4 Tips to Reduce Golf Injuries
Sunday February 21, 2010 3:53pm

In a contact sport world, many people may mistakenly underestimate the potential for injury in golf. Whether you are a seasoned player with a professional golf career, a green newbie and have just begun your golf education by enrolling in a golf school, or a dedicated worker who has found golf employment in one of the many golf jobs available, if you are involved in the golf industry, you need to remember there is a risk of injury with this sport. No need to fret, just keep these simple tips in mind and you can easily reduce golf injuries to yourself or others. 1. Pay attention to posture Using proper posture when playing the great game of golf is essential. Many injuries in golf stem from this one basic thing. You want to be sure to think about what posture you are using not just during your swing, but before and after as well. The best posture for golfing is standing with your feet shoulder width apart and your weight equally distributed, without hunching over the ball. Hunching can strain your neck and back. 2. Do not overdo it There is no need to swing the club too hard or fast in golf, and doing so can hurt your joints or even possibly tear muscles. Just relax. Especially as a novice, the tendency can be to swing hard and fast to try to power the ball to where you want it to go. In reality, those with a professional golf career or at a golf school will all tell you that it is not a fast swing that will give you a good game, but a consistent one. 3. Get a golf education Take the holistic approach and realize that if you change one thing, you can change many things. Much as homeopathic doctors try to address the root of the problem rather than just treating the symptoms of a disease, attending a golf college or a golf academy can help you start at the root of the problems that cause serious golf injuries. The more you know, the more you know what to do to avoid unnecessary or accidental strains and pains from the game of golf. 4. Get flexible Flexibility is a great thing for all sports. A stiff-muscled, stiff-jointed person will have a much harder time performing well in any sport from hockey to boxing to golf. When you improve your flexibility, you will reduce your risk of injury as well as improve your golf game. It will help you to swing more fluidly, and prevent you from tearing muscles that are not used to be moved. If you have a bigger range of motion, you will be able to maximize the distance and power that you can attain with your swing. No sport is ever completely without the risk of injury, but by following these tips you will be that much closer to a pain- and injury- free golf game.