Yoga for Golfers: Improve Your Swing & Prevent Injuries

Men playing golf - Yoga for golfers.jpg

The game of golf can be a great way to maintain your health and fitness. However, it is not without its risks. The constant twisting and turning of the body is hard on muscles, joints, and bones. It can also lead to injuries such as sprains or tears in ligaments or tendons.

In this article, we'll explore why golfers should consider practising yoga to improve their performance and reduce their risk of injuries.

Is yoga good for golfers?

Yoga is extremely beneficial for golfers. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Improved strength and flexibility, which can help avoid injury during play.

  • A better range of motion allows for a wider variety of shots to be made much easier on the course.

  • Yoga practice helps golfers learn how to breathe correctly throughout their swing, making it more efficient and less strenuous on muscles over time (and reducing fatigue).

Many golfers will tell you that they are not flexible and yoga may be a waste of time. However, due to the nature of swinging an iron club with so much power behind it (especially if your technique is less than perfect), injuries can become very common for those who do not have strong core muscles or flexibility in their hips, hamstrings, shoulders and back.

A good range of motion allows for better shots on the course which equals higher scores! In addition to this benefit, practising yoga regularly has been shown to reduce fatigue over long days at the tournament thanks to improved breathing techniques as well. And finally - don't think you're too inflexible for Yoga just because you've never done it before!

The best yoga poses for golfers

Yoga in general is beneficial for golfers. However, there are certain yoga poses that can be especially helpful to people who want to improve their performance with this sport The Sun Salutation, Triangle Pose, and Warrior II pose all focus on the core muscles needed when swinging a club or hitting a ball. These include your abs, lower back and glutes which will help you maintain proper form while exerting energy during each swing of the game.

Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar)

Sun salutations are a series of twelve yoga poses that work the entire body. It is also known as Surya Yoga, and it has been used for thousands of years to increase strength and flexibility. The ancient Taoists believed in its power so much they called this sequence "moving meditation." In addition to being good exercise; the Sun Salutation can help you build self-confidence when playing golf by making you focus on each pose while performing them mindfully rather than worrying about your score or what others think.

Triangle Pose

This pose helps golfers improve balance which will result in better aim during shots after practising this position regularly. Another important feature is that it stretches out several key muscles, including the side of your body and thigh.

Yogis focus on Triangle Pose a lot because it helps build strength, flexibility, and self-esteem while also building confidence in golfers by helping them improve balance which is an important part of successfully hitting shots during matches or tournaments.

Warrior II Pose

This pose is another one of the popular yoga poses for golfers. This position helps stretch out your body and strengthen muscles that are important in swing and follow-through motions while playing a game like golf or just hitting practice shots at the driving range. Also, this particular pose has an impact on improving balance which will be very helpful to have when you're taking swings during a match.

The Warrior II Pose stretches out multiple parts of your body including hamstrings, groin area, hips, arms and shoulders. It's also extremely beneficial because it works on strengthening core muscles as well as giving people better posture by stretching their chest region which might otherwise get tight due to poor form during swings.

At-home yoga routine for golfers

If you can't make it to a studio but want a quick yoga routine that you can follow along in the comfort of your home, I recommend checking out Yoga with Adriene's Yoga routine for Golfer's on YouTube.


Does yoga increase swing speed?

If you're looking to increase your swing speed then yoga is not going to be the answer. Swinging faster than what is natural and comfortable will most likely result in a poor shot which ends up being counterproductive anyway.

However, yoga can help with balance, strength, flexibility, focus and breathing techniques which are all important when it comes down to performing well on the golf course during play or tournaments.

Can yoga improve putting?

Yes! Yoga helps with balance, strength, focus and breathing techniques all important for making that perfect putt or shot during a round of golf (or even just practising at home). You'll be surprised what kind of difference these little changes will make on how well you're able to play come game day.

Can I do yoga with a golfers elbow?

Golfers elbow is a common injury that golfers suffer from after playing their favourite sport for a long period of time. It's an overuse injury, meaning it is the result of repetitive strain on the tendons and muscles in your elbow joint.

While yoga poses may not prevent injuries altogether they will definitely improve flexibility and strength around the affected area which should reduce discomfort, pain and aid recovery times if done correctly (and regularly).


Jonathan Gilbert

Plant-based yoga enthusiast, guitarist and nature lover. Jonathan is passionate about empowering men to be the best versions of themselves through men’s yoga.

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