Golf Weekly

Now that the season is well and truly under way, it is great to see the Awali Club busy and vibrant, particularly on competition days.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been observing how people prepare and warm-up for their round, before their tee time on competition days.

Unsurprisingly, I have seen an eclectic mix of ‘pre-match’ routines ranging from people who smash 200 balls before they tee off, to people who hit no balls, to people who simply enjoy a few beverages!

As golf is such a personal sport, there are no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to prepare but in my opinion, your warm-up routine should have some structure to it.

Let’s discuss a routine that will help you be ready for your tee time without having overdone it on the range.

1. Pitch shots (20-50 yards, 10 balls)
Ideally, your warm-up should start with some small swings where you concentrate on rhythm and ball striking. Your body needs time to relax and become flexible, so avoid the driver and focus on accuracy! (see picture)
2. Full Swing (Roughly 10 balls)
When you are ready, start moving up through your bag, hitting a couple of balls with your nine, seven and longer irons, focus on maintaining excellent balance in your swing.
3. Hybrid or Fairway Wood (Roughly 10 balls)
Most people will have a ‘go to’ club for when they are hitting the ball from the fairway and trying to advance it as far as possible on the long par 4s and par 5s. This may well be a hybrid or fairway wood. Again, it is important to concentrate on swinging with balance as the temptation is always to try and hit the ball too hard.
(Three more tips next week)

*For more information on this topic or if you’d like to find out more about the golf coaching services offered at Awali Golf Club, contact Matt Chalmers on 39761873. Happy Golfing!