There’s a reason squats are such a popular exercise. Squats have many benefits, especially for golfers. “Squats are a great exercise for golfers looking for lower body strength, healthy knees, a healthy back, improved posture, and mobility in the knees, hips, and ankles,” says Ann Christine Allen, Golf Digest certified fitness trainer. says. Additionally, doing squats will also help you learn how to use the ground to generate power in your golf swing. The only trick is, to get all these benefits from squats, you have to do them correctly. Here are four things Allen says to keep in mind when doing squats.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your feet turned slightly outward.
“The patella (kneecap) naturally extends slightly outward, so you want to follow that when performing a squat,” explains Allen.
Lower your body by moving your knees forward over your second toes.
During a squat, Allen says, drive your knees forward the same distance as you push your tailbone back.
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Keep your spine straight throughout.
Allen says you should feel like your sternum is being lifted forward while squatting.
“You can use a golf club to increase awareness,” Allen says. Pick up the club and hold it so that the clubhead is behind your head and the shaft runs through your spine. The shaft should remain in contact with the spine during the squat.
Bend from the waist, not from the back.
Holding the golf club in place will also help you recognize if you are bending from your hips. If you are arching your back rather than from your hips, the shaft will move away from your spine. Allen found that people complain of back pain while squatting because they are bending from the back, not the hips.
