Golf Tips 9-10

09 HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT TEACHER

BY PETER MORRICE

The latest studies indicate that golfers need to focus on three areas: flexibility, balance and symmetry. Before a round, you should concentrate on flexibility—stretching the entire back and shoulders and the rotary muscles of the hips, torso and rotator cuffs. After a round or on days when you aren't playing, focus on strength- and balance-training. Things like mimicking the golf swing with a weighted club or using resistance bands to improve range of motion are great, but they have to be performed in both directions to improve the body's symmetry. For a right-handed golfer, that means swinging the weighted club as a lefty would. Otherwise, a right-handed golfer would have a strong right side and a flexible left side. Sooner or later, injuries will develop from this asymmetry.

Performing exercises while standing on one leg instead of two (don't forget to switch legs between sets) will help improve balance. So will assuming a golf-swing posture as you go through your routine. The final element to improving your golf muscles is to do cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, etc. They will strengthen your legs and improve your stamina, making it much easier to perform the golf swing as you get tired.

10 HOW TO MASTER A SWING CHANGE

BY HANK JOHNSON

When you are trying to learn something mechanical in your golf swing, the ball serves only as a distraction. It changes your focus to performance, rather than learning. It is extremely difficult to concentrate on making a correct golf swing and hitting the ball at the same time. So when you embark on making a swing change, first practice the new move with something other than a golf club (like a broom) and certainly without a ball. After you perfect your new move or position, then practice hitting shots on the range. If you find yourself thinking about your swing as you hit shots, get away from the balls and make rehearsal swings concentrating on your mechanics.