While golf is not the contact sport that football or basketball may be, injuries while playing golf can occur. Most injuries are mild and easy to treat, but, if you want to avoid injuries altogether, this article will give you some tips to do just that.

First, be in pretty good shape before you begin. Walking or running will help increase your cardiovascular stamina. If you don’t rent a cart on the course, you will be walking, so you should be prepared and fit enough to make it all 18 holes.

Stretch before and after playing. You probably won’t see many golfers doing this, as the physical exertion that golf brings is underestimated. But just as you would stretch before running or biking, you should do the same before golfing. Stretching warms up the muscles and ligaments, and can mean the difference between hurt or sore muscles tomorrow.

Take golf lessons to learn the proper stance and swing. If you don’t know the best posture to use when playing, you run the risk of pulling a muscle or injuring your back. A qualified instructor will show you the exact way to tee off and move when swinging so you lessen that risk, and improve your shot at the same time!

Golf is known as a sport that is good for your mind and your health – so be sure to play it in a way that won’t injure you today or later down the road!