In this article, we will look at some ways golfers can sustain longevity and continue to shoot good scores well into their later years: No matter the level they play.
Turning Is Important, for More Than Just Power
Older golfers need power more than ever before. If you can’t turn properly, you aren’t just going to hit the ball shorter, but you will undoubtedly compensate in other ways that will worsen your game and risk injury.
Many golfers struggle with turning once they reach their 50s and 60s, and most golfers know that turning is power. When many golfers reach this age, they turn a little then collapse their arms, thinking they are right back there, but the reality is there is no turn. That is when trouble comes, and mishits start to become a lot more common.
It is crucial that golfers do not cheat on their turn and swing through. Keep your arms straight and turn your torso.
Never Stop Working On Your Fundamentals
Fundamentals are called fundamentals for a reason – they will never go out of style. Keep working on them every time you practice, and they will last you a lifetime.
Regardless of your age, the basics never stop being critical, so never stop working on your foundation. A good grip, stance and most importantly for older golfers, posture.
Strengthen Your Core
A strong body midsection is very important if golfers hope to continue playing well into their senior years. You don’t need to be hitting the weights to continue playing good golf, but you should definitely make a concerted effort to strengthen the muscles in the middle of your body.
The biggest muscles in the body are your glutes and abdominals, and strengthening those muscles will help you make a more significant turn.
Look After Your Body
This one almost goes without saying. Get regular exercise, stay flexible and eat well. Golf is a very demanding sport, and the human body naturally loses strength and flexibility as we enter older age. There’s a vast difference in not only how we feel but in what bodies can do in the short period between our 40s and our 60s.
It is never too late to start looking after yourself better, and once you do, you will see, feel and enjoy the benefits for many years.
Make Daily Stretching Habitual
If you don’t already, then immediately make stretching a part of your daily routine — if you can work with someone that can help you, then great. If not, google a stretching routine or search for one on YouTube.
Stretching for even just a few minutes a day, either in the morning or evening, will make a massive difference to all golfers on the course, especially golfers of the older generation. You can even stretch for 5-10 minutes a day in the office. There are no excuses for not having stretching as a part of your daily routine.
Centralise Your Setup
Golf’s short game has changed a lot in recent years, and there are lots of new ideas and techniques that will help senior golfers, especially when it comes to tweaking their short game.
You may believe that the key to good chipping is to put the ball back on your stance, lean forward and then hit down on the ball.
Instead, practice putting the ball in the middle of your stance, have your shaft pointing straight up towards your belly button and have the bulk of the pressure on your lead leg. This change of perspective will make it easier to brush the ground instead of hitting down on the ball.
A great way to practice this is to place a marker two to three inches before the ball and work on hitting the marker before striking the ball when chipping. The key here is not to hit down on the ball but to brush the ground.
Hybrids Are a Must for Senior Golfers
You only need to Google images of the irons from the ’90s compared to the latest hybrids to see why they have as good as wholly replaced long irons.
Modern hybrids are not only much easier to use, but they also have advantages when it comes to long bunker shots, playing out of the semi-rough and chipping.
When swinging, always imagine you are sweeping the ball away as you would with a fairway wood, with the ball positioned slightly further back in your stance, therefore, creating a somewhat downward swing and nothing but a shallow divot.