Your hands are the only contact you have with the club,and unfortunately for most golfers,this is where all the problems begin. Why? Because when we play we all get nervous at times in tense situations like the first tee in front of all your friends or competitors.Under pressure we revert back to squeezing the club tighter than we intended,thus creating an improper chain reaction culminating in less than desired results.

Here's an excellent way to warm up those particular muscles groups before and during your round to counteract our tendencies to "hit,"and instead will allow you to train your golf muscles not just your golf mind-to make the swings you've imagined in your practice sessions.First,grab one of your clubs with your left arm only and lift the club to about chest level high.You can use your right arm as support if you wish,as this will help isolate the amount of movement in your left elbow.Just put your right hand underneath your left elbow as you do the drill.Next,gently allow the clubhead to be lowered by turning your left forearm to almost a horizonal position. The key is to keep your left elbow maintained in the same position that you had when you started.This is essential in order to maximize the resistance,and really work this particular muscle group which is vital in your golf swing.

Then slowly bring the clubhead back to its original starting position.Now allow the forearm to rotate in the other direction and hold for a second once you reach the desired horizonal angle.You'll find that doing a series of reps like15/12/10 and alternating to the other arm,will more than suffice in the beginning to get a good workout for your forearms,hands and wrists.The purpose of this drill is to increase flexibilty in your wrists and forearms which,in turn will prevent injury due to the jarring downward blows that occasionally occur in a golfer hitting down too much on the ball with their iron shots.This exercise will also teach you the feeling of how your forearms(bigger muscles)need to control the smaller muscles,which are your hands and wrists.Most golfers are under the impression that the hands/wrists control the arms,when in reality it's the other way around.

Doing this type of specifically designed program daily will help you reap benefits quickly by preventing injuries and increasing your clubhead speed in your swing-which means longer, and straighter shots.Remember most of your bad shots are caused when you use you"hands" to hit the ball.Any attempt to hit the ball using your hands will ultimately lead you to break down your wrists,thus causing you loss of power and control.The best part of this drill is you can practice it in the privacy of your home,office and on the links.You'll be training yourself how your arms move in the swing without having to pound thousands of golf balls daily stressing your joints.Having a good understanding of how your muscles work in your golf swing will be critical to your success.

Tom Ward can be reached at www.adventurousgolf.com.