We’ve all done it: tearing into the car park, slamming the boot, pulling the buggy out, and jogging straight to the first tee with barely five minutes to spare. You take two aggressive practice swings, step up to the ball, and inevitably block it two fairways over.
If you want to start shooting lower scores right out of the gate (and avoid tweaking your back on the front nine), you need to prep your body. We sat down with the experts at Riverside Golf Course to find out exactly how to get ready.
Pro Insights with Golf Expert Jenna Hunter
Stepping onto the course cold isn't just a physical risk, it actively hurts your scorecard. Jenna Hunter explains why taking a few minutes to get moving pays off right from the first tee:
“Beyond essential injury prevention, a proper warm-up directly affects how you strike the ball from hole one. Taking a few minutes to loosen up ensures your flexibility, mobility, and stability are fully switched on.”
Skipping those crucial few minutes usually means spending the first few holes fighting your body instead of focusing on your target. When you warm up properly before teeing off, your motion becomes smooth and predictable:
“When your body is warm and mobile, your motion is fluid, which helps ensure your distances are accurate right out of the gate rather than taking three or four holes to find your feel. Engaging the specific muscle groups used in the golf swing gets your core and lower body primed, setting you up for consistent power and balance.”
The 5-Minute Buggy Warm-Up
You don't need a half-hour session on the driving range or a full workout to get golf-ready. If you are rushing to make your tee time, Jenna recommends a quick, effective 3-step routine you can run through right beside your buggy or on the tee box.
- Leg Swings: Swing each leg forward/backward and side-to-side to open up your hips, activate your glutes, and establish lower-body stability.
- Squats with Arms Up in the Air: Perform deep squats with your arms extended overhead to engage your core, shoulders, and upper-back mobility for better swing posture.
- Swing Your Club: Take smooth, controlled practice swings with a club, starting easy and gradually increasing speed to lock in your rhythm, tempo, and muscle memory.