If your elbow (for example, your left elbow for a right-handed golfer) bends on the backswing, you may be restricted in your chest/front shoulder area. But, if you are able to open up your chest during the take-away you can create a very wide take-away.

It is common for the muscles of the chest/front shoulder area to grow tighter as we age. The only way to counterract this is to stretch and strengthen these muscles through light resistance training. The myth that strength training can damage your golf has been disproven, and without strength training your body will grow tighter and weaker with age.

One very simple exercise that can be done in your home with minimal equipment is the alternate arm chest flye on a stability ball.

By using free weights instead of machines, requires that you use the stabilizing muscles in your shoulders, just like in your golf swing. Doing movements in space, rather than "on" a machine will greatly benefit your golf swing.

Additionally, by incorporating a stability ball you will be strengthening your entire core.

Instructions:

• Grab dumbbells and sit on the stability ball, then walk feet out until upper back and neck are supported by the ball
• Slightly bend elbows while holding dumbbells
• Hands are together and arms are extended directly above chest
  
  
• Slowly lower one arm until even with chest (as if looking out to the side)
• Feel a good stretch across chest and front of shoulder
• Maintain the other arm in it's extended position until the moving arm completes a full repeition
• Repeat until set is done for both arms

• Don't jerk the weights up; doing so will make it difficult for you to stay on the ball
• Don't let elbows bend too much, keep stretch in chest area
• Don't drop hips down, keep them up for less stress on low back

• Improves range of motion in the chest and front of shoulder for more width on back swing
• Promotes a better pre-stretch from top of back swing to provide more clubhead speed and power on down swing
• Reduces or prevents injury to shoulder.