Posture Means Power
From Complete Conditioning for Golf by Peter
Draovitch, Wayne Westcott
Believe it or not,
posture has a positive influence on power production. Just as it is impossible
to run fast without proper posture, it is unwise to swing a golf club without
appropriate postural stability. Functional posture makes a world of difference
in your swinging action and lets you impart far more force in your ball strike.
For a simple demonstration, try sitting slumped in a chair with your head
pushed forward. Now try to raise your arm. Now try to turn your head to the
left, as you would have to do during the backswing. Now try to turn your body
to the right. Next, sit up straight with your chin pulled in and your back
slightly arched. Repeat the above motions and then decide which posture
produced a greater range of motion.
Body structure and posture are individual characteristics, but an improper golf
swing can cause certain muscle imbalances. These imbalances might not be
obvious until they cause a disruptive physical problem. Some common physical
limitations include:
§
Reduced neck rotation can make it
difficult to keep your eye on the ball during the swing.
§
Insufficient trunk strength interferes
with your ability to transfer forces from the lower body to the upper body. In
addition, proper spine angle will not be maintained during the swing.
§
Tight hamstrings do not allow an
effective address position to be achieved.
§
Reduced range of hip motion leads to
compromised swing patterns.
§
Decreased trunk rotation limits
shoulder turn and causes poor sequencing between the hips and trunk region.
§
Insufficient shoulder strength,
especially in the rotator cuff, leads to decreased club head speed, as well as
poor deceleration and club control.
Many players think of these problems as a mere product of the sport and resort
to anti-inflammatory medication and other quick-fix alternatives. These
responses might reduce pain temporarily, but they rarely solve the underlying
problem. Most postural conditions do not occur overnight. The body slowly
adapts to poor posture, and some body parts, like the neck, shoulder, back, and
hip, may be overused to compensate for loss of motion someplace else. By
performing a few simple exercises regularly, however, you can improve and
maintain good posture and thereby improve your swinging power.
The ability to maintain your functional trunk position for each shot is an
acquired skill. Teaching pros commonly refer to this position as maintaining
spine angle. When the spine is stable it serves as an efficient and rigid
lever to transfer energy from the lower body to the upper body. By increasing
the stability of the spine and the muscles that support it, you therefore can
improve your game.
Bending the spine places unnecessary stress on the lower back muscles and
joints. It also reduces your ability to transfer power from your lower body to
your upper body, which translates into decreased club head speed. For example,
when your upper back is bent forward or hunched over, you place extra stress on
your shoulders and neck as your shoulders round forward, thereby causing the
rotator cuff muscles (a group of four small muscles that protect the shoulder
joint) to work in an abnormal position. This undesirable posture can produce
tendonitis, muscle strain, and joint sprain by placing the muscles at a
mechanical disadvantage. Of course, this position also limits your swing action
to a portion of the potential movement range.
Postural muscles (the muscles that maintain spine angle) are found throughout
the body and function more for endurance than for strength or power. The main
role of these muscles is to hold the skeletal system and joint structures in
proper alignment so the larger and stronger muscles can produce the desired
body movements with appropriate forces in tandem with keeping good balance.
If you ever stood at the loop at
Check out "Mobility vs. Stability" from Complete Conditioning for Golf
The articles at GolfFitnessProducts.net
are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute
for direct examination and exercise prescription by the appropriate
health professional. It is strongly recommended that you do not
perform any exercise program without the consent of your personal
physician.
