TIPS: Your Pre-Session Golf Warm-Up Checklist
A simulator session does not have to begin with a full-speed swing. Before your next visit to Birdie Golf Center in Metro Vancouver, plan a short warm-up that moves from easy standing movements to relaxed practice swings. The aim is not to reach a particular stretch or swing speed. It is to give yourself a calm, gradual transition into hitting balls.
1. Check your space before moving
Start without a ball in front of you. Check that the mat is clear of loose clubs, bags and other objects, and that everyone else is outside your movement area. A club held across your shoulders extends beyond your body, so allow room on both sides. Follow the simulator bay’s safety instructions and stay within its designated swinging area.
2. Spend a minute getting moving
Begin with about 30 seconds of easy marching in place, letting your arms move naturally. Then stand with your feet roughly hip-width apart and slowly shift your weight from one foot to the other for another 20–30 seconds. Keep both movements comfortable and unhurried. This is a brief preparation period, not a workout or a test of balance.
3. Make gentle standing turns
Hold a golf club horizontally across the back of your shoulders, with your hands comfortably wide apart. Rest it lightly rather than pressing it against your neck. Stand tall with soft knees and your feet around shoulder-width apart. Slowly turn your chest a little to one side, return to centre, then turn to the other side.
Try four to six turns each way. Let your hips turn naturally rather than locking them in place, and avoid chasing the end of your range. Keep breathing normally; do not bounce or use the club to pull yourself farther around. If the across-shoulders position feels awkward, put the club down and cross your arms loosely over your chest instead. Stop any movement that hurts.
4. Find a comfortable address position
Put the club in front of you and take your usual golf grip. With your knees slightly bent, tip forward gently from your hips into an address position, then stand upright again. Repeat four or five times without a ball. Notice whether you can settle with your weight comfortably balanced through your feet rather than leaning heavily onto your toes or heels.
5. Rehearse before making contact
Choose a wedge or short iron and make five slow, short practice swings. Keep the motion small enough that it feels easy to control. Follow with another five slightly longer swings if comfortable. Let the club finish naturally instead of trying to manufacture a big finish. Keep checking your surroundings, and only swing when the area is clear.
6. Let the first shots stay easy
Begin with five short shots, then five relaxed half to three-quarter swings. Pause briefly between balls to reset your stance and grip. Treat these as preparation rather than a distance test: there is no need to chase a simulator number yet. Move towards longer swings only when the shorter motion feels comfortable and repeatable.
Allow roughly five minutes for the movements and rehearsals, then take your time with the opening shots. Adjust the repetitions to suit your pace. A useful warm-up is simple enough to remember: clear the space, get moving, turn gently, rehearse, then hit.
