The Importance of Golf Post-Round Stretching
While golf isn’t as physically demanding as many other sports, it still does require you to use a variety of different muscles throughout the round. Taking care of your body as well as you can will help to relieve soreness the next day and can even improve your performance on the course. While you might already be working on your pre-round fitness and stretching, there is also work to be done when the round is over for the day. Taking some time out to stretch after you finish playing is a good idea for both body and mind.
Below are three reasons why post-round stretching is an idea that every golfer should consider.
- Keep your back loose. By far, back problems are the most common issue for golfers to deal with from a physical stand point. Some gentle post-round stretches can go a long way toward keeping your lower back loose and ready for your next round. The big muscles in your legs can help to support your back and keep it loose, so make sure you also target your lower body with a stretching routine for maximum benefit.
- Relax your mind. Stretching is a relaxing activity that can help provide you with some downtime to cool down from the round and reflect on how you played. If you are able to find somewhere at the golf course to stretch (a locker room, for example), you can come right off the course and take a few minutes to stretch before you get in the car and hit the road toward home. Making this a habit could have other positive effects for your golf game as it might serve as a great time to think about what you could have done better during your round, and what you will do differently next time out.
- Add flexibility. Perhaps even more than strength, flexibility is a key to adding speed in your golf swing. A little bit of stretching after each round might not have a big effect in the short term, but it could lead to significant gains in your flexibility – and your swing speed – over the long run. From the big muscles in your legs and back to the smaller muscles in your shoulders and arms, your whole body can benefit from the additional flexibility to be found through a regular routine of post-round stretching.