Improve Your Golf
Backswing With Simple
Golf Stretches And Exercises
Mike Pedersen, CPT, Golf Swing
Training Expert
Every golfer wants to improve their golf backswing. They know that a bigger backswing in golf results in longer drives and more power. But pounding hundreds of balls at the range isn't going to achieve a bigger golf backswing.
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What's the answer?
I can tell you it's not taking anymore lessons, and it's not doing a hundred different golf drills. Haven't you done this before? Did you improve your backswing?
None of this has anything to do with improving your body's ability to make a full and tension-free golf backswing.
Focus On Your Golf Flexibility And Strength
The only way to accomplish this goal is to get "off the course" and focus on your flexibility and strength specific to the muscles used in your backswing with golf stretches and strength exercises.
Improving your current fitness level (strength and flexibility) specific to your golf swing will help you achieve a bigger backswing in the shortest amount of time.
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Golf Stretches
Three to four simple golf stretches targeting your backswing muscles will only take you 5 minutes, but will have a dramatic effect on your ability to make a full backswing with minimal hip turn, creating maximum torque and power.
The key muscles to stretch are the upper back (lat) muscles of the lead side (ie. the left side for a right handed golfer), the read deltoid (or back of shoulder) of the same lead side, and the lower back muscles on both sides.
Just keep in mind, working just this area is not going to improve other aspects of your golf swing, but will help you accomplish the goal of a bigger backswing.
You can see the picture to the right, as I'm using a cart to create a lot of torque in the specific muscles of the backswing. I'll hold this for 10 seconds really trying to stretch the targeted area. I'll then give it a shake and repeat one more time.
This is just one of several stretches that are specific to your golf backswing; but even just doing that one will make a difference.
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Golf Strength Exercises
When you think of strength exercises, you probably invision going to the gym and using their machines right? If you've attempted this before, did you achieve your golf swing goals and improvement?
The correct strength exercises specific to your golf swing can be done with minimal equipment like exercise tubing, weighted medicine balls, and handweights (dumbbells). The most important point is to mimic the movement you want to improve with resistance. This is the most sport specific approach you can take to improving your performance.
You will notice in the picture I'm holding a dumbbell and making a backswing with it. What I'm trying to accomplish is getting the weight of the dumbbell to pull (or stretch) my backsing muscles farther than they normally go.
I do this be gently swinging the dumbbell back as if I'm making a backswing. You'll notice in this picture, my hand holding the dumbbell is in the exact same position as if I had a club in my hand making a real swing.
There are several other very effective strength exercises that target your backswing muscles, but this one will give you a head start.
Full Backswing With No Tension
By taking this new approach to your golf improvement, you'll soon notice your body's ability to make a full backswing with minimal tension. This tension-free movement will allow your muscles to stay loose and relaxed and create maximum clubhead speed with minimal effort.
The result will be longer drives and less mishits, since you're not swinging harder, you're swing more efficiently because of your "off the course" training program.
Take A New Approach To Your Golf Improvement
I hope this article has opened your eyes to all the possibilities you can achieve by taking the right approach. The sooner you work on the machine (your body) that's causing your swing faults, the sooner you will see results.
I will do my very best to continue to educate you on the importance of this journey. I truly believe it is the missing link to a great game.
For more information on my golf training dvds, books, equipment and membership program, be sure to visit my online golf training store.
