Golfer's Guide to Keeping Warm This Winter

Nov. 11, 2008 - PRLog -- Not everyone is as fortunate to live in the tropics where they have guaranteed sunshine for nearly every day of the year. However, low temperatures cannot keep a keen golfer from off the course. Why should freezing temperatures have an effect of what people love doing the most? When playing golf it is really important to warm up and stay warm.

By keeping the muscles warm it can help dramatically with a person’s game. It is underestimated how important it is to warm up and stay warm during a golf round. It can allow the player to concentrate more on the game at hand than worrying that they cannot quite grip the club how they want as their hands are too cold. Muscle memory plays a key role in golf. It is important as you want to remember the same swing over and over again as it has been working in the past.

A warm up can help with many parts of the body. Flexibility is increased and this can help with shoulder turn. It can allow a player to make a stronger turn therefore hitting the ball further. This is just one of the advantages.

Only a small percent of regular golfers warm up before a round. However we do not expect you go on a 10 mile run before you play. Stretching is very important to warming up for these reasons:
•   There is a release of adrenaline
•   An increased heart rate there for oxygen in the blood travels at a faster speed.
•   An increase in the production of the synovial fluid between joints to reduce friction.
•   Joints move more efficiently
•   An increase in muscle temperature
•   Decrease in viscosity which enables oxygen in the blood to travel with greater speed.
•   Increase in the force and speed of contraction in the muscle
•   Increase in the speed of nerve impulses.

There are a variety of warm up exercises which you can do before starting 18 holes. Useful exercises include, including arm circles, side ward bend, hip rotations, squats and side lunges.

However there are other ways of staying warm during your round.

Layers
Warmth is a major priority when playing. However the key is not to restrict yourself. We recommend thin layers instead of bulky clothing. Long underwear, turtle necks, thin sweaters and outer jackets are ideal for keeping warm. Mobility is the most important factor as if you cannot swing a golf club there is no point in playing. You can get a wide range of golf clothes including winter gear from http://www.thesportshq.com

Heads and hands
Your head and hands are the most important parts of the body to keep warm and dry. By wearing mittens or gloves helps keep fingers from stiffening. It is important to keep both hands warm not just the one without the glove. The majority of your body heat is lost through your head so we recommend a woolly hat.

Warm up longer
When the weather is colder you are more prone to injury. It is worth warming up for a little bit longer than normal. A good way to get the blood pumping round the body quickly is by walking briskly (walking to the first tee does not count as a warm up!).
Mind your dimples!

Freezing temperatures can have an effect on the ball you use. If there are really cold temperatures they can affect the amount of distance the ball flies. It takes about 10 hours for the cold to effect the dimples of the ball so we recommend keeping your balls inside and not in the car or garage.

Heat pads
Heat pads have been very popular with golfers as they can be placed inside your glove or pockets. They do not last for hours on end but are a good short term solution.
It is extremely important to stay warm when playing golf. Being cold on the course can take the enjoyment out of playing so follow these instructions and you will have the winter round of your life.

Specialist Winter Equipment
The Sports HQ also offer a range of equipment designed especially for the winter months, such as the Forgan Golf Boot. Featuring a full waterproof design with ankle high coverage, excellent warmth retention properties and plenty of grip to stop sliding around in the mud of ice, these are ideal for keeping you playing throughout the winter months. Available at http://www.thesportshq.com