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Article #11: Understanding the benefit of Biomechanics in Golf

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






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