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