| We all know the clubface must be square at | | | | rotator cuff in addition to muscles in the |
| impact and the club releases thereafter. | | | | "back-side" of the shoulder assist in |
| Generally speaking a large amount of golf | | | | stabilizing the shoulder during movement. An |
| swing mechanics center upon returning the | | | | over simplification would state these muscles |
| clubface to square at impact. Additionally, | | | | assist in keeping the arm in the socket. If |
| the golf swing is a "total body" movement | | | | the rotator cuff muscles did not assist in |
| incorporating every joint in the body. In | | | | stabilizing the shoulder, the arm would |
| order for the clubface to be square at impact | | | | literally come out of the socket every time |
| all of these joints must work in coordination | | | | you swing a golf club. |
| to allow this to occur. | | | | |
| | | | Secondly, these four muscles are actively |
| In relation to the body, specific muscles are | | | | involved in elevating, internally, and |
| very active in returning the clubface to | | | | externally rotating the arms. All of which |
| square. One joint directly involved in the | | | | are movements involved in the golf swing. |
| squaring of the clubface at impact with the | | | | Beginning in the take-away and completing |
| golf ball is the shoulder joint. The shoulder | | | | with the follow through, the muscles of the |
| joint is a "ball and socket" joint allowing | | | | rotator cuff are active in every phase of the |
| for the arms to move through a large range of | | | | golf swing. That being said, we know the |
| motion. Review of the biomechanics of the | | | | muscles of the rotator cuff are under stress |
| golf swing, it becomes very evident the arms | | | | each every golf swing. |
| move through a large range of motion. | | | | |
| | | | It is important to understand the muscles of |
| That being said, there are specific muscles | | | | the rotator cuff are very small. They are not |
| involved in the rotation of the arms. Again, | | | | big muscles such as your quadriceps or |
| these are not the only muscles involved in | | | | deltoids. They are very small muscles asked |
| squaring the clubface, but from an anatomical | | | | to perform a myriad of activities. As a |
| perspective, these muscles are active in the | | | | result of the size and workloads placed upon |
| internal and external rotation of the arms | | | | these muscles. They can become fatigued quite |
| during the golf swing. | | | | easily. Once muscles become fatigued they |
| | | | begin to falter in performing their required |
| Going back to squaring the clubface, internal | | | | activities. In addition once muscles are |
| and external rotation of the arms is | | | | fatigued, they can easily become injured. |
| required. To get a sense of internal and | | | | |
| external rotation, simply stand up with your | | | | During my years on tour, I have never seen |
| arms hanging at your sides. Rotate your hands | | | | someone injure a cuff muscle from swinging a |
| inward and outward. This is a simple | | | | golf club. I have seen rotator cuff injuries |
| description of internal and external rotation | | | | impede a golf swing, and if you have ever |
| of the arms. Now if you relate this movement | | | | injured a rotator cuff muscle you know how |
| to the golf swing you can see how the arms | | | | debilitating an injury it can be. The point |
| internally and externally rotate during the | | | | being this: The rotator cuff muscles are |
| backswing, downswing, and follow through. | | | | actively involved in the golf swing. Injury |
| | | | to a rotator cuff muscle can be very |
| Certain muscles within the shoulder complex | | | | debilitating to your golf swing or any |
| have a direct effect on internal rotation, | | | | activity for that case. |
| external rotation, and stabilization of the | | | | |
| shoulder complex in the golf swing. The | | | | Knowing what we know about the mechanics of |
| muscles we are talking about are the rotator | | | | the golf swing, the rotator cuff, functions |
| cuff muscles. Yes, the rotator cuff. | | | | of the rotator cuff, and how they affect the |
| | | | golf swing. This information invariably |
| Not necessarily a group of muscles that go | | | | indicates to us it is necessary to keep the |
| "hand-in-hand" with the golf swing and | | | | rotator cuff healthy and strong. How can one |
| probably more thought of when we talk about | | | | achieve this goal? Simply by adding a golf |
| baseball and pitching. Nevertheless, these | | | | fitness program incorporating rotator cuff |
| muscles are an active in the golf swing. The | | | | exercises. |
| rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles | | | | |
| in the shoulder complex. For those of you | | | | Rotator cuff exercises will focus on these |
| that love the science behind this stuff, the | | | | four muscles. These types of exercises will |
| four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff | | | | develop higher levels of strength and |
| are; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres | | | | endurance within these muscles. This will |
| minor, and subscapularis. | | | | assist in these muscles handling the |
| | | | workloads placed upon them during the golf |
| The rotator cuff has a couple primary | | | | swing or any athletic activity. So I strongly |
| functions when it comes to the shoulder | | | | suggest if you are an avid golfer or a |
| complex. First off, they act to stabilize the | | | | weekend warrior. Add some golf fitness and |
| shoulder capsule. The skeletal structure | | | | rotator cuff exercises to your training |
| comprising the shoulder is a ball and socket | | | | program. This will help keep you in the game |
| joint. The "socket" part of this joint is | | | | and off the sidelines. |
| very shallow. As a result the muscles of the | | | | |