The Five Worst Exercises For Golfers

Your heart is in the right place. You want to be stronger, healthier, and play better golf. But if you're anything like the typical gym goers that Golf Digest fitness advisor Ben Shear sees, you're going about it the wrong way. Several popular exercises that you might think are helping you can put you on the fast track to injuries and make it hard to swing a golf club properly. Shear, who trains several players on the PGA Tour, including Jason Day, Luke Donald and Webb Simpson, has identified five exercises that you should stop doing and offers a better replacement for each.

SNEEZING, COUGHING, AND BIRDIEING

You're about a week out from your annual golf trip when the flu hits you like a linebacker. We know you're still hellbent on going. So here's some advice:

1. See your doctor within two days of feeling ill, and ask about taking one of the four antiviral prescription medications approved in the United States.

2. The virus can last two weeks, but you can be contagious for five to seven days after symptoms appear, so avoid airline travel and close contact with others during that time, even if it means flying in a day later.

3. Consider sitting out the least-desirable round and/or skip the evening festivities. You'll need as much sleep as possible.

4. Drink water and beverages with electrolytes such as coconut water.

5. Forget the "starve a fever" advice, and eat if you can stomach it. Playing golf requires calories.