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As any golfer knows, this is no way to start a round.

This type of panic causes rushed shots, anxiety, and any number of bad golf habits. What’s worse, not stretching before a round means your muscles are tight, meaning you’re relying on getting loose while you’re playing to avoid an injury.

In the words of Homer Simpson, “d’oh!”

Rather than approach the first tee feeling tight and stressed, GOLF Teacher to Watch Mike Bury has 10 golf stretches that you can use from the parking lot before a round. So even if you’re running a little late, follow Bury’s advice below to approach your first shot feeling good; without any tightness or tension.

Effective golf stretches that can be done from almost anywhere

Calf stretch

Whether you’re walking during your round or riding in a cart, stretch both calves to make sure you’re ready to roll from the first tee. You’ll be in good shape to avoid injury, and, more importantly, shouldn’t feel any unwelcome tightness as you transfer your weight during the swing.

Hamstring stretch

Getting the hamstrings loose will allow you to confidently stand tall over your shots without tightness, helping you avoid dipping your shoulder — which would reduce the maximum distance your ball will travel.

Standing quad stretch

Similar to a runner stretching before a race, use your strongest muscles to your advantage. While many amateurs may (wrongly) think the golf swing is all arms or hips, the legs do so much in order to hit an effective shot. So be sure the quads are loose; along with the aforementioned hamstrings and calves.

Accessories

Glute stretch

Using the trunk in your golf swing will help you with your transition, while also providing additional power as you rotate through the hips.

Hip rotations

The more mobility you have in your hips, the faster you’ll be able to swing the club through impact. So always be sure to get the hips loose before teeing it up!

Side bends

Like other stretches on this list, Bury reminds players to loosen up their upper body, with these side bends focusing on the obliques. This will help avoid the possibility of injury, while also allowing for proper rotation.

Trunk twists

By incorporating this golf stretch into your pre-round routine, you’ll be able to get your core loose, which enables the proper rotation as you swing the golf club. This is critical for hitting the ball straighter and longer!

Shoulder rotations

Like a quarterback in football or a pitcher in baseball, warm up the shoulders prior to your next golf round to maximize your performance. As Bury points out, even just 30 seconds of this golf stretch can prove effective.

Fitness

Neck rolls

Release tension before hitting your first shot by rolling your neck. This will help improve your flexibility even through forceful golf swings — and avoid injury.

Wrist stretch

The hands obviously play a huge part in how effective your golf shot is. So Bury says emphasizing a wrist stretch before a round will help them flex properly when you swing the club.

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***

Golf season — in northern climes — is finally upon us! After months spent inside our heated homes, wondering when the ice would thaw and we’d be able to get outside again, warmer weather appears to be here for good — meaning golfers are booking tee times at their favorite courses.

But just because your mind is ready for golf doesn’t mean that your body is.

So go ahead and dust off your clubs and lay out your favorite outfits, but before taking a swing, it’s always best to prime your muscles in order to avoid small injuries, major pain, or, worse, something chronic that hinders your performance.

But what are the best ways to prime your body prior to knocking off rust this golf season? I talked to Scottie Scheffler’s trainer, Dr. Troy Van Biezen, to provide some helpful tips.

Fitness

Focus on your mobility

According to Dr. Van Biezen, the first key to priming your body for golf season is focusing on muscles that haven’t been used much in the past few months. This means slowly stretching things in the back, shoulders and hips, among others, which are all impacted by the force of a golf swing. It’s why he suggests mobility and flexibility training, which will free up those tight areas of your body.

“Every time you hit a driver, there’s eight times your body weight that creates compression on your lower back. That’s a tremendous amount of pressure.”

“You have to have mobility and flexibility. Golfing requires that, it’s just so important. I think a lot of amateur guys, what we often see is, while they’re in the gym and they workout, they just don’t have mobility and flexibility to move the way you need to in a golf swing… you have to be able to turn and move.”

Hydration is key

Although golf may not feel like it’s taking a toll on your body when compared to sweating in the gym, anyone who regularly plays 18 holes knows it wears you out. That’s why Dr. Van Biezen emphasizes the importance of hydration — both before, during and after your round.

“I’m big with nutrition. So, pre-hydration, hydration, recovery drinks, protein drinks. These all make a huge difference in preventing both mental and physical fatigue. If you have a 3 percent dehydration, your muscles are 12-15 percent weaker; so we’ve got to be able to control what we can control, and nutrition and hydration is part of it.”

Treat your body like a temple

While many of us may only be amateur golfers who aren’t competing on the highest level each week, like Scheffler does, Dr. Van Biezen still says there are areas that every player needs to focus on — especially as golf season approaches.

“You have three really important body parts that need to be addressed; your shoulder mobility, your mid-back mobility, and then your hip stability and mobility. Focus on those three body parts, stretch those things out and stabilize them.

“You can use a swing trainer, like GOLFFOREVER, to strengthen these areas. Use it in a hotel room or even on your golf cart — which a lot of people will do before a round.

“Go through four-to-five different exercises to get the body moving, warm up, and get the muscles pliable.”

Get some cardio to improve endurance

I’m a big runner, so I asked Van Biezen if he suggests pounding the pavement to improve my fitness and endurance levels before playing lots of golf this season. He shot down the idea, saying it’s too hard on the joints, which can lead to chronic injuries for many people.

Instead, he says golfers should consider low impact cardio exercises like biking, swimming or doing the stair machine.

“Anything you can do for 20-30 minutes, three-to-five times a week, your game will dramatically change. You’ll have more energy. You’ll have more stamina. You won’t feel so tired, and you’ll be able to get through your golf swing.

“I think that’s the biggest thing for a lot of amateurs, they just don’t understand how important cardio is. If you’re in the sun for five-to-six hours playing a round of golf, that’s very taxing on the body — and this happens on the PGA Tour, too. Guys will shoot 4 or 5 under par on their first 9, and then it’ll be 30 over par on the second 9. If they aren’t taking care of their body, watching their hydration, their body just becomes too fatigued.”

Strength training can be your secret weapon

Every golfer wants to get better, see more consistency and stay healthy while playing. But for those amateurs who might be reluctant when it comes to prioritizing fitness, Dr. Van Biezen scoffs at the idea, believing that it can be the secret weapon to improving scores.

“For a guy like Scottie [Scheffler], his ceiling is pretty high as the No. 1 player in the world. But for an amateur, the ceiling is still low, so there’s potential to increase swing speed or hit the ball further. I mean, who wouldn’t want to step on a tee box and hit it 30 yards past their playing partners?

“If you want to put the time in off the golf course, you’re going to see the results on the golf course.”

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But before just diving back into the deep end and making a tee time, you’ve got to go through the steps first.

This means dusting off your clubs, laying out the proper attire and, most important, priming your body for all those swings you’ll be taking. But there are plenty of other things an amateur golfer must do before heading to the links — and we’ve got some tips below to follow.

Tips on knocking off the rust heading into golf season

So how does an amateur golfer quickly shake the rust off leading up to the first few rounds of the year? With the help of some GOLF Top 100 Teachers, we were able to get some answers.

1. Find a good teacher

Before diving back into a round of golf, it’s a good idea to approach this year as a fresh start. Instead of experiencing some of the similar frustrations you did in previous years — like slicing drives or chunking irons — Steve Bosdosh suggests amateurs find a good teacher to prep their games, emphasizing a specific focus area.

“Be ‘subject specific’, starting with putting during lesson one, chipping and pitching during lesson two, distance wedges in lesson three, swing irons during the fourth lesson, and full swing driving during lesson five.

Fitness

“Next, be sure to adhere to the teachers program, making sure you practice what they taught you for 30 minutes, two times each week. Start with the putting, and work outward to chipping and pitching — improving even the slightest in this area knocks off many strokes from your score! It can even be in the office or at home in front of a mirror, so don’t just wait for those 60-degree days!”

2. Invest in tech

According to Chris Mayson, most people are terrible at practicing because they “don’t know what they’re trying to accomplish, and they don’t have feedback to know if they’re doing the motion correctly or not.”

Mayson suggests investing in tech to get your game back up to speed, with his favorite tool being a training aid called The Arm Alarm from Why Golf.

“If you flip the club with your hands during short game shots, the strap will break the connection and the alarm will sound. Your goal is to keep the same distance between your forearms and rotate your body for pitch shots, guaranteeing good plane lines and consistent contact. With the full swing, the Arm Alarm helps you create great arm and wrist structure at the top of the backswing.”

3. Focus on your body

Scottie Scheffler’s trainer recently shared some tips on how the current world No. 1-ranked player used fitness to increase his endurance. Although there’s no promise you’ll swing it like Scheffler on the course this spring, Debbie Doniger does say it’s crucial to hit the gym to loosen up tight muscles.

“Start with a basic physical assessment — or add a more detailed one if that’s what you need. The more information that you, your teacher and your trainer are armed with, the better. Do not ignore your body. It can start to answer the ‘why’ you do what you do versus the ‘what.'”

4. Set a specific goal on the driving range

Bosdosh says it’s important to avoid being the person who just grabs the driver at the range, trying to practice bombing drives. This could lead to injury and frustration. Instead, he suggests putting together a plan for every swing you take with each club.

“Work with an 8- or 9-iron, with the ball on a small tee. Start with half swings, ensuring ball then divot contact. Gradually progress to fuller swings, but with a focus on 50-60 percent distances. This allows your muscles to stay loose and helps with feel — something most average golfers don’t have. This tempo helps you find the sweet spot, which is all great for your confidence.”

Using the above advice before your next round provides a plan to knocking off any winter rust. Each tip will allow you to build your confidence, helping you ease back into playing more regularly.

5. Get a handicap

If you’re not a card-carrying handicap holder, time to snap to it! Tracking your Index and round-by-round scores (you can register for a handicap here) will give you a quick snapshot of how your game is progressing as you’re working out the kinks — which might just inspire you to practice and play more. Your game will thank you for it.

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To put into perspective just how remarkable Scheffler’s been in that timeframe, the 26-year-old went from six top-10 finishes in 2021, to 11 top-10 finishes and three victories in 2022 — including a major title at the Masters — to already having won twice in 2023 (and seven top 10s), including the Players Championship last weekend.

While the ascension in Scheffler’s game is obvious, all of his success can’t be tied to simply swinging the golf club better. In fact, it might be due to something else: How he’s improved both his body and endurance.

News

Every golfer knows that the sport is hard. It’s draining mentally, physically and emotionally, and for a player of Scheffler’s caliber — who has pressure to win every tournament in which he plays — it can be taxing to control each of those elements all at once. What separates the good ones from the greats is the ability to find (and succeed in) that extra gear.

To help Scheffler hit that plateau, his trainer, Dr. Troy Van Biezen, has pushed the golfer to new limits, ensuring that he has enough in the tank to finish strong on Sundays. It’s why Van Biezen has focused on improving Scheffler’s endurance, which has taken nearly a decade to accomplish.

So how has Dr. Troy helped improve Scheffler’s body, priming him for the grind of the PGA Tour schedule? I had the opportunity to speak with the world-class trainer, who revealed some of his secrets with the best golfer on the planet.

How Dr. Troy has helped evolve Scottie Scheffler’s body and endurance

To help Scottie Scheffler’s body get into the shape it needs to for a long PGA Tour season, Dr. Troy Van Biezen incorporates the GOLFFOREVER fitness platform and the Golf Forever Swing Trainer. By doing so, Scheffler’s been able to add more power, stability and mobility, saying his work in the gym has prepared him to hit the ball the right way.

“Now I’m training myself in the gym on how to move properly on the course,” Scheffler said. “And, when I’m out there (over golf shots), I don’t have to think as much to swing the way I need to swing.”

But before becoming such a dominant presence on the golf course, Dr. Troy had to be honest with Scheffler, telling him he previously lacked the ability to close tournaments.

“When he first came onto the PGA Tour, nobody knew who Scottie Scheffler was,” Troy said. “But one of the things I noticed was that he wasn’t able to close the deal. One of the biggest things was his endurance.

“I always hear Tiger [Woods’] voice in the back of my head when he said that he wants to feel as strong mentally, physically and emotionally as he does on Thursday teeing it up, as he does coming down a back 9 on a Sunday. End of that year [2019], we sat down and focused on building up Scottie’s endurance. So that, when he’s playing on Sunday afternoon, he’s physically and mentally ready, and not fatiguing on himself.”

So what types of things is Dr. Troy doing drive Scheffler’s endurance levels? He told me that it all starts with a combination of both strength and speed.

“We do a lot of strength moves, a lot of speed moves. At the end of the workouts, we do burners or hits. It can be riding a bike for 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. It can be smashing a ball for 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. It can be sled pushes. Something that’s cardiovascular taxing, because I wanted to challenge his nervous system; even during his post-workout.”

The impact on the Masters

After earning his first major title at the Masters last year, I asked Dr. Troy if he thinks Scheffler would’ve won without the help of strength training — especially given the length of Augusta National.

“Wow, that’s a good question; I’d like to say yes,” he said. “If you look at golf now compared to a decade ago, if you’re not in shape, you’re not going to be able to compete at a high level on the PGA Tour.

“This is the way I look at it. A lot of guys who do really well at the beginning of the year may often crash towards the end of the year. I think that’s a physical issue. Take away the golf course; factors like the travel, the time zones, the beds, and the logistical things behind the scenes that people don’t see, it takes a toll on you.

“But the time that Scottie put in last year off the course — and not just training, but the way we’ve focused on recovery as well — that has kept him at the top of his game.”

What amateur golfers must focus on to improve their endurance

As an amateur golfer, I’m always looking to improve my game. While most of that involves repetitions with the golf club and taking care of myself in the gym, Dr. Troy reminds me to really focus on two specific areas: mobility and flexibility.

“You have to have mobility and flexibility,” he Troy said. “Golfing requires that, it’s just so important. I think a lot of amateur guys, what we often see is, while they’re in the gym and they workout, they just don’t have mobility and flexibility to move the way you need to in a golf swing… you have to be able to turn and move.”

While there’s certainly no guarantee that you’ll start playing golf like Scheffler, by incorporating some of Dr. Troy Van Biezen’s suggestions above, you’ll be in better position to endure all that a round of golf throws your way. By overcoming the mental, physical and emotional aspect, you’ll be in position to shoot lower scores at a higher clip.

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The trouble is, not a lot of golfers know how to get in golf shape. It’s a little different than training your muscles for other sports, so you need to know what to work on to get it right. That’s where Jamie Greaves comes in. He’s a golf-fitness guru located in the UK, and he’s made it a goal of helping get golfers stronger and swinging harder.

Below are the five most common mistakes he sees golfers make in their fitness journeys.

1. Lifting too much

Golfers might be athletes, but they aren’t bodybuilders. Your exercise regimen should be focused on increasing athleticism, not just gaining strength.

2. Too much mobility training

You need to be mobile to make a good golf swing, but you don’t need to be too limber. As long as you have a solid range of motion in your swing, you should be fine. Greaves says a few minutes of mobility training every day is plenty.

3. No in-season training

Just because the weather starts getting nicer doesn’t mean you should abandon the gym. If you do, you’ll lose all the gains you made in the offseason. Keep yourself in shape through the season by working out between rounds on the course.

4. Overcomplicating exercises

In golf, the simpler, the better. That holds true in your golf fitness journey as well. Don’t overcomplicate things.

5. Overworking

Don’t push yourself too hard in the gym. If you work out so hard that you can’t move the next day, you’re probably going too hard. Greaves says that golfers can make substantial progress with two to three hours in the gym every week.

NEWSLETTER

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Sitting in a tie for the lead through 36 holes at this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship, whatever he’s doing seems to be working.

“I started with a new coach a couple weeks ago in Napa and working on a couple small things which have been kind of showing on the golf course,” Hughes said, referring to his new relationship with Josh Gregory, who also coaches Will Zalatoris.

Tournaments

But Hughes said chasing more speed has been something he’s been working on before he started with Gregory. Just a few seasons ago in 2019, Hughes averaged 173.39 mph ball speed off the tee. However, he hadn’t touched the 173 mph mark since then.

In fact, his average ball speed fell off, dropping below 169 mph in 2021 and staying around 170 in 2022. For reference, one mph of ball speed can equal around three to four yards of distance. In 2021, Hughes was averaging 293.5 yards off the tee.

That seems to have changed in the new PGA Tour season.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of work in the gym and on the range to increase my clubhead speed and ball speed, so that’s been showing up, as well,” Hughes said after his sparkling second-round 63 in Jackson.

Through two rounds this week, Hughes is averaging just over 172 mph ball speed on all drives, but that number rises over 174 mph when you exclude the two tee shots he’s hit this week with an iron. During his bogey-free second round, his tee shots were averaging 303.5 yards a pop.

This comes after he averaged 173.97 mph ball speed two weeks ago at the Fortinet Championship, his first tournament working with Gregory. He was more than a mile per hour below average a season ago and is now nearly two mph above average.

So, what’s the explanation for the sudden speed gains?

“I think just kind of lifting on a more regular basis,” Hughes said. “I think it’s easy to go through a tournament and say I’m not going to train this week, but I’ve been up in the gym here at the club and been putting in work up there, just even during the week, which normally I wouldn’t be doing. But trying to push a little bit harder, and also on the range, it’s just a commitment to doing it pretty much every other day, hitting drivers as hard as I can.”

Speed training — aka the cool way to say “hitting drivers as hard as I can” — is nothing new to the sport. But some people can be turned off by how it might look for a top pro to be whaling away at ball after ball on the range.

To that, Hughes says scoreboard.

“I know I’ve probably gotten a few looks on the range because it looks sometimes crazy, but it’s definitely helped,” he said. “And I feel like I’ve picked up a little bit of speed, which always helps in this game.”

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The noises ring out from every corner of the large, windowless studio, which is set into the basement of the center’s glistening Boylston Street storefront. Compared to the smoothie-bar-lined spaceship upstairs, it’s duller, darker, and more professional down here. Or maybe that’s just the steady soundtrack of terror carrying from the treatment rooms, which wrap the basement in a large ‘U’. From one corner of the room, there are low grunts. From another, squeals. And from a third corner, there’s something else: unforgivable, uncontrollable, go-home-and-apologize-to-your-mother profanity.

There is some debate as to who is to blame for the noise. TB12 employees plead ignorance on the matter, while those responsible for the groans seem … pleased with the experience.

Eventually, the sound dampens, and a tall man with an athletic build emerges. He introduces himself as Drew and explains that today, he’ll be responsible for beginning the process of building me up as a golfer. But before he can do that, he’s going to have to spend some time tearing me (and my decidedly inflexible muscles) down.

Drew Ryan is very good at his job. His LinkedIn profile features three separate acronyms signifying his training and pedigree, and his biography indicates he’s studying for more.

So when he first makes contact with a muscle in my hip that’s been bothering me on and off for months, I know he’s not going to injure me. But after 30 seconds of working on the muscle with his elbow, I’m fairly certain he is trying to kill me.

“Think of me as a human foam roller,” he says. “I’m introducing blood flow to the area, which is going to make your muscles more pliable. And what does that mean? That you’ll have more mobility in your body to help with the areas of the golf swing where you’re struggling.”

He tries to change the subject, but it’s no use. I’ve already released a string of profanities long and vile enough to make Howard Stern blush. By the time he moves to a different muscle, I’m plotting my next trip to confession.

A registered athletic trainer, Drew has been working as a body coach at TB12 for three years. His job puts him at the center of Tom Brady’s TB12 Method, a five-pillared approach to athletic and training success that now includes a half-dozen brick-and-mortar establishments across the United States.

The TB12 Method is one-part physical treatment, one-part lifestyle, and five-parts Brady. In its purest form, disciples are expected to follow strict regimens about fitness, wellness, and diet. (Brady famously does not eat tomatoes, citing their inflammatory qualities.) For TB12’s pro athlete clients like Justin Thomas, adopting the TB12 Method might mean diving off the deep end. But as Ryan explains to me, TB12 body coaches encourage clients to meet the program where they are.

“We like to preach ‘everything in moderation,'” he says, interrupting an F-bomb while working on my quads. “Tom is an elite athlete. His approach requires him to be insanely committed. If you’re trying to cut a few strokes off your golf game, you can achieve that without going overboard, but by implementing some good strategies.”

It’s helpful to view TB12’s five pillars — pliability, movement, hydration, balanced nutrition and mental fitness — as a road map. Body coaches use the map to draw a route that will take students from where they are to where they’d like to be. In recent years, TB12 has worked with experts to create programs for clients seeking performance and injury-prevention help in specific sports. Brady, an obsessed golfer, ensured his beloved sport was among the first to receive its own program.

Today, TB12’s golf program is six weeks long, featuring eight sessions aimed to improve flexibility, mobility, balance and the biomechanics of the golf swing. The program was designed with Brady’s touch, so of course, there are plenty of applications for pros and high-level junior golfers. But TB12 employees insist the true target audience is the rest of us — the Average Joes.

My session with Drew technically represented just an initial consultation, but we covered a surprising amount of ground. First, there was an evaluation using high-speed cameras to measure my gait, a TrackMan to measure my golf swing, and squats to measure my mobility and strength.

Then came the hard part: pliability work. Using a little leverage and a lot of elbow grease, Drew honed in on the problem areas: my hips, hip flexors, glutes, quads and calves. It hurt.

As Drew explained, that wasn’t just normal, it was the point.

“A lot of people come in here and think they’re coming in for a massage,” he said. “This is not that. This is deep tissue work. It’s supposed to hurt. But that’s how you get better.

“And yes,” he said, interrupting my next question. “I hear a lot of cursing.”

During the course of our pliability work, Drew and I discussed diet, hydration and sleep. I ate well, I told Drew, but I was inconsistent with my hydration, and I was struggling to sleep, particularly as the golf season grew more busy. We discussed strategies for unplugging at night, giving my body a chance to wind down from the day before trying to sleep. As for hydration? The fix was even easier.

“I always tell people, take your body weight and divide it by two,” he said. “That’s how many ounces of water you should be drinking every day.”

These are the sort of life improvements TB12 strives to make, Drew told me: small, easy and meaningful.

After our pliability work was over, we headed back out to the turf field at the center of the studio for strength and recovery work. As a notorious early extender, Drew theorized my issue wasn’t caused by my “tight” hamstrings, but by my glutes, which were locking up every other muscle on the posterior chain.

He showed me a workout involving overhead squats and leg raises to highlight the muscles he thought were weakest (and most likely to cause an injury.) Then, we spotlighted those muscles again during a foam-rolling session.

“Three minutes a day,” Drew said. “That’s all I’m asking for. Three minutes.”

Later, we talked about the biomechanics of my golf swing, and the many ways in which just small improvements to my mobility could unlock a world of difference on the course.

It was the sort of information I thought only came from PGA Tour physios. The average age of Drew’s golf clients?

“Sixty-five,” he says with a laugh.

With smoothies in hand, we left TB12 90 minutes later. My legs were “light and poppy” — just as Drew had predicted — but they were also wobblier than a cheap table.

I was advised to drink plenty of water and do pliability work before bed, but there was a bit of an issue: I still had a tee time for that afternoon.

We headed to George Wright Golf Course — a Boston muni gem — to test the fruits of our labor, and were surprisingly encouraged with what we’d found. Our walk felt tame, our warmup happened quickly, and though my game quickly disintegrated, my swing felt smoother and less gimpy well into the back nine.

In the weeks after our session, I found my legs and hips moving better. I stuck with a strict stretching-and-foam-rolling regimen after my initial consultation and found my range-of-motion improvements to be significant. Where certain movements used to cause my hips to lock and seize, now, I can feel the muscles are more agreeable (or perhaps less disagreeable … but the result is the same).

I’m still nobody’s definition of flexible, and my fellow TB12 guinea pig Claire Rogers can still dance circles around me in the yoga department. But my stride feels better, my body feels better, and when it comes time to walk the course, my game does too.

For $200, that’s well worth the cost of admission.

Just leave the swear jar at home.

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Lighter graphite iron shafts

Graphite shafts offer an ideal combination of vibration and weight reduction — a combination that just isn’t possible with steel. Although there are a select number of steel shafts in the sub-80 gram weight range, graphite can be as light as 40 grams in softer flexes, and this weight reduction can take a lot of stress off the body during the swing.  

Extra club weight forces the body into an unnatural position in the backswing and follow-through, which can put a huge amount of stress on the lower back.

Two examples of golfers that likely used clubs that were too heavy as juniors are Lexi Thompson and Paula Creamer — both of whom have a distinct stretched follow-through after impact that was ingrained by heavy clubs pulling them through the ball.

This is why proper club fitting for junior golfers is so important for long-term success and health.

Softer grips

Just like with graphite shafts, softer grips help reduce vibration into the hands, wrists, and elbows and can make playing and practicing more fun and less taxing — especially for individuals with hand ailments or arthritis. If you are using steel shafts but are looking for a way to reduce vibration, softer grips are a great place to start.

Longer putter

Using a longer putter can put you into a more upright and comfortable posture, which not only helps on the course but also allows you to practice longer without putting stress on your back. Now, if you want the best of both worlds, one option is to go with a longer putter (35”+) and use a longer grip that doesn’t taper. This allows you to set up where you want on the putter for length and have the grip feel the same.

All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Stewart Golf R1-S Push

$299

Building on the outstanding success of the R1 PUSH we are very proud to present the Stewart Golf R1-S PUSH cart that is built by hand in Gloucestershire, Great Britain. Now complete with eight different colour variations, the R1-S PUSH has been branded ‘The best push cart in the world’. Based on a novel application of the tried and tested rack & pinion system. Rack & pinion is most well known for use in car steering systems to turn the circular movement of turning a steering wheel, into the linear movement of the steering rack. Specially designed self adjusting bag jaws will accommodate any style of stand, cart or tour bag, and an innovative new silicone bag strap both adjusts to bag size and grips at the same time. Folding Mechanism: Watch Golf Monthly’s Digital Editor explain how the rack and pinion system works on the R1-S Push trolley: Key features: • 10 different color variations• Patented Rack & Pinion driven folding mechanism.• Weight: 8.1kg.• Extensive standard features including umbrella holder, ball holder, scorecard holder, ball marker, 4 accessory points, soft touch handle, bottle holder.• Adjustable and padded bag jaws that will accept virtually any tour, cart or even stand bag.• 3 quick release wheels.• 2 Year Warranty• Hand built in Great Britain. R1-S Push Enhancements How it works The R1-S PUSH is based on a novel application of the tried and tested rack & pinion system. Rack & pinion is most well known for use in car steering systems to turn the circular movement of turning a steering wheel, into the linear movement of the steering rack. The R1-S PUSH actually has 4 racks and 4 pinions that all work simultaneously. When folding the R1-S PUSH, it works as follows: 1. The main support is folded forwards, pivoting at its base. 2. At the base of the main support there is a large gear, or pinion. As this turns, it engages with the top side of the rear rack and moves it backwards in the horizontal tube. 3. The two lower sides on the rear rack connect to the front aero leg which has a pinion on. As the rack moves backwards linearly, the gear rotates and the leg closes until parallel with the horizontal tube. 4. The rear rack is connected to the front rack, so they both move backwards at the same time. 5. A further pinion mounted on top of the front rack is connected to the front wheel, so as the rack moves backwards the wheel folds under the horizontal tube. 6. The handle can be folded and adjusted by loosening the knob, and re-tightening when positioned. Why is this better? Any external sliding mechanism is subject to dust & dirt from the golf course. If not kept clean, this can lead the mechanism to become stiff and possibly even jam. The presence of abrasive dust or grit in a sliding mechanism can also cause damage to the surface finish. The patented rack & pinion mechanism is all housed inside the tube, away from dust & dirt. Additionally, the oversized design of the gears can work even with debris present. As well as the functional benefits described above, the rack & pinion system means that the aesthetic is impeccably clean. With the usual sliders missing, the key lines of the R1-S Push are allowed to really sing. Dimensions Folded with wheels: H: 460mm W: 360mm L: 570mm Folded without wheels: H: 280mm W: 320mm L: 690mm  

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Push cart 

Even when using the lightest possible carry bag, having to turn and bend over to pick it up can cause injury and stress to the back and shoulders. Using a push cart still offers the experience of walking the course but without having to bend over 40-70 times to pick up your bag. 

Golf is a game you can play for a lifetime, and making sure your gear is built right for you can allow you to enjoy it for as long as you want. 

Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.

The post The best ways to prevent injury with the help of your golf equipment appeared first on Golf.

The post These advanced recovery boots will have you feeling 22 again appeared first on Golf.

The post These advanced recovery boots will have you feeling 22 again appeared first on Golf.

If you’re over the age of 22, a long, hot, hilly walk around the course isn’t as easy as it once was. Sadly, I am speaking from experience.

In the moment, it doesn’t feel that bad, but holes 16-18 are a little harder than they should be, and the next day, there’s soreness that didn’t used to exist. Stretching and recovery routines are more important than ever — particularly if you’re playing back-to-back days or rounds in a row. The Normatec 3 Legs are a great add-on to that routine.

They’re giant zip-on boots that cover your entire foot and leg. When the system gets to work via Bluetooth technology you can connect to your phone, they compress your muscles using proprietary pulsing patterns to enhance circulation, reduce swelling and ultimately promote quick recovery. Basically, they’ll have you feeling 22 again, and that feeling is priceless.

Normatec 3 Legs

$799

These recovery boots use dynamic air compression to speed up recovery, improve training and maximize performance.

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The post These advanced recovery boots will have you feeling 22 again appeared first on Golf.

The post The 5 best pre-round exercises to do before you tee off appeared first on Golf.

The post The 5 best pre-round exercises to do before you tee off appeared first on Golf.

Here are five stretches that you can do before you play to make sure your body is ready

Hamstring / Calf Stretch

Stretching your hamstrings and calf muscles will ensure proper low body posture in your swing and prevent lower back pain. Golfers often struggle with poor low body posture because of tight hamstrings and calves, so getting these muscles groups warm is essential.

Toe-Touch Stretch

This stretch will loosen tight back muscles and also assist with loosening the hamstrings. Your golf swing posture and athletic position at the top will benefit from this important stretch.

Elongation Stretch

To lengthen those core muscles (your lats and abdominals) hold a golf club above your head and reach for the sky as far as you can. More flexibility in your core muscles will help you rotate functionally during the golf swing.

Club Reach

The muscles in your lower back, glutes and legs can be lengthened with this easy pre-game stretch. Loosening these muscles will allow you to swing the club all the way back and all the way through with great ease.

Forearm Stretch

Your forearm flexor muscles and extensor muscles should be loose and all warmed up after this stretch. Strong forearms that feel flexible allow for a better wrist hinge which provides the optimal leverage in your swing.

Always make time to stretch the muscles you need for stability and mobility in the golf swing. This will assist you with your best technique out there on the golf course.

Adam Smith is the Head of Instruction at The Country Club of Virginia and is a GOLF Teacher to Watch.

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The post The 5 best pre-round exercises to do before you tee off appeared first on Golf.