| |
| |
|
Golf Information presented by poogo.com |
|
|
|
What Do the Core and the Golf Swing Have in Common?
The concept of "core training" is a "buzz word" in today's fitness and training community. It has also become a prevalent idea in the game of golf. In regards to golf it has been noted by many individuals that the core area of the body is where the "power" comes from in your swing, and in order to make a full turn you need flexibility in the core. This article will discuss the function of the core in relation to human movement and the golf swing. We will discuss categorically the functions of the core and how improvements in these areas can assist in the improvement of your golf swing. Before we begin discussing the functions of the core, let us define it. The core can be defined as an anatomical area of the body. The core is includes all the muscles from below the chest to the hips. Separated out into body parts the core includes all muscles of: the hips (glutes, hamstrings, glutes), abdominals, obliques (side abdominals), and low back. These muscles groups essentially comprise the core region and are involved in the majority of movement elicited by the core. Now that we have a brief understanding of what exactly the core refers to in terms of a reference point, let us begin to discuss the pertinent connections between the core and the golf swing. We will be discussing the following topics in relation to the golf swing: 1) range of motion, 2) speed of motion, 3) balance, and 4) coordination. All four of these categories are related to the core of your body and have a direct effect on your golf swing. We will first begin by discussing range of motion and move forward from that point. Range of Motion Most of us have probably heard of this term before and may have some type of definition for it. Let us first define range of motion. Range of motion is essentially a distance that the body or body part moves during an activity. For example, walking down the street requires all segments of the body to move through a certain range of motion. In addition to the entire body, specific body parts move through a specified range of motion. The knee for instance, when you are walking, moves in a linear range of motion to create movement in the legs. The golf swing is similar to walking when discussing range of motion. The entire body must move through a specified distance to perform the golf swing correctly. The core as a segment of the body also has to move through a specified distance to perform the golf swing correctly. Relating the core and the golf swing range of motion is very important. It is the primary body segment that allows for the rotation of the body to occur. The back swing, down swing, and follow through require an extensive range of motion to be provided by the core. If limitations exist in terms the distance that the core can "move through," then limitations will occur in the golf swing. On the flip side, a greater range of motion (distance that the body segment moves through) generates greater amounts of power. This gets into what can be termed as the "X" factor in the back swing. The more turn (range of motion of the core) you can get in the golf swing, the greater ability the body has to generate more power. Range of motion is quite a relevant topic when reviewing the golf swing. It becomes quite apparent that a connection exists between the range of motion available to the core and what the end results are in the swing. A brief synopsis would indicate that a greater range of motion in the core results in a more powerful swing, and less range of motion decreases power in the golf swing. Speed of Motion Connected to range of motion is the speed of that range. Speed of motion is essentially adding a time component to range of motion. It is connected to the speed at which an object would move. If you have a large range of motion created by the body over a short period of time, the speed of the motion is fast and power production is high. On the other hand if you decrease the range of motion the body moves through with the golf swing and slow the movement down, power production will be less. The core is again at the center of this discussion pertaining to the golf swing. At this point, we know that a large range of motion creates a greater "X" factor in the golf swing. This will ultimately result in greater power output. Add into the equation a high speed of motion, and the power component of the swing becomes greater. The point to be made is that range of motion and speed are interconnected in relation to the golf swing. The core is connected to these two entities in that it is the segment of the body that creates the greatest range of motion in the swing. Balance Balance is a key component of the golf swing that we hear about quite often. Balance can be defined as the amount of stability within the body during a movement. The greatest amount of balance by the body can be achieved if it maintains a center of gravity around the middle line of support. If you have ever taken a golf lesson you know what the above sentence is talking about. The body including the core must rotate around a center axis in the body. If rotation is moved to far away from this center axis, balance in the golf swing will be lost. As a result of weight shifts in the golf swing, the axis which the body rotates around does move, but movement by certain body segments beyond a certain point reduces stability. Research indicates that accuracy and consistency is connected to stability in the golf swing. In addition, EMG studies indicate that the core is involved to a high extent in the stabilization of the body in any human movement, including the golf swing. We could probably make the connection that the core is a relevant body part in the ability to maintain balance in the golf swing. Coordination The final point of this discussion of the core and the golf swing is coordination. Coordination is essentially the ability of the body to activate body parts in a sequential order to create a desired movement. Go back to the walking example, and the body must coordinate all parts of the body to create this movement. The golf swing is essentially the same. The body must "fire" the muscles of the body in a certain order with the correct timing to create the movement of the golf swing. The core is actively involved in the coordination of the golf swing, as is the rest of the body. The two points to focus upon in terms of coordination are: 1) timing and 2) sequence. Both of these terms are essential for a mechanically efficient golf swing. The sequence in which muscles are "fired" in the golf swing require a certain timing for an efficient swing to occur. Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Golf - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Golf Flexibility For The Senior Golfer Golf flexibility is the biggest term you hear when the senior golfer is complaining about lack of distance or a sore back.Why is this?It's not a secret that with age comes a decline in physical capabilities?especially golf flexibility. What Do Trees Have to Do With Golf? On our way back from a recent round of golf, Fritz and I were discussing the way most golfers evaluate golf courses. We've had this discussion before, and it inevitably gets around to my heartfelt conviction that trees do not enhance the "golfing experience". Golf Fitness Evaluation Is The First Step Towards Improving Your Game Golf fitness evaluation can be an invaluable tool in helping any golfer to assess where they currently stand and thus help them reach a decision of what they can do to improve.It is now an accepted fact amongst golf experts that an improvement in golf fitness almost always means an amazing improvement in the quality and standard of play by any golfer, whether in the junior level or a senior citizen, and irrespective of whether they are male or female. 5 Best Uses for Hybrid Utility Clubs Have you seen those new hybrid utility cubs? They are showing up all over the place, rescuing golfers from all kinds of situations. The reason for this is simple; they open up opportunities for a number of great new shots. Choosing The Right Shoes, Golf Shoes, Wedding Shoes And Other Footwear! Wearing a comfortable pair of shoes is very important if you spend much time on your feet. Whether you're standing, walking or running, all of your weight falls directly onto the bottom of your feet. The Top 10 Life Lessons from Golf Golf is an amazing mirror of life. Yes, other sports provide life lessons as well, but golf happens to be my favorite sport and the one I understand the best. Golf Fitness: The Quickest Way To Play Better Golf Golf has always been viewed as a game of leisure. But today's golfer is leaner, stronger, and fitter. A Good Swing Starts with a Strong Base of Support A good golf swing starts with a strong base of support (hips, pelvis and lumbar spine). A highly conditioned base of support will provide stability throughout the swing and allow forces to be effectively transferred from the legs through the hips to the upper body to produce optimal power and control. Golfers - Here's a Short Drive That Will Not Disappoint Are you planning a golf vacation to Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head or Kiawah Island in the near future? We know you will spend the majority of your time teeing it up on all the beautiful golf courses. We would, however, like to suggest a day-trip to see a new engineering marvel and North American record holder. Course Management Strategies for Junior Golfers Many junior golfers are still in the process of developing all of the fundamentals of their game. One of the challenges faced is how to measure the progress of a player in these basics on the golf course, besides the obvious measurement of score. Increase your Flexibility with These 3 Key Golf Stretches Why is it a golfer rarely asks for a full 20 minute extensive warm up routine prior to golf, but rather those two or three key stretches guaranteed to yield the best results in the shortest period of time?No matter how hard those in the golf fitness arena try and convince golfer's to stretch prior to a round of golf, our efforts are often fruitless. It's not that golfers don't care; life just seems to get in the way of our best laid intentions. Teenagers Top The Leader Board At The Womens US Open Determination, poise, focus and talent were abundant, as teens topped the leader board at the 2005 Women's US Open. Younger players at the 2005 US Women's Open gained much more than experience. The Perfect Golf Swing Through Improved Posture And Balance Every golfer is continually in search of that elusive feel of the perfect swing. Books are written on the topic. The Proper Golf Swing Technique There is no doubt that the proper golf swing technique is very important if an amateur golfer or any golfer for that matter, is to see their game improve to a significant level.This is the reason why every golfer without exception constantly aspires to perfecting their technique in executing the golf swing. How To Improve Your Golf Swing So you need a little help with your golf swing. This article will give you some tips that may help with golf swing improvement. Perform Better Golf In 30 Days So you have decided to improve your golf game? You are ready to make a commitment and stand by it. If you are looking for a way to improve your game in a hurry, then we have the answer for you; it's our 30 day solution to better golf. Big Trouble I have chosen four of what I feel are the most common trouble shots you may encounter at The Bridges Golf Club. And "Taking the Challenge" at the Bridges involves being prepared for trouble shots. Golf Fore Success Golf has a crazy way of telling who we truly are as a person. Many people judge us by the way we play the game. The Ideal Exercises For Senior Golfers The really tricky part about exercises for senior golfers, and getting them to do, is the fact they often suffer from various ailments and pains in various parts of their bodies.It is like having to deal with the overworked engine of an aging car. How To Get Your Golf Technique Right There is really no doubt about just how important the correct golf techniques are to playing a consistently good and yet enjoyable game. Actually ever since the inception of this wonderful game of golf, emphasis has always been on getting your golf technique right.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
