Flex Ed

How to stay strong and flexible while traveling.

By Grant Pettegrew

Taking your golf game on the road not only means playing new courses. It often means long spells in planes and cars, changes in routine, strange beds and limited access to fitness equipment—all of which can throw you off your game. These simple in-room and on-course exercises will help. 

ROOM SERVICE

1.) Straight Leg Deadlifts (Aids in stability) Hold onto a ledge or table for support with your left hand. Holding a book or water bottle with your right hand, reach down towards your toes, while simultaneously raising your right leg to become parallel with the ground. Maintain a straight back throughout. 8 to 10 reps; repeat on left side.

2.) Leg Hip Windshield Wipers (Aids in hip mobility) Raise right foot keeping your thigh parallel to the ground; rotate your hip fully outward and then back inward. 8 to 10 reps; repeat on left side.

3.) Cross Body Diagonal Chopper (Aids in core rotation) Holding a water bottle or in-room publication, put your hands above your head, behind your left ear. Rotate your torso while flexing your hips and knees to bring your arms to reach behind your right knee and then reverse the motion. 8 to 10 reps; repeat on opposite side.

FLEXIBILITY COURSE

4.) Torso Twist  With back straight and chest up high, rotate your core side to side for 20 seconds while keeping arms relaxed.

5.) Hip Swings (2 directions) Holding the golf car for support with your right hand, lift your right leg. Keeping leg straight, swing it back forth, slowly increasing the range of motion. Do it 10 times back to front and 10 times side to side. Repeat with left leg.

Grant Pettegrew is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist at The Conditioning Classroom in Centennial. theconditioningclassroom.com; 303-522-9001.