Understanding the benefit of Biomechanics in Golf

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 upWe know this because of the way spine and pelvis
to date with the latest thinking in golf. They teachwork 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 getrotate easily. They therefore have to side bend to
mentally 'tough', how to improve flexibility and howgap 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 beingleads to a more out-to-in downswing and therefore a
offered about golf. Some of it correct, all of itslice (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 genericbackswing, which you know is leading to a slice, but it
exercise tips is going to help you? Even if you trainedwill not change until you've addressed the leg length
using each one for 6 weeks and then took thediscrepancy.
results onto the course and tried them - how do youInvariably these leg length discrepancies are cause by
then know whether your performance is 'thata 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 fromthe case then doing some simple exercises can help
all points of view measure the movementre-align the pelvis, reduce the leg length discrepancy
discrepancies in a golfer's swing, it doesn't tell us whyand 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 knowingleg length discrepancies, other biomechanical issues
why you're doing it is sometimes worse than notcan 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 ofpatterns), poor control between the pelvis and
analysis that they can use in conjunction with theirshoulders, nerve adhesions or stiffness, faulty core
coaching techniques to find out why golfers performmuscle control, immobility around the hips, pelvis and
their particular swing. Although there are fundamentalspine as well as simple lack of flexibility. Some of
similarities to all good swings, each swing is like athese issues sound quite technical and complex, but
finger-print and unique to that individual. Why is itthey're actually very simple to test and eradicate.
unique? It's because we are all biomechanicallyBiomechanics works 'hand in glove' with your
different and unless you understand what thoseteaching, it is crucial Pro's understand and embrace
differences are, how can you identify whether yourthis as its going to be the next big thing in golf.
swing is due to poor technique or something that hasThere 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 existscomes 3 forms. Firstly there is a software package
represents the many ways that the human body canthat 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 thingsproblems. Secondly there are courses, which are
you would normally work on, bearing in mind theendorsed by the PGA, which teach PGA professionals
individual and what you see. At the same time wehow to assess their own pupils and administer the
also know that these ways don't always work. Thereexercises themselves. Or, thirdly experts can come
may be a number of reasons for this, the you mayto your club and assess your pupils individually and
not be practicing, it may take some time to workmake bespoke recommendations based upon a
out which is the best method for you or quite simplydetailed assessment of their biomechanics and
it may be that the person doesn't have it in him tofollowing a discussion with their PGA professional, a
do what you want. Alternatively, it is likely that hedecision can be made as to the best programme for
can't do it. If that pupil has a longer right legthem to follow.