HOW TO SWING YOUR GOLF CLUB MORE FREELY: MOBILITY
If you’re an avid golfer, I do not doubt that there have been times you’ve felt stiff and frustrated that you’re unable to move in the way you know you want and need to for those great shots.
Mobility plays a crucial role in your ability to perform fluid and precise golf swings.
In this blog, we'll explore why mobility is essential for your golf game, specific areas you should focus on, and practical tips on how to integrate mobility exercises into your daily routine.
Why Is Mobility Important for Golf?
A fluid and consistent golf swing requires more than just hours and hours of practice; it requires excellent mobility. Mobility is the ability to move your joints through their full range of motion without pain or compensation.
For golfers, good mobility allows for a better and more natural golf swing, which can enhance performance and decreases the risk of injury.
If you’re looking for a golf fitness coach to help improve your mobility and keep you accountable, you’re in the right place. Check out my personalised training programmes here.
Key Areas of Focus for Golf Mobility
Improving mobility in the following areas can significantly enhance your movement and golf swing:
Spine Mobility: The ability to rotate your spine affects how well you can turn your shoulders and chest in the backswing without compensation and strain. Thoracic spine exercises, like Golf Set Up Rotations (see image below), can increase your range of motion and improve rotational capabilities, which in turn help you swing the club more efficiently and hit the ball better.
Hip Mobility: Your hips need to be stable and turn correctly to ensure you can generate power in your swing and hip the club on the plane as you swing. If you are restricted in your hips this may lead to poor rotation causing you to leak power. Exercises such as internal move (see image below) and glute can help enhance hip better movement in your hips when swing helping you to hit the ball further and more consistently.
Shoulder Mobility: In the golf swing we must be able to keep the club on a plane at the top of the swing with the clubface pointing in the right direction. If we have limited external rotation in our shoulders this may become problematic. Therefore, if you are struggling with hitting the correct position at the top I highly recommend this external shoulder stretch.
Incorporating Mobility into Your Golf Routine
To take full advantage, consistency is key:
Daily Routine: Investing 5–10 minutes each day in mobility exercises can significantly impact your performance over time. This brief daily commitment is ideal for maintaining and improving joint and muscle mobility.
Golf Warm-Up: Incorporate mobility exercises as a warm-up before playing or practising.
Post-round Stretching: Regular, static stretches after your round can aid in recovery and help maintain the range of motion you've worked to achieve.
If you want golf-specific mobility exercises & a coach to keep you accountable come a take a look my bespoke training programmes.
Golf-Specific Mobility
While general mobility exercises can still be beneficial, a golf-specific routine tailored to your needs can offer more targeted improvements. Working with a golf fitness trainer who can design a personalised program ensures that you're doing the right exercises to help you improve your game.
Golf-specific mobility not only leads to a more powerful and accurate swing but also reduces the risk of injury, allowing you to enjoy more rounds of golf with greater ease and less pain.
