| The golfer with a clear understanding of the | | | | |
| biomechanics of the golf swing will have a | | | | - Shoulders |
| huge advantage over the golfer who doesn't | | | | |
| have a clue. | | | | - Arms |
| | | | |
| First, the definition of biomechanics - "The | | | | - Hands |
| study of the action of external and internal | | | | |
| forces on the living body, esp. on the | | | | - Hips |
| skeletal system." | | | | |
| | | | - Legs |
| Anyone who has played this great game of golf | | | | |
| knows intimately the external and internal | | | | - Torso |
| forces on the body when you swing a golf | | | | |
| club. | | | | - Wrists |
| | | | |
| I soon realized the complexities in not only | | | | The answer: |
| understanding these external and internal | | | | |
| forces in a sound golf swing, but also in the | | | | ***THE HANDS CONTRIBUTE THE MOST TO CLUB HEAD |
| managing of these forces. | | | | SPEED!!!*** |
| | | | |
| After much study and much play, I realized | | | | High handicap golfers usually "hold on" |
| the secret to a sound golf swing is first you | | | | through the impact area causing a weak hit |
| must understand how these forces work in the | | | | resulting in a slice or a push shot. |
| golf swing, then you must put these internal | | | | |
| and external forces in alignment so they work | | | | The reason High handicappers "hold on" |
| in harmony. | | | | through impact I believe is because they do |
| | | | NOT have a clear biomechanical understanding |
| This is key to developing a powerful golf | | | | of what creates club head speed... |
| swing you can repeat over and over again. | | | | |
| | | | Let me make an illustration that will "hammer |
| The biomechanics of golf swing operate along | | | | home" (excuse the pun) this biomechanical |
| the laws of physics and anything we do that | | | | concept in the golf swing. Try to hammer a |
| works against these laws will only further | | | | nail without breaking your wrist...just use |
| delay the learning process. | | | | your arms and body...keep your wrist |
| | | | rigid...not much power, huh? |
| I hope this scientific discussion on the | | | | |
| biomechanics of the golf swing helps you as | | | | Now hammer the nail by only breaking or |
| much as it has helped me. | | | | releasing your wrist, no body, no arms...much |
| | | | more power huh? You are using biomechanical |
| Jon Barrett of Golf Swing Eureka carried out | | | | angular and centrifugal forces to create much |
| a survey and asked golfers the question: | | | | power with very little effort... |
| Which part of the body contributes the most | | | | |
| to club head speed? | | | | Much like golf! |
| | | | |
| The answer to this question was to make a | | | | Have you ever seen that trick shot golfer on |
| profound impact on my understanding of the | | | | the golf channel? He can hit a golf ball 275 |
| biomechanics of the golf swing. Most golf | | | | yards while kneeling on the ground. This |
| pros NEVER talk about this fact yet it is the | | | | totally blows the cover off the notion it is |
| determining factor in creating effortless | | | | the lower body that contributes most to club |
| power in the golf swing. | | | | head speed...don't ya think? |
| | | | |
| Only 20% got the answer right! | | | | Do you think all his power still comes from |
| | | | his lower body? |
| That's only 1 in every 5 golfers! | | | | |
| | | | Effortless power comes from a full release of |
| And these golfers ranged from scratch golfer | | | | the hands through the impact area...have you |
| to high handicapper. | | | | ever watched pro golfer Sergio Garcia's hand |
| | | | action through the golf ball? This is how a |
| Curiously this figure relates to another | | | | 150LB person can crush 300 yard drives...they |
| golfing statistic - Do you know that only 20% | | | | have mastered this move. |
| of golfers have a handicap of less than 18? | | | | |
| | | | By far the most important force in the |
| I believe these same 20% of golfers | | | | biomechanics of the golf swing is a full hand |
| understand this crucial biomechanical aspect | | | | release through the golf ball... |
| of the golf swing. | | | | |
| | | | Once you learn a full release through the |
| Which part of your body do you think | | | | golf ball you will be on your way to great |
| contributes the most to club head speed? | | | | golf... |
| | | | |
| Is it: | | | | Hit 'em Long and Straight! |