If you’re anything like me, your pre-round routine isn’t exactly robust. Living in New York City, playing a round of golf is an all-day affair. Between the time it takes to commute to and from the course plus the time spent on the course, total time spent can exceed seven or eight hours.
Given the considerable amount of time it takes just to play 18 holes, I seldom have time for a proper warm up pre-round. While I’d love to hit balls and stretch for an hour, I just don’t have that sort of flexibility in my schedule. So, when I do play, I’m usually loosening up with a few swings on the first tee and then getting to it.
This isn’t exactly ideal, but I make do with what I have. If I needed a perfect warm-up routine before every round, I’d play considerably less golf.
But just because I don’t have time to warm up like the pros do doesn’t mean I can’t get properly loose before I play. In fact, with the five-minute routine from fitness coach Mike Carroll, getting my body ready to play is easier than ever before. Check it out below.
1. Leg swings
Your legs are an integral part of your golf swing, so having them ready to fire properly is crucial. Carroll suggests some legs swings to get the hips and the hamstrings loose.
2. Pelvis rotations
You’ve got to coil your body correctly to generate swing speed, and part of that equation requires you to get separation between your pelvis and torso. The pelvis rotation stretch below will help you get your body ready to move in this manner early in the round.
2. Pelvis Rotations
Amateur golfers tend to really struggle with rotating their pelvis and creating separation between the pelvis and torso.
Pressing the club into the ground keeps the upper body in place, allowing you focus on the pelvis.
10 reps each way. pic.twitter.com/HRY7IfcqXN
— Fit For Golf – Mike Carroll (@Fit_For_Golf) June 26, 2025
3. Full-body rotation
It can be tempting to get lazy and just use your arms and hands to swing the club, but when you do this, you cost yourself in consistency and power. Get your body used to the feeling of proper rotation with a full-body rotation exercise.
3. Full Body Rotation
Let’s get the pelvis and torso rotating, and feeling our power the movement.
By taking the hands & arms out of the equation, we can’t be lazy with our rotation.
Gradually build the speed & power.
10 reps each way. pic.twitter.com/KuIpSnEuUo
— Fit For Golf – Mike Carroll (@Fit_For_Golf) June 26, 2025
4. Arm circles
Don’t entirely take your arms out of the equation when you swing, though. You still need them to function when you swing. Use some arm circles to loosen up your arms on the first tee.
4. Arm Circles
Focus on keeping your elbows extended & getting your arms close to your ears as they pass your head.
This will maximise shoulder range of motion (stretch) on each rep.
Restricted shoulder mobility can mean shorter swings & less speed.
Work on it!
10 each way. pic.twitter.com/2tOn6V0E15
— Fit For Golf – Mike Carroll (@Fit_For_Golf) June 26, 2025
5. Neck rotations
You might not think of your neck as an important element in the golf swing, but it certainly is. No one can swing to their fullest capability with a stiff neck. Use some neck rotations to loosen it up.
5. Neck Rotations
Golfers tend to forget about the importance of “cervical spine” / neck rotation….until they have an issue there, & then realise how hard it is to swing with a stiff neck!
This is a simple way to warm it up & keep it mobile.
10 reps in each direction. pic.twitter.com/FGZziCWfuc
— Fit For Golf – Mike Carroll (@Fit_For_Golf) June 26, 2025
; "Use this 5-minute warm-up to get loose before your next round")
Zephyr Melton
Golf.com Editor
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
