Introduction to biomechanics


Biomechanics Of The Golf Swing

Between 1986 and 1995, a group ofskaters' legs rotate and extend so far
doctors and biomechanics specialists ledout to their sides. And, for golfers,
by Frank Jobe, M.D., in affiliation withwhen the legs are held in place by
the Biomechanics Laboratory of thespikes, it is the primary reason hips
Centinela Hospital Medical Center,rotate so fast.
Inglewood, CA, published six papersThe third-ranked muscle (in % of
presenting results fromcapacity used) is the left quadriceps,
electromyographic research they hadcoming in at 88%. Your left leg gets
conducted on good golfers, i.e. all withpretty well bent at the knee during the
handicaps under 5, including somebackswing, stretching the quads. When
professionals.they fire, they drive the left hip way
Data on twenty-four muscles between thearound and behind.
knees and the skull were reported.Muscles below the waist fire before
These data reveal how a body goes aboutmuscles above the waist. In Five
hitting a golf ball, and which musclesFundamentals, Ben Hogan says: "The hips
deserve the most attention.initiate the downswing. They snap back
Only one of the reported muscles firedto the left with tremendous speed. The
at 100% of its capacity. I've askedfaster they go the better. They cannot
over 50 golfers, of all abilities, whichgo too fast". This research shows how
muscle this is, and no one has gottenright on Ben's comment was.
the answer right. It's the rightTo accelerate the clubhead from 0 to 100
buttock (for a right-handed golfer).miles per hour in about 0.3 seconds, you
Even more interesting, the primarymust make major use of the big muscles
function of this muscle in the body isin your thighs and hips. A swing that
understood apparently only by musclefeels as if it's trying to hit the ball
specialists. It is technically aprimarily with arm muscles isn't going
rotator muscle, not a flexor orto win any long-drive contests.
extensor. It is the reason speed



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