How To Warm Up for a Round of Golf

Based upon how early, or late, you arrive at the course, you may need to adjust your routine to fit your time schedule. Don’t cut out any step entirely, simply reduce the time you would have allotted to one or more. Depending on your individual needs, fully complete the steps you most need.

1. Arrive at the course at least 30 minutes early. Getting to the course at 8:59 for a 9:00 tee-time doesn’t allow you to get in the right frame of mind, not to mention getting physically ready for your round. By arriving early, you’ll have time to make sure you have golf balls and tees, change shoes, use the restroom and complete the steps listed below.
2. Go to the practice green. If you’re early, resist the urge to go straight to the driving range. Go hit some putts. After all, the green is where you’ll spend about half your time and strokes on the course. Spend about ten minutes putting. Mark a spot with a coin, tee or ball marker and putt toward it. This way, you won’t see yourself miss the cup and carry the negative thoughts over to the course. Practice some longer putts simply to get a feel for the speed of the greens. Move in closer to your mark as you go along. Near the end, move in to a point close to the mark where you’ll hit it each time. That image will carry over to your round.
3. Do some chipping. After you putt, take a few minutes to chip. Place a mark like you did with your putts, in a spot comfortable to you. This will help you get a feel for touch-shots and improve your confidence.
4. Begin a stretching routine. During a round of golf, you’ll use every muscle group in your body. It is important to stretch every one in order to achieve the maximum range of motion. Any number of qualified, certified experts can provide recommended exercises to stretch your neck, arms, shoulders, back, hamstring, quadriceps, calfs and other muscles according to individual needs.
5. Go to the practice range. Get a bucket of balls ($5 to $10). Pick your target and hit eight to 10 balls with each of your short irons (wedges up through 9- or 8-iron). Continue by working up through at least some of your middle- and long-irons, as well as fairway woods. Next, hit a few balls with the club you will likely use on the first tee. If you must, then hit a few shots with the driver. Even though the driver hits "the long ball," you’ll be using it far fewer times than your irons, wedges and putter. Close by hitting some shots with a wedge in order to, as with putting, leave the range on a positive note.
6. Go to the tee. Don’t allow too much time to stand around and stiffen up again. If you are delayed, do some trunk rotations, toe touches or some other movement, just to keep yourself loose.

Now you’re physically ready for a great round. You’ve also done some mental preparation by the way you practiced on the practice green and driving range. Get ready to enjoy a great round of golf.