5 Quick Tips for the keen golfer
I was hitting balls at the driving range at 13th Beach Golf Club yesterday and noticed the bloke next to me rubbing his elbow. After having a chat with him I understood he has recently taken up golf and has been practicing flat out at the driving range. Four nights in a row after work hitting 150 balls off the synthetic matts had taken its toll on his elbow. I explained to him he may be developing a repetitive strain injury. His eagerness to improve his golf has unfortunately meant he has to rest, get treatment and a rehabilitation program. He was noticeably dejected at this news and lamented “how am I going to improve without practice?!”. Practice smarter not harder, that is the key.
- Warm Up: Golfers all over are happy to warm up pre round of golf but very rarely do they put time into warming up for the driving range. All things going well you will hit more balls on the range than the course! It makes sense to prepare the body for that.
- Alternate Surface: If possible it is great to avoid repetitive hitting off a hard surface like a synthetic driving range. It’s best to try to hit off grass also if possible to avoid constant hard impact.
- Train Smart: You are better off hitting 30 balls on the driving range with a plan, than hitting 300 without one. Set a goal for the session and stick to it.
- Read your putts: Putting is generally a fairly innocuous form of training when it comes to putting strain on your body. However hours of hunching over a ball on the putting greens can irritate your low back. Between putts, stand up and take the time to read the putt before getting into position again. This will avoid a hunched posture.
- Contact the experts: For all golfers that are looking to improve I recommend getting some advice from your local teaching professional. You will progress so much quicker with guidance and more importantly not injure yourself practicing the wrong way.
Keep an eye for more post about treatment and management of golf injuries
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