| Biomechanics and Golf | | | | it. If that pupil has a longer right leg |
| | | | (assuming he's a right handed golfer), then |
| There is information available widely through | | | | he will have a tendency towards a more |
| the web, PGA courses and magazine articles | | | | upright back swing. We know this because of |
| that brings you up to date with the latest | | | | the way spine and pelvis work |
| thinking in golf. They teach you the latest | | | | biomechanically. A longer right leg |
| on how to swing each club correctly, how to | | | | compresses the joints in the spine on that |
| putt, how to analyse your swing, how to get | | | | side and so they can't rotate easily. They |
| mentally 'tough', how to improve flexibility | | | | therefore have to side bend to gap the joints |
| and how to fitter and stronger for golf. | | | | and initiate movement, which causes an |
| | | | upright backswing. We also know that this |
| Today there is a plethora of information | | | | then leads to a more out-to-in downswing and |
| being offered about golf. Some of it correct, | | | | therefore a slice (depending upon grip and |
| all of it interesting, but how much of it is | | | | ball position of course). So you could work |
| relevant to you? And how do you know which | | | | all day on preventing this upright backswing, |
| of these generic exercise tips is going to | | | | which you know is leading to a slice, but it |
| help you? Even if you trained using each one | | | | will not change until you've addressed the |
| for 6 weeks and then took the results onto | | | | leg length discrepancy. |
| the course and tried them how do you then | | | | |
| know whether your performance is 'that | | | | Invariably these leg length discrepancies are |
| exercise' or that you just had a good day? | | | | cause by a rotated pelvis and often they |
| | | | don't cause symptoms, you won't even know it |
| Even video/digital analysis, although | | | | exists. If this is the case then doing some |
| interesting from all points of view measure | | | | simple exercises can help re-align the |
| the movement discrepancies in a golfer's | | | | pelvis, reduce the leg length discrepancy and |
| swing, it doesn't tell us why you are | | | | allow you to flatten that back swing. |
| performing these movement aberrations. | | | | |
| Knowing what you're doing wrong, but not | | | | There are many more of these examples. As |
| knowing why you're doing it is sometimes | | | | well as leg length discrepancies, other |
| worse than not knowing what you're doing | | | | biomechanical issues can include, poor motor |
| wrong! | | | | programming strategy (the way the muscles |
| | | | link together in movement patterns), poor |
| Golfers and Coaches need a simple system of | | | | control between the pelvis and shoulders, |
| analysis that they can use in conjunction | | | | nerve adhesions or stiffness, faulty core |
| with their coaching techniques to find out | | | | muscle control, immobility around the hips, |
| why golfers perform their particular swing. | | | | pelvis and spine as well as simple lack of |
| Although there are fundamental similarities | | | | flexibility. Some of these issues sound |
| to all good swings, each swing is like a | | | | quite technical and complex, but they're |
| finger-print and unique to that individual. | | | | actually very simple to test and eradicate. |
| Why is it unique? It's because we are all | | | | |
| biomechanically different and unless you | | | | Biomechanics works 'hand in glove' with your |
| understand what those differences are, how | | | | teaching, it is crucial Pro's understand and |
| can you identify whether your swing is due | | | | embrace this as its going to be the next big |
| to poor technique or something that has to | | | | thing in golf. |
| done to compensate for a mechanical problem? | | | | |
| You can't. The variety of golf swings that | | | | There is a system that exits that can help |
| exists represents the many ways that the | | | | you and pros to learn about and address these |
| human body can compensate for its | | | | issues. It comes 3 forms. Firstly there is |
| biomechanical problems. | | | | a software package that takes you through |
| | | | some simple biomechanical tests and the |
| For example, let's take a typical | | | | expert system takes you through as series of |
| handicapper's slice. You know the typical | | | | exercises to eradicate their biomechanical |
| causes of a slice and the things you would | | | | problems. Secondly there are courses, which |
| normally work on, bearing in mind the | | | | are endorsed by the PGA, which teach PGA |
| individual and what you see. At the same | | | | professionals how to assess their own pupils |
| time we also know that these ways don't | | | | and administer the exercises themselves. Or, |
| always work. There may be a number of | | | | thirdly experts can come to your club and |
| reasons for this, the you may not be | | | | assess your pupils individually and make |
| practicing, it may take some time to work out | | | | bespoke recommendations based upon a detailed |
| which is the best method for you or quite | | | | assessment of their biomechanics and |
| simply it may be that the person doesn't have | | | | following a discussion with their PGA |
| it in him to do what you want. | | | | professional, a decision can be made as to |
| Alternatively, it is likely that he can't do | | | | the best programme for them to follow. |