As the new years is now upon us, the clubs come out of the closet and we head out for the course after months of not playing.
Most of the time, you just show up at the course, maybe hit a ball of two and a couple of putts. Then it's off to the first tee for the equivalent of a cold start.
If you don't get to play more than once or twice a week, you should do a little extra warming up. Starting the night before you play.
Here's a good way to prepare yourself for your weekend round. If you have a Saturday tee time, on Friday evening when you get home from the office get out your driver and swing it for about 10 minutes or so.
Make some long swings with a good flowing tempo. This should be easy considering there will be no ball. The swings are intended to stretch muscles and give them some semblence of a golf swing move to sleep on.
When you get up the following morning, about two hours before your tee time, swing your driver for a few more minutes. Get your body used to doing what you will be asking of it.
Once you get to the course, you should try to hit about ten or so balls. Since golf wears out the average weekend player before the 18th hole is done, don't overdo your warmup by hitting too many balls.
Just because the tour pros hit fifty or more balls as part of their warmup doesn't mean that it will work for you. Instead, you should conserve as much energy as you can by tuning up your body the night before and well before you get to the course.
If you have been struggling on the back nine, your not choking. You have just exhausted your resources for the day. Try a new warmup strategy that focuses on conserving energy for the round and you will enjoy the last few holes a lot more.
