There’s a reason the squat is such a popular exercise: it has a lot of benefits, especially for golfers. “The squat is a great exercise for golfers looking for lower body strength, healthy knees, a healthy back, improved posture, and mobility in the knees, hips and ankles,” says Golf Digest Certified Fitness Trainer Ann-Kristin Allen. What’s more, doing squats can help you learn how to use the ground to generate power in your golf swing. The trick is that in order to get all these benefits from squats, you have to do them right. Here are the four things Allen says to look for. When doing squats:
Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and your feet pointing slightly outward.
“The kneecap (kneecap) naturally tracks a little bit, so we want to follow that when performing squats,” Allen explains.
Push your knees forward over your second toe as you lower yourself down.
During a squat, push your knees forward the same distance you push your tailbone back, Allen says.
RELATED: Try this 10-minute exercise to improve stability
Maintain a straight spine angle at all times.
“You want to feel like your sternum is lifted up and forward throughout the squat,” Allen says.
“You can use a golf club to support awareness,” Allen said. Take a racket and hold it so that the club head is at the back of your head and the shaft extends down your spine. Throughout the squat, your spine should remain in contact with your spine.
Bending from the hips, not the back.
Holding the golf club in place can help you realize if you’re bending from the hips, too. If you bend your back instead of your hips, your spine will leave your spine. Allen has found that when people complain of back pain while squatting, it’s because they’re bending from their backs, not their hips.
Hit list
The best of Golf Digest delivered daily
subscription
They will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
#exercise #crucial #golfers #tips
