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GolfRx: Considerations for the Senior Golfer

Being able to accommodate for age can help a player maintain their game through time as well as prolong ones golfing years. The senior golfer has to recognize their physical limitations and have expectations that match those limitations. That might mean playing from the next tee box closer to the green. Keep the game fun even if it’s not the same game you may have had in the past.

Equipment Suggestions That Can Help the Senior Golfer

Golfers need to consider equipment that is easier to handle such as more flexible graphite shafts that fit slower club head speeds. If the shaft is too stiff a player will lose distance. Graphite lightens the weight of the golf club making it easier to control as well as increases the club speed. More lofted woods will help with both distance and controlling direction. The introduction of hybrid clubs to replace longer irons has made one of the biggest differences to improving the senior golfer’s game.

For the golf ball, choose a low compression golf ball made for slower club head speeds.

Tips to Help the Swing

Poor posture is the biggest problem I see senior golfer’s having. Some of the problems with poor posture are due to back problems and lack of flexibility, but a more common reason is due to wearing glasses. Players need to drop their head down to look through the top of the glasses to have clear focus. Dropping the head down too far will cause poor posture.

Many golfers will wear distance glasses for playing and either change to reading glasses to keep score or have their playing partner keep score.

Players need to work on bending forward from the pelvis to keep the back as flat as they can. A rounded back makes it harder to turn in the swing. Dropping the head down too far will cause a rounding of the back which makes it harder to turn.

Other helpful set-up changes would be to play the ball more in the center of the stance, this may be necessary due to the decrease in flexibility making it difficult to turn and laterally move weight to the left side in the follow through.

Turning both feet out or using an open stance will allow for more hip rotation. This will allow for a bigger back swing taking pressure off the back at the same time.

The Swing

Losing strength in the forearms not only can result in loss of distance, but also cause a player to hold the club with too much grip pressure. A player who has more overall strength does not have to grip the club as tightly. We know that gripping the club too tight will prevent the wrist and hands from moving as well as make it difficult to stay balanced. Strengthening your hands and forearms is an easy way to improve your swing and gain distance. There are many different types of grip-strengthening devices that are made for the golfer (Fig. 1).

A lack of rotation in the back swing is the other big reason for the loss of distance. Improving your posture is the first step to more rotation. Always start with the set-up; it is the prerequisite to the back swing. To help improve your range of motion in the back swing try putting a club behind your shoulders, cross your right foot over your left, and rotate to the right (Fig. 2). If keeping your balance is difficult with your feet crossed do the same stretch sitting down (Fig. 3).

The point is to not let your hips turn. If there is no resistance in the hips there will be no stretch. If getting the club behind you back is too difficult, use a broomstick; it is longer than a golf club which allows your hand to be placed farther apart from each other. This will also give you a good stretch in the shoulders. Eventually, you will be able to get your hands close enough to each other to use a club.

Spending a little time stretching and strengthening will help make golf the game of a lifetime that it is. Have fun with your practice.

Thanks to Dick Bury, PGA Professional at Carl’s Golfland, for demonstrating drills to help the senior golfer.

Any questions or suggestions for future articles please contact Joe at joep@carlsgolfland.com.