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