Health Benefits of Swinging a Golf Club
Researchers say that 30 minutes of exercise per day has many positive health benefits. Swinging a golf club repeatedly for a half per day also has some important physical and mental health benefits. Swinging a golf club is a form of aerobic activity. In general, engaging in aerobic exercise offers a myriad of health benefits, such as increasing oxygen to the blood and the lungs, carrying waste products to get rid of, keeping arteries clear, promoting endorphins, increasing the mind’s sharpness, and helping to regulate blood sugar. Aerobic activity can also increase one’s immune system and raise one’s levels of well-being. Swinging a golf club for thirty minutes daily can help one lose weight and build muscle. It also helps to build endurance and will help increase one’s flexibility as well (Aerobic exercise: Top 10 reasons to get physical, 1998-2015).
Another benefit of golf is cardiovascular strengthening. According to the article “What are the Health Benefits of Golf?” by Steve Silverman, walking a “6,500-yard course to get your heart rate up and to work up a sweat. Walking a course on a sunny day will lower harmful cholesterol and speed up your metabolism. A full round of golf can help a 200-pound man burn 350 calories or more” (Silverman, 1996-2015, paragraph 1).
Being conscious of swing weight is a great way to get the most out of 30 minutes of daily exercise. To make it even easier to swing a regular club, one thing that one can do is to swing a weighted golf club. A way to create a weighed golf club is to place what is known as a donut on the club. Swinging a weighted club will loosen one up even more, increasing one’s flexibility. When an individual goes back to swinging a non-weighted golf club, the swing will be even less stress on the body (Matthew, 2015).
However, swinging a regular club or a weighted one requires some warm-up time. Warming up with some proper stretches will prevent injury and help to keep the body limber and in good shape (Matthew, 2015). Swinging a golf club requires some care and protective methods before beginning the exercises. The last thing that one wants to do is pull a muscle in the back, legs, neck, or arm. One should also start off slow and gradually add exercises into one’s daily routine. In addition to this, wrist bands can also be worn to prevent hurting and/or straining the wrist. If one suffers from a serious medical condition, such as heart disease, COPD, asthma, or other health conditions, one should contact one’s doctor before starting the exercises (Welch, 1999-2015).
Another health benefit from swinging a golf club is increasing one’s strength. For instance, if you combine the exercise with carrying a golf bag that is at least 30 pounds, then that can build up your strength even more. Carrying the bag can really serve to build bones and muscle. However one must be careful to avoid neck or back injuries (Silverman, 1996-2015).
When swinging a gold club, the muscles are really working, especially two types of muscles. One of these muscles is known as the rotational muscles. These muscles, found in the lower back, hips, abdominals, and obliques are worked when one is twisting and turning. However, when one actually starts to swing the golf club, the core muscles and supporting muscles are activated and worked, these muscles found in the arms, wrists, and shoulders (Lewis, 1996-2015).
There are many ways to get in 30 minutes of golf swing exercise per day by varying the types of exercises that one does. One type of exercise is golf exercise tubing; it is beneficial in that it strengthens one’s core golf muscles. One way to do this is to attach the tubing to a door or another piece sturdy structure. Then, grab the handles of the tubing. Keep doing this over and over, in the motion of a back swing (Lewis, 1996-2015).
Swinging a golf club can also give people some additional positive health benefits, evident in the passage of “improved circulation to improved flexibility. A good cardiovascular workout occurs when walking the entire course. Pain levels can be decreased by playing golf because the joints and muscles will be moving. Arthritis can be helped because golf loosens stiff joints” (Welch, 1999-2015, paragraph 3).
More exercise naturally results in greater sleep, the daily 30 minutes of golf swing exercise serving to help one fall into a deeper sleep at night (Silverman, 1996-2015). A few other health benefits are also apparent. According to the article “The Physical Benefits of Playing Golf” by Crystal Welch “The golf swing and stance play a major role in improving one's posture, overall balance and muscular coordination. By having these health promoting factors, an individual experiences less pain and discomfort. Golf can be played at all ages, so even children can use it to get more physical activity. . .” (Welch, 1999-2015, paragraph 5).
Swinging a golf club for 30 minutes per day is beneficial for one’s health in many ways, such as strengthening one’s cardiovascular system and muscles, improving flexibility, helping one control weight, lowering cholesterol, and increasing one’s metabolism. There are many golf club variations, such as using a weighted club, golf exercise tubing, or just using a standard golf club. An aerobic exercise, swinging a golf club is good for staying in solid physical and mental shape throughout one’s life.
References
Aerobic exercise: Top 10 reasons to get physical. (1998-2015). Retrieved from Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/aerobic-exercise/art-20045541?pg=2
Lewis, J. (1996-2015). Golf Swing Training Exercises. Retrieved from Demand Studio.com website: http://www.golflink.com/list_122_golf-swing-training-exercises.html
Matthew, K. (2015). Benefits of Swinging a Weighted Club. Retrieved from Women's Golf Center: http://womensgolfcenter.com/1020/benefits-of-swinging-a-weighted-club/
Silverman, S. (1996-2015). What Are the Health Benefits of Golf? Retrieved from Demand Media.com website : http://www.golflink.com/list_140_what-health-benefits-golf.html
Welch, C. (1999-2015). The Physical Benefits of Playing Golf . Retrieved from Ehow.com website: http://www.ehow.com/about_5130719_physical-benefits-playing-golf.html
