The weather is starting to improve and many golfers are coming out of hibernation to try and find their golf game again.
I’m sure we would all like to swear that this year will be different than last. We’ll play more golf, shoot better scores, hit better shots, or take more money off of your playing partners.
But how do we reach these goals?
I have worked in the golf industry long enough to notice a trend. A golfer will show up for his or her tee time with 10-15 minutes to spare.
By the time shoes are laced up, you meet up with your group and walk to the first tee, you only have time to take a couple of unfocussed practice swings.
You expect to hit your first ball long and straight off the tee, but is it any wonder that we see the majority of tops, slices, hooks, and whiffs on the first few holes?
I have adapted a term for these type of golfers. ‘Trunk Slammers.’
My advice to all golfers would be to warm up at the driving range before a round of golf. You have already committed four to five hours of your day, so why not add an extra 30 minutes before to give yourself the best chance at a good score.
Take some full swings on the range. Pick out specific targets, focus on lots of wedges and seven-irons, maybe hit a few drivers.
All you are trying to do is get a feel for how you are hitting it that day and warming up your golf muscles so that they know what activity you are about to do.
This is NOT the time to try and fix your swing.
If you still resist the driving range before a round, the best thing you can do to warm up in a hurry is chip. This will help develop your feel for the greens. It also alerts your golf muscles of the activity you are about to do and wakes up your golfing mind to focus on the task at hand.
A proper warm up is instrumental in starting your round off on a focused-and-prepared foot.
You might be surprised how well you start your rounds off.
Brad Clapp is an instructor with the Chilliwack Golf Academy located at the Chilliwack Golf Course, and a competitor on the Vancouver Golf Tour. He can be reached by email at Brad@chilliwackgolf.com