GOLF TIP by Debbie Vangellow
LPGA Teaching Professional
Sweetwater Country Club
Houston, Texas
(281) 277-4653

"Stretching for the 1st Tee"

Without a proper warm up, your muscles are cold, inflexible and unforgiving. Here are some easy standing exercises for the first tee:

Standing leg-up hamstring stretch

• Directions: Find a bench and raise your leg to the top of a knee high support. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend forward at the hips.

Standing one arm chest stretch

• Directions: Place the palm of your hand on a wall or tree at shoulder height. slowly turn your head and upper body away from your extended arm.

Standing shoulder blade squeeze

• Directions: Interlace your fingers and push the palms of your hands our in front of you as you extend your arms forward.

Standing side twist stretch

• Directions: Stand facing forward, holding your arms in front, then slowly rotate your upper body from side to side.

Standing behind the back stretch

• Directions: Hold a golf club behind your back with your left hand on the grip and your right hand on the clubhead. Slowly raise the club with your top hand to stretch the muscles in the shoulder of the bottom hand.

Standing shoulder and torso stretch

• Directions: Raise a golf club above your head, with hands about 10 cm apart, and breathe out deeply as you reach for the sky.