There are times in our lives where we may play golf every day of the week. Yet, there are other times where we may not pick up the sticks for months. These long breaks from golf sometimes prove to be good for our game. Many people realize that a few of their swing flaws seem to disappear when they take a break.
However, there are a few essential things to remember about coming back from golf after a long break. We want to ensure that you make your return safely and minimize any potential injury as well. Here are some great tips to get back into golf after a long break.
Stretching is Important
Whether you are making a transition back into golf or playing golf every other day, stretching is essential. Golfers tend to skip this step, and it is one of the best preventative measures out there. If you want to play golf your entire life and avoid injury, stretching is critical.
It’s not enough to reach down and touch your toes once before you start swinging. You should focus on stretching your back, legs, arms, wrists, and shoulders. Find a great stretching routine that will allow you to loosen up your muscles prior to a round of golf.
Don't Start on The First Tee
Golfers that have been out of the game for a while will often be anxious to make their return. They will head out to the first tee, pull the driver out of the bag, and try and rip one down the centre of the fairway.
Sometimes this can go well for a golfer, and other times it will be painful. Swinging a golf club requires quite a bit of muscle involvement and strength. If not done correctly, it can easily lead to injury. When you consider that golf drivers are swung at over 100 miles per hour, you can see how an improper swing could cause some issues.
If you are making your return to the game of golf, you must start small. In fact, you should do nothing more than a chip in the beginning. Do not run-up to the first tee and grab the driver. Your transition back into the game should take time, and that is entirely acceptable.
Walking is Helpful
Some people think that walking the golf course is going to add additional strain and work to your transition back into the game. This is not true. Walking is very good for your body, and it could help ease your transition back into golf.
Walking allows your body to stay limber the entire time you are on the golf course. When you use a golf cart, you will be stopping and starting much more often. You will also spend a lot of time sitting where your muscles will get cold again.
The best way to walk the course is using a golf pull cart. Trying to carry your golf bag can be rough on your back and shoulders. The pull cart is easy to use and makes walking the course much more enjoyable.
A nine-hole round of walking is a better transition into the game than eighteen holes on a cart. Your body will thank you for this!
As you can see, there are three main takeaways when you are ready to pick your clubs back up. You need to give yourself time, start small, and take care of your body. If you put yourself first and forget about trying to hit the ball 300 yards your first time out, you will have a much longer golf career. The primary issue that we are trying to avoid is an injury. Injuries will happen when bodies are not ready to start playing and competing again. Get through the transition period safely and injury-free, and you will be back to your old self in no time. Should anything occur we are always here to help at Harbourview Therapy!