7 Things You Must Do to Guarantee Golf Swing Flexibility

You must always arrive at the golfing course around 45 minutes to an hour before your tee time. It's insane to come rushing up to the first tee box on a dead run because you are late and your foursome is "up" on the first tee. Good luck trying to hit a decent tee shot after that crazy man's display.

You have to arrive early so you could do a good amount of warm up and flexibility drills to get the most out of all phases of your game. All other sports have a ramp up period of varying length to assure the athletes peak performance and to avoid injury if at all possible. Golf does too. You rarely see it because golf's warm up routines are not anywhere near as --TV sexy-- as Tiger or Phil sticking an eight iron within a foot of the pin from 165 yards away.

Here's what to focus on...

Focus Area # 1: The area between your shoulder blades. You guide the golf club using this essential group of muscles so loosen them up the right way.

Focus Area # 2: Think hips and waist on this one. It is definitely important how you turn on both the backswing and through the striking of the ball. If they are frozen up like a blown engine you won't be driving very far.

Focus Area # 3: Your hamstrings take a large beating in a number of ways throughout a round of golf. Make sure you have them as limber and supple as a ballerina.

Focus Area # 4: The groin area should command your special attention. You'll be on the sidelines for numerous weeks of missed golf if you strain this sensitive region. Golfers use many specially designed and effective stretches to avoid injury.

Focus Area # 5: Executing modified knee bends can take care of the upper thigh muscles that are so essential in balance and follow through. If you are not able, do not squat all the way down and risk injury.

Focus Area # 6: It sounds crazy but I spend time rotating and loosening up my wrists and fingers. It definitley seems logical to me that my grip and location of my wrists at impact make a difference for great or negative results.

Focus Area # 7: Seeing to it that your arms and shoulders have the stiffness worked out is another must. Like a baseball player swinging a weighted bat, you should swing two or three irons at a time to get that near weightless feel when you pick up the club you choose for your shot.