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Warm Up to a Better Score - (Continued
from Page 1)
From Michael Lamanna
* Begin your full swing warm-up with stretching. Stretching can
improve your range of motion by up to 17-percent. It also helps you
avoid injury and it helps relieve chronic joint pain. Dr. Frank Jobe
outlines the best pre-round stretching program in "Exercise Guide to
Better Golf."
This portion of your warm-up should take approximately 15 minutes.
* Walk slowly to the practice tee and begin your full swing
warm-up with short wedge shots. You should use a short tee for all
your shots on the range. This will help you contact the ball
crisply, which will breed confidence. Beginning with wedge shots
also helps you start your routine with smooth tempo and rhythm.
After hitting 10 wedges or so, begin working from your short irons
up to the long irons and woods. Make each swing rhythmic and swing
with complete balance control. Your last few full swings should be
with the club you intend to use on the first tee, usually a 3- or
5-wood. Save the last five balls for some smooth, short wedge shots,
or make full, slow-motion swings that only go 50 to 100 yards with
your driver (the Fred Couples Drill). This will help you reinforce
the controlled rhythm and balance that you will use on the course.
* Time your routine so that at its completion, you can stroll to the
first tee just in time for your group's assigned time. You never
want to stand around for more than a few minutes after warm-up. If
there is a delay, stand to the side of the tee and make slow swings
and stretch to stay loose.
Remember: If you fail to warm up properly you are setting yourself
up to fail when you play. Use the mentality of a professional: make
and take the time to warm up for peak performance and better scores.
About Michael Lamanna
Michael Lamanna is Director of Instruction at The Academy at La
Cantera,
part of the Westin La Cantera Resort (home of the PGA Texas Open) in
San
Antonio, Tex. Lamanna was previously Director of Schools at PGA Tour
Academy, part of World Golf Village, in St. Augustine, Fla. To learn
more about Lamanna, click here.
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