Introduction to biomechanics


Golf Stretches To Improve Your Driving Distance

The golf swing is arguably one of the mostresult in limitations pertaining to golf
difficult athletic actions to perform. Theswing. The limitation will impede you from
golf swing requires you to draw the golf clubcreating a full shoulder turn and balanced
through a long range of motion with properfinish position. This causes compensations in
technique  and  exact  timing.the  mechanics  of  the  golf  swing.
Any error in swing plane, timing, or sequenceThe entire body needs to be flexible for the
will cause your golf swing to suffer, andgolf swing. Certain muscles more than others
suffer it will. Unfortunately, the result ofare involved in the golf swing, and if these
your golf swing suffering will be errantmuscles are "tight" they will directly affect
shots, poor golf scores, and frustration onyour golf swing. One such set of muscles is
the  golf  course.your  hamstrings.
Often the amateur is at a lost for why theirThe hamstrings (back side of your upper leg)
golf swing results in errant shots. Countlessare often "tight" and cause problems to many
hours are spent at the range in an effort topeople, not just golfers. However, they have
improve their golf swing. Hundreds or evena profound effect on the golf swing and it is
thousands of dollars are spent on lessonsnot a good effect. Hamstrings that are
each year, and not to mention the purchasing"tight" are in a shortened position. The
of  new  equipment.shortened position of the hamstrings has a
direct effect on the position of your hips.
It all adds up to a lot of time and moneyYour hips will be "tucked", directly
spent on improving the golf swing.affecting your posture. This in itself can
Unfortunately, for many amateur golfers theirhamper the ability to place oneself in the
handicaps and score never improve. Leading tocorrect position at address within the golf
the question "why is my golf game notswing, not to mention maintaining a proper
improving?"spine  angle  during  the  swing.
If this is you and this question lingers inAdditionally, "tight" hamstrings place an
your mind. The answer to your question couldundo amount of stress on the lower back.
easily be staring right back at you in theLarge amounts of stress on the lower back
mirror. The failure of improvement may havecause fatigue, soreness, and increase the
absolutely nothing to do with the driver youpossibility of injury. If you are a golfer
are swinging, the teaching pro helping youthat has ever experienced lower back pain you
with your swing, or even your practiceknow the effect it has on your ability to
routine. It could all do with you! Yes you,swing  the  golf  club  correctly.
the  physical  body  swinging  the golf club.
A combination of a postural change and undo
Keep in mind the golf club does not performamounts of stress on the lower back, just
the mechanics of the golf swing. Nor do thebegin to scratch the surface of the effect
mechanics of the golf swing executeinflexible muscles can have on the golf
themselves without you. It is you and yourswing. "Tight" muscles change the kinematics
body executing the mechanics of the golfof the body. As a result, the biomechanics of
swing. The point to make is your bodythe golf swing must be altered. These
directly affects the mechanics of the golfalterations usually lead to compensations in
swing.the mechanics of the golf swing resulting in
errant  shot  patterns  on  the  golf course.
Additionally, the golf swing requires your
body to encompass certain physical qualitiesAnd no matter what you do in terms of
to execute the mechanics of the golf swingpractice or instruction these alterations
correctly. These physical qualities arewill not go away until you address them. Just
certain levels of flexibility, muscularas you address swing faults, you must address
strength, balance, and power. If you areflexibility faults. Flexibility faults can be
lacking the minimal amounts of flexibility,addressed  through  golf  stretches.
balance, strength, and power to execute the
golf swing correctly. Compensations willGolf stretches enhance the flexibility of
occur  even  before  you swing the golf club.your body in relation to the golf swing. Golf
stretches often times return muscles that are
For example, let's look at your flexibility."tight" such as the hamstrings to their
The golf swing requires you to draw the golfproper length. This results in the ability of
club through a large range of motion. Theyour body to perform the biomechanics of the
backswing requires a full shoulder turn togolf swing correctly. If you are one of many
set the club in the correct slot for thegolfers who are not finding their golf swing
downswing, and the finish position is almostimproving through practice and instruction.
a  mirror  image  of  the  backswing.Take a moment and look at the body swinging
the golf club. This very well may be the root
In order to perform these parts of the golfof your golf swing problems. Fix your
swing correctly, the muscles of your bodyflexibility faults through golf stretches and
must be flexible. An inflexible body in whichfind yourself on the road to lower golf
muscles are "tight" creates restrictions inscores and more enjoyment in the game of
movement. Restrictions in movement ingolf.
relation to the golf swing will undoubtedly



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