If you’re an avid golfer, you’re likely feeling frustrated that you can’t spend your entire day out on the greens and driving ranges, practising your strokes. Fortunately, some of the best ways to improve your golf swings is to practice at home. Our team at Fairway Golf explores this and more below.
Best Ways to Practice & Improve Your Golf Swing at Home
Improve Your Flexibility
You shouldn’t just spend hours at the driving range or golf course to work on your swing. You can improve your golf swing at home by working on your flexibility.
Here are some of the best exercises that will help improve your flexibility and, as a result, your golf swing:
- Shoulder circles – Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and raise your arms out to the sides. Slowly rotate your shoulders in a circle, making sure to keep your arms straight. Do 10 rotations in each direction.
- Trunk twists – Sit on the ground with both legs extended in front of you. Place your hands on the ground beside you for support. Twist your trunk to the right as far as you can, then to the left. Do 10 repetitions in each direction.
- Leg swings – Position your feet shoulder-width apart and place your hands on a stationary object for support. Swing your right leg forward and backward 10 times, then switch legs and repeat with the left leg.
- Torso rotations – Plant your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Place your hands on your hips and rotate your torso to the right, then to the left. Do 10 repetitions in each direction.
These exercises will help improve your flexibility, which will lead to a better golf swing. Try incorporating them into your daily routine and you’ll see an improvement in your game in no time!
Build Your Range of Motion
Another of the best ways to practice and improve your golf at home is by building your range of motion. It’s simple physics: the greater your range of motion, the more potential energy you can create. And that potential energy is what allows you to hit the ball farther.
There are a few ways to increase your range of motion. First, make sure you’re warmed up before you start swinging. A good warm-up will not only help improve your range of motion, but it will also help prevent injuries. Second, practise your swings in slow motion. This will help you get a feel for the correct form and allow you to really focus on making a full turn. Finally, use a resistance band or weight to further challenge your range of motion. By stretching your muscles, you’ll be able to increase your range of motion and hit the ball even further.
Increase the Strength in Your Trunk Muscles
Golf is a sport that requires a lot of coordination and precision that is born from control. If you want to improve your golf swing, you need to focus on improving your core strength, too.
The core is the centre of your body and includes all of the muscles in your abdomen and lower back. These muscles stabilise your spine and pelvis, and help you generate power from your legs and trunk, while maintaining control throughout the stroke.
There are many exercises that can help, but here are some of the best ways to build your core strength:
1. Pilates Scissor Kick
This exercise targets the muscles in your lower back and hips. It also helps improve flexibility in your hamstrings and lower back.
To do this exercise:
- Lie on your back with both legs in the air and your head and shoulders off the ground.
- Slowly lower one leg toward the floor while keeping the other leg raised.
- Switch legs and repeat.
2. Seated Russian Twist
This exercise helps improve the strength of your abdominal muscles, as well as your obliques (the muscles on the sides of your abdomen).
To do this exercise:
- Sit on the ground with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground.
- Lean back slightly so that your torso is at a 45-degree angle to the ground.
- Place your hands on your thighs or crossed in front of your chest
- Twist your torso to the right, then to the left.
- Repeat for 30-60 seconds.
3. Plank
This is a great exercise for overall core strength. It also helps improve your posture and can help prevent lower back pain.
To do this exercise:
- Lie on your stomach with your elbows bent and your palms flat on the ground.
- Push up so that you are resting on your forearms and toes. Keep your body in a straight line from head to toe.
- Hold this position for 30-60 seconds.
These exercises are just a few of the many that can help improve your core strength. Try adding them to your workout routine 2-3 times per week for best results.
Spend Some Time In Front of the Mirror (Reviewing Your Grip, Posture & Swing)
It is a common misconception that to improve your golf swing, you need to be on the course and hitting balls. While this is true to an extent, there are many things you can do at home to help improve your swing. One of the best ways is to spend time in front of the mirror.
By observing yourself in the mirror, you can get a good idea of what your swing looks like and how you can improve it. You may notice that you have a tendency to stand too upright or that you are not swinging through the ball properly.
Create a Course for Putting Practice
If you want to improve your putting, you need to practice regularly. One of the best ways to practice is to set up a course in your house. All you need is a few pieces of tape and a couple of putters. You can also use an online putting simulator to get some practice in!
Learn More on the Best Ways to Practice & Improve Your Golf Swing with Fairway Golf
For more assistance, please reach out to our team at Fairway Golf today!