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Best Golf Stretches for a Wider Turn

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Best Golf Stretches for a Wider Turn

Stretching exercises are an important element to stay healthy and to increase muscle strength. However, sometimes people only associate them with sports like gymnastics.

Just like everyday life and sports, stretches are equally important in golf. It helps you in hitting accurate shots, making wider turns, and achieving longer distances with your golf swing.

Conclusively, stretches can take your game to the next level.

Golf requires a flexible and warmed-up body. For that purpose, you should have some regular exercises to keep yourself flexible and some before-game exercises to warm up your body.

For your ease, our experts have compiled the best stretches for wider turns so you do not have to spend hours on the internet surfing for the one that you should perform.

Therefore, if you have not started adding stretching exercises to your warm-up routine, then read our article, and get started today!

8 Best Golf Stretches for a Wider Turn

Achieving a wider turn in the golf swing can help unlock distance as well as help you get into better positions during the downswing, which can result in more accurate golf shots.

Here are the 8 stretches we recommend to help improve flexibility so you can begin widening your turn back in the backswing.

#1: Shoulder Stretch

This easy and quick exercise can be performed when you are en route to your game spot. It helps in accurate shoulder movement that is required for efficient swing.

  1. Grab an iron in front of you by holding it from one hand on the club and the other on the grip of the Iron.
  2. Move your arms above your head so that your elbows are completely straight.
  3. Slowly move your arms backward until you feel tension.
  4. Hold your arms in that position for 10 – 20 seconds and slowly lower them in front of you.
  5. Repeat the exercise thrice and you will notice that your motion range slowly increases over time.

#2: Standing Trunk Rotation

Trunk Rotation, or upper body rotation, strengthens the central part of your body that includes hips, lower back, neck, and spine. This easy exercise releases tension from your spine and increases core strength, trunk mobility, and stability.

  1. Stand straight and hold an Iron horizontally with both hands. You can also do this exercise without holding the Iron.
  2. Slowly rotate your trunk sideways. Continue rotating until you feel slight tension and stretch in your spine.
  3. Hold this position for 20 seconds and return to the original position.
  4. Repeat this exercise to the other side as well.
  5. You can also slowly increase the speed of your rotations.

Resource: Golf Training Plans with Drills, Routines, Worksheets

#3: Forward Leg Swings

Forward Leg Swings work on your hamstrings and hip flexors.

  1. Stand straight and hold some support with your hands.
  2. Swing your leg forward and backward to the position where you start feeling the tension in your leg muscles.
  3. Perform this exercise 10 times and repeat with the other leg as well.
  4. You can also slowly increase the speed and the range of motion for a better stretch.

At-home Stretches

There are some exercises that you cannot perform right before the game. However, they are essential to keep your body flexible. The following are some of the exercises that you should regularly perform at home. See our indoor at home training plan.

#4: Shoulder Stretch

Shoulder stretching exercises allow you to attain a better grip on your Iron and increases your motion range.

  1. Stand in a doorway, lift your arms vertically, and place your palms on the door frame.
  2. Keep your palms resting on the frame and step outside the door range. When you do this, you should feel a slight stretch on your horizontal muscles.
  3. Hold this position for 20 seconds.
  4. Repeat the exercise by placing your palms in a different position.

#5: Supine Twist Stretch

This exercise can help relieve sore muscles in the hips, glutes, and back. It increases your hip and spine mobility and allows a wider turn.

  1. Lay down on your back and extend your arms to the sides with palms facing down.
  2. Bend your knees so that they are facing upwards. Your feet should be flat on the ground.
  3. Slowly turn your knees to one side until they are a few inches above the ground. Make sure that your back is flat. At this point, you should feel some tension in your hips and back.
  4. Hold the position for 20 seconds and repeat this exercise for the opposite side as well.

Resource: Golf Training Plans with Drills, Routines, Worksheets

#6: Kneeling Hip Stretch

This exercise is performed in a kneeling position and it is great for hip and back muscles. Stretching hip and back gives you a wider turn angle.

  1. Start by kneeling yourself and put your foot in front of you.
  2. Put your hands on your leg for stability.
  3. Lean forward to stretch your hips and hold this position for 20 seconds.
  4. Return to the original position and kneel again using your other leg.

#7: Cobra Pose stretch

This simple exercise strengthens your back and chest muscles that increase your mobility and gives you a wider turn.

  1. Lay straight on the ground with your face downwards.
  2. Place your palms beneath your shoulder so that your elbows are at your sides.
  3. Apply pressure on your palms to lift your torso above the ground. Make sure that your hip stays flat. At this point, you should feel some stretch in your back.
  4. Hold this position for 20 seconds.
  5. Return to the original position and repeat this exercise thrice.

#8: Lying Trunk Rotation

The trunk is a general term used for your upper body or torso. This exercise strengthens your torso muscles and allows efficient turning during golf.

  1. Lay down by your side.
  2. Bend the top leg towards the waist.
  3. Rotate your top arm and trunk in the opposite direction.
  4. Hold this position for 20 seconds and return to the original position.
  5. Repeat by lying in the opposite direction.

Resource: Golf Training Plans with Drills, Routines, Worksheets

Some Key Points to Remember When Stretching for Golf

Although stretching exercises look like a piece of cake, they can be difficult for newcomers to carry out and continue. Therefore, you should keep in mind the following points before performing any stretches:

  1. Warm-up your body by jogging before stretching.
  2. Never force your body more than a comfortable range.
  3. Make sure that you are using the correct technique.
  4. Always stretch in a slow and relaxed manner.
  5. Do not hold your breath and make sure that you are not breathing abruptly.

Why Golf Stretches are Important?

There can be multiple answers to this question. However, the biggest reason is that it increases your motion range. Your body needs flexibility, stability, mobility, strength, and coordination to swing a club. And you can simultaneously achieve all these properties of your body only if your body is used to it.

You must have noticed that warm-up exercises are always done before a workout. This is because cold muscles are stiffer and can cause injury. Therefore, light warm-up exercises are done to slowly take the tension out of the muscles. It increases muscle flexibility, relieves stress, and prevents straining. That is what stretches do with your game!

Concisely, stretching enables you to hit the ball accurately, achieve greater distance, and prevent injury. This rule applies to amateurs and expert golfers alike.

Which muscles are active during Golf Swing?

The short and to-the-point answer to this question is that your whole body is activated during a golf swing. The longer answer is that different muscles are involved in different phases of a golf swing. For Example:

  1. During the backswing, your shoulder, upper back, and hips muscles are involved.
  2. In the downswing, your lower back, shoulders, core, and hips muscles are involved.
  3. In the impact and follow-through, your core keeps you stable while you swing the club using forearm muscles.
  4. Overall, your calves, hamstrings, and quads keep you stable.

Therefore, it can be established that golf requires effort and body strength. And to ace in the game, you should follow a healthy diet, keep yourself hydrated, and most importantly, keep your body stretched and active.

Conclusion

Stretching is an important element in golf. It increases your overall gaming experience and gives you mental and physical winning satisfaction. Stretches relieve your body tension and extend your muscles for better movement.

We firmly believe that this article will help you in doing stretching exercises that are good for your health and game. So, try them now and get amazed with the results.

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