How To Remove Tension From Your Golf Swing [5+ Relaxation Strategies]

• Tension in your body can affect your golf swing speed, grip, balance, and more.
• To relieve tension, focus on softening your jaw, relaxing your shoulders and forearms, and experimenting with different grip pressures.
• You can also increase confidence in your game by developing proper swing mechanics through instruction and practice.
• A Reddit user shared that golfers exhale slowly as they set up to the ball and then swing once their lungs are emptied.
• As another Reddit user said, take a moment to evaluate your current state of mind. Why are you feeling tense when you weren’t before? Where is this tension coming from? Because golf is played mainly between your ears.
• All in all, flexibility is key to having a tension-free golf swing—implement golf-specific flexibility exercises into a training program to improve range of motion.

I have been a colleague of Jane’s for quite a few years now, and I have never seen her play golf before. I was quite surprised one day when she came up to me and asked me how to remove tension from her golf swing. I had never played golf before either, but I told her what I had heard from other people who played the game.

Apparently, Jane had been struggling with her golf swing for a while and she was looking for ways to improve her game. She had tried different techniques, but nothing seemed to work for her. She was getting frustrated and tense every time she played, which was having a negative impact on her performance.

I told her that she needed to relax and loosen up. I explained that tension would only make things worse and she would end up making more mistakes. I recommended that she take some deep breaths and try to stay calm and focused. I also suggested that she take a few practice swings before starting the game.

Jane followed my advice and it worked! She managed to relax and loosen up, and her golf swing improved dramatically. She was able to make more shots and achieve better results.

Ways To Relax Your Golf Swing

How can you remove tension from your golf swing? To answer that question, we must first understand what tension is and what it does to our swing. Tension is a physical or emotional state of being which causes us to hold our body in a way that’s not natural.

This unnatural holding creates resistance and prevents us from swinging the club freely. As a result, our swing becomes slow and jerky, and we are much more likely to miss the ball entirely.

In this article, we will explore three ways in which you can release tension from your body and improve your golf swing. We’ll also look at exercises you can do to help keep yourself relaxed on the course.

Below are ways in which you can remove tension from your golf swing:

1. Relax

The most effective way to improve your game is to relax. Yes, it might sound simple, but once you’re on the tee and ready to get into position, take a deep breath in and out and feel the air leaving your body.

For most golfers, tension is held in their shoulders, and taking a deep breath will naturally relax your shoulders, leading to a great swing. By refocusing on the movement and breathing, you’ll be less nervous and succeed in releasing any tightened muscles.

Most of us tend to hold our stress in our shoulders, leading to tension and pain. To help alleviate this tension, it’s important to take a deep breath and relax your shoulders. A spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association suggests doing these exercises a few times a week.

First, raise your arms out to the side and inhale deeply. As you exhale, let your arms drop and feel the tension leaving your body. For an added stretch, try clasping your hands behind your head and gently pulling your head down towards your chest.

If you find yourself feeling tense throughout the day, take a few moments to do this simple exercise and you’ll be on your way to stress-relief in no time.

2. Hold wooden T-shaped support between your teeth

This may sound strange, but don’t write it off until you’ve tried it. If you feel like your swing is becoming tenser, an excellent way to measure the amount of tension you’re using is to hold a tee in your teeth.

By taking a couple of practice swings with the tee in your mouth, you’ll be more mindful of how tight your jaw and mouth are. This way, you can identify how much tension you’re holding and where it’s coming from.

The goal is to relax your jaw, so the tension isn’t as severe throughout the rest of your swing.

3. Carefully Examine Your Destination

Golfers usually take multiple, brief looks at the flag or toward where they are aiming down the fairway instead of a single long stare at their goal. Taking time for one continuous look will give you more opportunities to focus on your form and keep track of the ball.

By staring at the hole you are trying to shoot into, you will stay more focused and present. By often taking mini-breaks to look around, you can also reduce built-up tension in your arms and shoulders.

When you’re staring down a difficult shot, it’s easy to get tense. Anxiety about making a mistake can ruin your form and cause inconsistency. Relax, focus on your goal, and take slow deep breaths to ease the tension.

4. Taking a practice swing is crucial if you want to make your shot count

Sometimes our swing can become tenser as we rush to tee off and make a quick shot. However, taking a practice swing is vital to understand the distance and direction of where you want your ball to go.

By taking the time for a few practice swings, you’ll release tension and improve your chances of making a successful shot.

5. Keep your eyes focused on the ball at all times

Any athlete knows that keeping your eyes focused on the ball is essential to success in any sport. Whether you’re hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, or kicking a soccer ball, if you take your eyes off the ball even for a split second, you’re likely to miss your target. But why is this?

There are two main reasons why keeping your eyes on the ball is so important. First, it’s the only way to accurately gauge the ball’s speed and direction. If you’re not looking at the ball, you won’t be able to adjust your movements accordingly.

Second, keeping your eyes on the ball helps you to stay calm and avoid getting distracted. It’s easy to get caught up in the crowd or your own thoughts when you’re not focused on what you’re doing, but if you can keep your eyes on the ball, you’ll be able to block out everything else and stay in the moment.

So next time you’re on the field or court, remember to keep your eyes on the ball – it just might help you score that winning goal or make that crucial shot.

Exercises that can help release tension

Some exercises that can also help release tension while on the course include:

• Shoulder rolls – Roll your shoulders forward and backward several times, releasing tension.
• Neck stretches – Slowly tilt your head to the left and hold for a few seconds, then tilt to the right and hold. Repeat several times.
• Arm circles – Extend your arms to the sides and make slow circles with them, releasing tension in the shoulders and arms.
• Deep breathing – Take deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth, focusing on releasing tension with each exhale.

Conclusion

So, we’ve looked at four ways to release tension from your golf swing and improve your game. From holding a tee between your teeth to deep breathing exercises, these tips will help you stay relaxed on the course and make more successful shots.

If you’re looking for additional help improving your swing, seek professional help from a coach.