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