Time to Stretch

 

My goal for the newsletters this year is to present drills and skills that do not necessarily demand driving range time and still help you with your golf game. January and February discussed hand-eye coordination, March and April focused on core strengthening, and last month, the takeaway drill. This month, I will introduce you to a full-swing stretch that can be done in the cool of your own home.

 

 

Picture #1 shows the start-up position for this month's  stretch. In our schools, we call this the pivot stretch. Lay the shaft of your club across your shoulders, criss-cross your arms, and get into your golf posture. 

 

 

  

 From the start-up position, you want to move into the position shown in Picture #2 by rotating the right shoulder behind the right ear, simulating the backswing in golf. You need to keep both your head and lower body steady. Notice in Picture #2 how stable my lower body is while making a sharp aggressive turn of the shoulders to emulate the backswing.

 

 

To complement the downswing in golf with this stretch,  simply lower or drop the right shoulder to initiate the downswing. Then, rotate the right shoulder all the way over the left foot to complete the finish. Notice in Picture #3 how similar the finish position is to the golf swing with the right shoulder still lower than the left.

This entire stretch is about trunk rotation: simply turn back, tilt, and turn through. As with all drills and exercises, do this stretch in balance and start out slowly. Once balance is obtained through a steady head and quality footwork, pick up the pace and degree of the turn. A full turn in balance can help any golfer.

The driver segment of my DVD, From Putt to Drive, highlights this stretch and the tilting motion of the right shoulder in more detail.  Next month's tip will be the most effective inexpensive tip of the year! You will only need ten pennies.

    

  

 

 

For more of Ted's classic tips, 

 View previous newsletters here.