Get swing technique right
THE 2010 Masters US Golf Championship is now over and after so much hope and expectation, we did not see a European victory.
For Phil Mickelson, victory must taste very sweet. For those who were pipped at the post it must hurt.
Golf is a great game that can be played all of one's life. Its main drawback is that it plays heck with the back and the joints.
Pain is never far away for a lot of golfers. I know, since I see many people with golfing back problems. The problem is in the very basis of the game – the golf swing.
Sports science is the academic discipline that examines the way that the body moves during sport in order to spot problems that can occur within a sporting activity, and ways of applying techniques and science to enhance performance. The golf swing is a particularly good sporting activity to look at and analyses, because unlike many other sports, it starts from a stationary position. Golf scientists have analysed the basic golf swing and highlighted the following crucial points (for a right-handed golf swing).
At the start, the body is angled forward on the hips and the knees and hips are slightly flexed.
The trunk starts to twist or rotate to the right on the semi-flexed leg.
The arms are brought across the body to the right, raising the elbows shoulder high and taking the hands above the shoulders. This involves external rotation of the right shoulder and internal rotation of the left shoulder.
The trunk movement and the momentum of the combined body and club are taken through the semi-flexed knee, with considerable rotation. This is slow during the backswing, but rapid through the downswing, hitting area and follow through.
Golf is a one-sided sport with two problem movements within the swing. Firstly, there is the combined flexion and rotation of the trunk at speed, through an extended range of movement. Secondly, the rotation of the knee.
You should stretch muscles before any sport, and golf is no exception. Try doing these simple exercises before you set off for the course.
Firstly, lie on the ground with your knees bent. Then rotate your pelvis so that you flatten the small of your back against the ground.
Do five or six of these. This stretches the small of the back.
While still lying in that position with knees bent, swing your knees to your right and your arms to the left. Then swing your knees to the left and your arms to the right. Do half a dozen each way.
Next sit on a stool and place your right arm behind the small of your back and grip the elbow of your left arm. Twist to the right, leading the movement with your left hand, reverse arms and repeat. Do half a dozen each way.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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