3 stretches to do before entering the laser tag zone

Fast, brutal and electric - three words that are synonymous with the laser tag zone at ZONE BOWLING. In a battle against your family and friends, bringing anything less than your A game isn't acceptable so you need to be ready for the fight.

Of course, your preparation isn't just mental, you should be physically prepared to run, jump and dodge the attacks from the enemy forces. This starts with stretching exercises.

Stretching before something like laser tag might attract the laughter of a few people, but you'll be the one having the last laugh when your mate pulls a hammy after five minutes. As such, here are three stretches to try out before your next battle.

1) Hamstring stretch

One of the most basic, but important stretches is for the hamstring - as your mate's will find out.

Simply sit on the ground and bend one of your legs inward while keeping the other extended straight. From this position, reach as far towards your toes as you can. The more flexible among us will be able to pull their toes, but as long as you can feel the backs of your legs (hamstrings) you're doing a good job. Hold each leg for around 30 seconds.

2) Shoulder stretch

In a game of laser tag, you need to be quick to draw your weapon in order to strike your enemies. This will work your arms and shoulders so this is another area of the body to stretch beforehand.

A simple shoulder stretch involves crossing one arm across the other, with your hand pulling your opposite elbow. Do this on both sides for 30 seconds, followed by shoulder rolls to ensure you have maximum movement for the battle.

3) Quadriceps stretch

Your quads provide a lot of your body's power which is vital for dodging shots and moving quickly around the laser tag ZONE BOWLING. To stretch this part of your body, you can perform a simple exercise during your warm ups.

Grab your ankle and pull your heel up the back of your thigh. If you don't have good balance, you might need to lean on someone or something to stay straight. You should feel a stretch in the front of your thigh if you're doing it right. Again, hold each leg for around 30 seconds.

So, before you enter the laser tag zone, make sure your body is warmed up and ready for action. As the old saying goes - 'By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.'