Summer is in full swing and the golf courses are too. The longer days allow time for more golf. We all are looking for that technique or equipment that will help us drive the ball just a little farther. Golf magazines have ads for the latest and greatest clubs. Power and control over that little ball is what we want when we play so we are willing to buy anything that will help us reach that goal. But do we need better equipment or better body mechanics? Equipment has come a long way, but if you are suffering from tight hips, your game will surely not be what you would like it to be.

Tight hips can ruin a person's golf game. No matter what equipment they buy, it will not help them reach their full potential as a golfer if they suffer from tight hips. Watch the pros and you will see they have proper rotation of the hips and shift of the weight between one side of the body and the other. In other words, they can move their hips freely without restriction. In turn this will help them add yards to their drive.

Stretching tight hip flexors as well as lower back muscles is crucial to getting your hips to be flexible. Also, stretching hamstrings, quadriceps, adductors and abductors as well as the gluteal muscles will help to alleviate tight hips. If this all sounds a little daunting, seek a personal trainer that understands the basic mechanics of the golf swing and have them watch your golf swing and put together a stretching program that will help you gain flexibility in your hips. While there is much more to the proper body mechanics of the golf swing, starting with loosening up the hips is a sure way to drive the ball farther and enjoy the game more.

So enjoy the next nine or eighteen with a more flexible body. No question, your game will improve. If your course allows walkers, then take the opportunity to walk nine or eighteen holes and enjoy the benefits of a light cardio workout as well.

For more information about fitness, please contact Kay Colgan at Middleburg Pilates and Personal training, 14 S. Madison Street, Middleburg, Virginia, 540-687-6995.