BLISTERS 101
Your hands feel like tenderised meat – now what?
In hindsight, maybe that third bucket of range balls was a mistake. It’s OK, we all get a little overzealous when golf season begins. If the result of your practice session is a blister or three, here’s a refresher on how to deal with them (so you can go hit more range balls).
- Drain with a sterile needle by piercing an edge, not the middle. Leave the layer of dead skin intact if possible.
- Dab antibiotic cream on it.
- Place a padded bandage over the area. Moleskin works best if the blister is at the base of the fingers or on the palm.
PREVENTION: Feel a tender spot?
Before the blister occurs, cover it with thin athletic tape. You might look like Rocky, but you’ll be able to last at least another round.
STICK THE LANDING
The second half of many exercises in the gym are often ignored. For example, the lowering of the weight in a bench press is as important as lifting the weight.
Here’s one more to try. Give it a go, it will improve your fast-twitch fibres, and your game:
- Lace your hands behind your head, and get into a squat position.
- Leap straight up, as high as you can in an explosive movement.
- Land as softly and smoothly as possible. Think of how gymnasts stick their landings at the end of a routine. That’s what you should focus on.
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D IS KEY
The top of your vitamin list… Natural Vitaman D is difficult to get during the winter because the sun’s UV rays can’t sufficiently penetrate the atmosphere. But in summer, there’s no excuse. Ten to 20 minutes of sun exposure directly on the skin, without the use of sunscreen, is the key to getting an adequate amount of the wonder vitamin, says Dr Ara Suppiah, health consultant to several US PGA Tour pros. Vitamin-D deficiency has been linked to everything from depression to heart disease. It also contributes to aging issues such as diabetes and bone diseases. “Even the pros don’t get enough,” Suppiah says. “It’s the No.1 abnormal blood test on tour.” Suppiah suggests getting tested at your next physical. If you’re deficient, take supplements (especially in the winter) but also expose your skin to the sun for short periods. “Sunscreen is a must for golfers,” Suppiah says, “but you can’t ignore the importance of sun exposure to your overall health.”
