A Note from Karen:

There are less than two weeks until the summer golf season begins. If you practice some aspect of your game everyday until then, you’ll be ready to start the season out the right way. This time of year is hard to find time to practice- with kids getting out of school, graduations and vacations. So I have designed a mini-Cardiogolf Challenge to help you get some daily practice.

Today’s Challenge-Keep Your Lead Arm Extended

Although your lead arm (left arm of a right-handed golfer) does not need to be kept ramrod straight, you do want to keep your lead arm extended to the top of your swing. If you are executing a complete shoulder turn to the top of your swing, then your lead arm will stay relatively straight, keeping some distance between your hands and your head, getting you behind the ball to hit with some power. If you do not make a complete turn with your shoulders, then you’ll end up bending your elbows too much to get the club to the top of the swing, destroying the proper radius of the swing and narrowing your backswing.

There are several factors that contribute to an extended lead arm at the top of the swing, but by simply concentrating on making a good shoulder turn and working on getting more flexible in your shoulders, back and arms will help you keep that arm straight.

Your lead arm doesn’t need to be completely straight at the top of your swing, but you don’t want to bend your elbow either.

Try this exercise-

Stand in your golf stance.
Hold your lead wrist with your back hand as shown. (Hold left wrist with your right hand if you are right-handed.)
Pull your shoulder and keep your lead arm straight as you swing to the top. Pull your shoulder across and extend your lead arm with your other hand. Literally pull your arm straight.
Hold for a few seconds to feel a nice stretch in your shoulder, back and forearm.
Repeat on the opposite arm. Always stretch opposite side the equal amount to keep your muscles balanced and injury free.

Pull your lead arm straight as you swing to the top of your backswing. Hold for a few moments and repeat on opposite side. Do this several times a week to help stretch out shoulders and back.

COMING SOON-

“DISCOVER A UNIQUE AND SIMPLE PROGRAM TO IMPROVE YOUR SWING AND SHAPE UP YOUR BODY AND TRIM YOUR HANDICAP.”

Cardiogolf Online 30-Day Golf Fitness Challenge with Karen Palacios-Jansen

Get the physical edge to take your game to the next level. Better golf requires getting physical and Cardiogolf provides the exercise tools for any golfer to improve his or her game. Cardiogolf, a comprehensive program that provides golf-specific exercises to improve strength, flexibility, endurance and your swing technique.

LPGA Teaching Professional and “Golf Digest” Top 50 Female Instructor Karen Palacios-Jansen is offering a unique golf-specific fitness 30-Day Challenge to jump-start your golf season. Email Karen at KPJ@swingbladegolf.com for more information.