Hints & Tips

Turn your swing around this summer

Rotation in the golf swing is something many golfers struggle with, as they get older. Backs stiffen and swings become shorter sacrificing yards or distance.  I talked about creating a compact swing last month, once the set position has been created you then need to wind your swing up. If you can create a good amount of resistance by coiling up your top half against a strong bottom half you create torque… this equals power! The more power you build the further the ball will go.
Here are a few exercises to help turn your game up a notch or two!

Twist without shouting!

Have something on the floor as a reference point where the ball would usually be. Place a club behind your shoulders as shown  (if you have tight shoulders then place it behind your back between your elbows). Get yourself into a powerful position as if you were setting up to hit a shot. Keeping your legs solid and gently flexed, slowly begin to turn the shoulders so the club begins to point towards the reference point. Your weight should have shifted onto your right side (back foot). Hold the stretch for a few moments, it is really important not to strain. Repeat to the other side to avoid muscular imbalances.

Back of hands together.

Another very good drill that helps to simulate the swing is the following. Imitate your set up position again hanging your arms towards the floor. Take your right hand under your left arm and glue the back of the hands together. Smoothly swing your arms and shoulders away as a unit and feel that urn happening as your arms swing up to a compact swing.
This drill will give you a great feeling for a compact and powerful back swing and it can be done anywhere. Again take care not to strain yourselves.

Trick your muscles into turning more!

This warm up exercise increases rotation without placing a strain on the muscles by using a visual reflex to stimulate the action in the muscle. (To be used in both directions)

• Test:  Hold arm out in front of you.  Keeping an eye on your thumb, rotate comfortably keeping your feet planted and visually mark how far you go. See the first photo.
• Remain facing forward whilst taking your arm away, again following your thumb with your eyes. Perform 10 –20 times See Photo 2.
• Turn your head the opposite way to you arm whilst again following your thumb with your eyes. Perform 10-20 times

Repeat step one and see the difference in your rotation then repeat the other way.
This is amazing and really works your rotational muscles!! Try it and you’ll be amazed at the difference!

Just a thought

• Swing two clubs together. Gripping them with a baseball grip, this will warm and stretch out all your “golfing muscles”. Or get yourself and ORANGE WHIP!! See below!
• Yoga and Pilates are great for golf. Why not look into joining a class. If it’s good enough for Tiger then anyone can do it!! This will increase your flexibility and strength and lengthen your golfing and active life!! Give it a go!
• You can do the drills mentioned anywhere you like, which means that you can be improving your golf wherever you are! You don’t need to make time to get to the range 4 times a week. They are also particularly good warm up drills to do on the first tee or before a practice session.
• Frequent stretching will keep you playing golf for longer –so go on, add years to your game as well as yards!!

CLICK HERE to visit my Academy page and for any other info e-mail me at katie@katiedawkinsgolf.co.uk .

Happy Stretching! Katie

ORANGE WHIP SWING TRAINER...
This little beauty will really help you groove a great swing as well as maintain a good turn back and through, plus you will have the rythmn of Ernie Els in no time.

Head to the Perfect my Golf website to grab yours today and enter this code 1013C when you go to the checkout. Happy Swishing!

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