a free 10-Minute Turbulence Training Workout Program now!

Also, for those interested in checking out the entire program, Turbulence Training is offering a 21 day trial for only $4.95.  This is a small price for me to check out this program in order to meet my resolution of losing 10 lbs.  Check out the 21 day free trial!

I wish everyone a happy and golf filled New Year.
Leave a comment below and share your New Year Resolutions for 2009.

Related posts:

1. Prevent Golf Injuries with Fitness Many golf injuries can occur due to an improper grip...
2. Golf Exercise Method of My Friend Larry I have a buddy of mine named Larry. Larry likes...
3. Enjoy the game of golf again! Have you lost the joy that you used to have...

You better get hip flexibility that is. I was reading a great article by Chris Ownbey over at http://www.bettergolfwithfitness.com.

You could say that every golf swing has a different tempo, path, plane and angle. Chris talks about the biggest problem that keeps most golfers from achieving the power and distance they want is because of a lack of internal and external hip rotation. The key to distance in golf is generated by early hip rotation.

So now the question is, how do your hips work in the golf swing?
Chris says “For a right handed golfer the right hip needs to be able to rotate properly from take away to the top of the back swing in order to make a proper weight shift to the right side and to get behind the ball. Often times a golfer will compensate by lifting up during the backswing (loss of posture) and then chop down on the downswing.
At impact, and to the follow through position of the golf swing the right handed golfer needs a proper amount of hip rotation in the left hip in order to post or finish properly, if rotation is limited we will often times see a “slide” toward the ball. Both of these swing faults are the effect of the physical limitations which cause the inconsistent shots, and loss of distance.”

Chris provides us with some examples of golf-specific exercises to improve hip flexibility, and add distance to your game.

Seated 90/90

Great stretch which for the hips, lower back, hamstrings, thighs–you’ll find in doing this stretch that it will help wherever you are tightest.

Sit as pictured above with 90 degree angles to hips, knees, and feet, so back calf is parallel to front foot, and front calf is parallel to back thigh and foot (hence the name “90-90″, right angles everywhere.) Two directions of stretch will be out over the front knee (hold for 10 seconds) and then to the side . Then switch to the other leg and repeat. Make sure, however, that instead of rounding over the knee or foot, you press your chest forward and buttocks away, to maximize the stretch for hips and legs rather than lower back.

I can tell you now that I am not as quite as flexible as Chris but I have begun to do these stretches and I do expect to have better hip rotation for the upcoming golf season in a few months. I can’t wait.

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think about these golf exercises.

Related posts:

1. More Power in 3 Simple Moves You can produce more power with your golf swing in...
2. Correctly Address the Golf Ball with this Drill I found a great drill that has helped me to...
3. Golf Exercises You Can Do in Your Office Chair Do you have a hard time trying to find time...

I have a buddy of mine named Larry. Larry likes to brag around the office about his great golf game. I bragged to some other friends about Larry and they said they wanted to play around against me and Larry and told me to put my money were my mouth is. How could I turn down the chance to make a little side money.

I told my friend Larry about the match and he said he was game.

I quickly learned that Larry is probably like most weekend golfers. Larry is just a normal eat at McDonald’s kinda guy that would rather lay on the sofa, like the guy to the right, that practice to improve his golf game.

I asked Larry if he knew of the benefits of golf exercises? Larry said he had no idea there where any benefits to golf exercises. I thought to myself…”What did I get myself into.” I then explained to Larry that there are many benefits to golf exercises.

I then asked Larry what he did to get ready for a golf match. Larry said, “I like to go to the driving range to hit golf balls the night before. I snag the largest bucket of balls I can find and start to hit the hell out of the balls one after the other. I do this about and hour or so until my back and my shoulders get tired and give out.” Again I thought to myself…”What did I get myself into. My wife is going to kill me if I lose this money.”

I tried to tell Larry all he really needs to do in order to improve his game, develop a consistent swing, increase the length of his drives and shoot lower scores is to quickly and easily improve his flexibility. He never believed me…that “famous” weekend.

The morning of our match, Larry met me at the course early to work on our putting and he’s walking like a drunk…barely able to carry his bag. I notice he barely can stand up straight without a grimace look on his face and making a low moaning noise.

I quickly moved into the “I gotta do something quick to win the bet” mode and begin running through the quick-easy and simple 7 minute golf exercise stretching program by Mike Pederson with Larry. 7 minutes later, Larry was standing straight, without pain and walking to the tee box on the first hole, a monster of a par 5.

Before teeing it up, Larry turned to me asked me point blank…”Think I can drive the ball without hurting my back?”

“Larry” I said…”you just did everything you’ll ever need to do in order to drive the ball farther than you ever have…grip-it and rip-it dude…show them what you can do.”

That day…with the help of the 7 minute stretching program for better golf, Larry hit the ball longer than he ever had before, hit more greens in regulation and shot his lowest score in two years.

Larry told me that stretching program we did before the match “was amazing. I always thought it was a bunch of BS but you’ve made me a believer.”

I just smiled back with a “I know…I know” look and held my hand out to receive my share of the winnings.

They say you can’t fix stupid … but you can fix your golf game with the 7 Minutes Golf Stretching DVD.

I hope you will be like Larry and give the stretching program a try.

Related posts:

1. Golf Exercises You Can Do in Your Office Chair Do you have a hard time trying to find time...
2. Guidelines for Your Golf Stretching Program You know that a golf stretching program will improve your...
3. Stretching Exercises For Longer Drives and Better Golf Swing Consistency A stretching exercise program for your golf game can add...

Do you have a hard time trying to find time to do those exercises that you know you need to do in order to improve your golf game?

If you are like me you do have a hard time finding the time.

You are in luck. I have discovered some great golfing exercise you can do in the comfort of your own office or cubicle.

You do have plenty of time for your golf exercises.

I know you have time at work to do some simple golf exercises. Come on now, be honest, we all know you spend time surfing the internet. You also probably have some break and lunch times that you can use to get in your golf exercises. Heck, you could even do them before heading home for the day.

These exercises do not take long, some as little as 15 seconds. What, you don’t believe me? I am offended, not really, but let me give you a quick example called seated twists. This is a great exercise that will increase your flexibility for your golf swing.

To do the seated twist, all you need to do is sit down with your feet in front of you, your back straight and your chest lifted high. Now turn and reach behind you with your right arm, twisting your upper body. You should rotate as far as you can and hold for 10 seconds. Next reach turn and reach behind you with your left arm and hold for 10 seconds. Do this sequence 3 times.

How will this help my golf swing?

The golf swing is all about rotation movement. By doing the seated twist stretching exercise when ever you get the chance will improve your rotational flexibility thus allowing you to rotate farther on your backswing and follow-through.

This kind of exercise in your office is great for your golf game because it helps to develop your core muscles that are required for rotational movement. Think about it, when else are you going to develop these muscles in your daily routine?

For other great golf exercises I highly recommend Mike Pederson’s Golf Stretching DVD. All you need is 7 minutes of simple golf stretches to increase your power and improve your accuracy.

Leave a comment below and let me know what your think about this simple golf exercise.

Related posts:

1. Create A Rock-Solid Golf Swing with Golf Balance Exercises Balance is an important part of a great golf swing. ...
2. Stretching Exercises For Longer Drives and Better Golf Swing Consistency A stretching exercise program for your golf game can add...
3. Golf Exercise Method of My Friend Larry I have a buddy of mine named Larry. Larry likes...

Is there really on off season for golf.  I guess not really since it is always warm somewhere in the world.  But for most of us who do not want to travel across the the United States or even across the world, there is an off/winter season. 

Actually, we all need an off season to rest and recuperate.  Most folks probably find it hard to believe but golf is a game that can take a toll on the body.  In the golf swing you twist and put torque on the body.  Many golfers suffer with back, shoulder and elbow injuries.

I am going to write a series of posts for those golfers that either have an off season due to weather conditions or have injuries and need to take time off for their bodies to heal.

The series will be about conditioning your body to prepare your body for the next golf season.  We will discuss various injuries that can occur and how to prevent them and we will also look at different golf stretching and exercise programs that you can use and maybe we will get into some healthy eating plans. 

After we get started with this series I will let you all determine the direction of the series based upon your feedback and questions.

Go ahead and start leaving comments on what information you would like me to talk about.

Related posts:

1. Prevent Golf Injuries with Fitness Many golf injuries can occur due to an improper grip...
2. Common Golf Injuries You Should Know I wanted to let you guys know about the common...
3. Golf Exercises You Can Do in Your Office Chair Do you have a hard time trying to find time...