5 timeless tips for older golfers, according to a hall of famer

1. Take care of your body

First thing’s first, Langer says to take care of your body. We’ll get into the specifics of what that means, but as a general rule of thumb: Watching what you eat, getting regular exercise, and staying flexible — that’s maybe most important of all.

“People think golf may not be a sport, but it is a sport and it’s demanding,” he says. “As we get older, we lose both strength and flexibility. Every year we lose a percent or two. We may feel top of the world when we’re in our 40s, but when we get into our 60s, we start not feeling so great.”

It’s never too late or too early to get started, Langer says, and once you do, you’ll enjoy the benefits for years.

2. Stretch every day

Specifically, Langer says to start by simply stretching every day. He says you can work with somebody to help you, but don’t use that as an excuse: Just Google a stretching routine and get started.

“Just stretch for a few minutes every day, either in the morning or evening,” he says. “You can do it at home, you can do it in the office.”

Mad respect to peak Langer for making regular starts in Germany and dominating for decades

German Nat’l Open wins:
75, 77, 79, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92

German Open wins:
81, 82, 85, 86, 93

German Masters wins:
89, 91, 97, 01

Gotta show them who’s boss on home turf

— LKD (@LukeKerrDineen) October 19, 2021

3. Strengthen your core

You don’t need to hit the weights hard to play good golf forever, Langer says. But you’ll be well served to strengthen the middle of your body. That, Langer says, has been central to his success (yes, pun intended).

“The core, the midsection of the body is very, very important,” he says. “Your body’s biggest muscles are [your glutes] and [your abdominals]. If you use those, you can make a bigger turn.”

4. Don’t cheat your turn

Langer mentioned turn there, which was another important theme of our conversation. Turning is power, Langer says, and you need power as you get older. If you can’t turn, you won’t just hit the ball shorter: You’ll also compensate in ways that will make you worse.

“A lot of people can’t turn even in their 50s and 60s. They may turn a little bit, but then they collapse their arms and think they’re way back there, when there’s no turn,” he said, demonstrating above. “That’s when trouble sets in. You get a lot of mishits.”

Making sure not to cheat your turn is the swing thought at the heart of this. Keep your arms straight, and turn your torso.

5. Improve your fundamentals

Last but not least are the fundamentals, Langer says. They’re called that for a reason, and they never go out of style. Keep a close eye on them every time you practice, and they’ll last a lifetime.

“Get a good foundation,” he says. “Grip, stance, good posture, all that stuff is very important.”