Fri 5 May 2006
Last summer, I showed up late for a practice round before a three day Member/Guest. We’ve all done it. Pull up in the parking lot, get your shoes on as fast as possible and make a dash for the first tee. My group is already on the tee. So there’s no time for anything but to pull out the driver and a make a few quick practice swings. I teed it up and ened up pulling more than just the tee shot. A pulled muscle in my right shoulder bothered me (and probably my partner) the entire tournament.
The injury rate for amateur players is an astounding 60%, and the average golf mishap usually results in a loss of about five weeks of precious playing time. So what accounts for these frustrating injuries? What can be done to help prevent them? What can be done if you do find yourself aching after your weekly game?
My doctor recommended a series of stretches that I’ve incorporated into my morning ritual and augmented with this golf warm up routine from Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries. Larry Foster, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and self-described “golf nut”. His book is a quick and fun read. It should be pored over by every golf enthusiast – whether or not you have actually been injured – and then stashed with the club for quick reference before stepping out onto the course.
Here are some excerpts from Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries to help you warmup properly before practice and playing.
Will attention to proper warm up before practicing lead to increased distance? Maybe. If not, it should at least hold off Father Time and slow down the loss of distance as we get older. More likely, it will prevent injuries, allow us to play pain free, and get us a bigger share of the Calcutta.
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