Virginia Golfer Sep / Oct 2019 | Page 38

Fit for Play Office Workouts Lower your scores and prevent injuries with these workday warm-ups by DAVE POND W H AT ’ S O N E WAY T O P OW E R THROUGH THE WORKDAY? Lining up a 5 o’clock tee time. Nothing relieves stress better than ripping a drive off the first tee box immediately after clocking out. Depending on your work setup, you’ll probably want to pack a change of clothes (and possibly dinner) on golf evenings. The biggest drawback, though, is that playing a round after work leaves precious little time for swings on the driving range, much less an entire warm-up routine. “Stepping straight out onto the first tee from your car can have negative effects on your score and health,” said Peter Weisel, director of instruction at Roanoke’s Hunting Hills Country Club. “At one time or another, anyone who’s played the game has said, ‘It took me a few holes to warm my body up, but then I started to play well.’ “Introducing a normal warm-up routine to your life will help you get over that early slump and start playing well during the beginning of your round.” More importantly—for those of us not participating in late-afternoon or evening tourney play—health issues can skyrocket without a proper warm-up. “We spend lots of time in a seated posi- tion—at work, at home, and in the car, we’re sitting down,” Weisel said. “By tak- ing a few minutes to warm up before you play, you can lower your scores and help prevent injury.” Mobility is an essential component of a healthy and effective golf swing. If your muscles are not ready to perform, they’ll pass some of their workloads off to parts of the body that can “pick up their slack.” Unfortunately, these areas of the body aren’t truly designed for that task. 36 2 1 ARM CIRCLES For example, tight hips can lead to unnec- essary pressure on your lower back, and the potential for back injuries. Thankfully, Weisel said, you don’t need to be a gym rat to improve mobility and your golf swing— which, in turn, will help you lower the risk of pain or injury. So, whether you’re at the office, in the clubhouse, or waiting to tee off on No. 1, take a moment to run through the follow- ing exercises. Your early-round scores will improve, and your body will thank you for it later. V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 ››  SHOULDER MOBILITY IS KEY TO ANY SUCCESSFUL GOLF SWING. THIS SIMPLE EXER- CISE HELPS WARM UP YOUR SHOULDERS BEFORE YOU BEGIN PLAY. 1. While standing in a balanced position, stretch your arms out from your sides so that they’re parallel to the ground. 2. Move your arms in a circular motion, starting with small circles and then building to bigger ones. 3. After 15 seconds, switch directions. vsga.org