The golf swing is a complex motion that involves the entire body. This complicated rotational movement uses as many as 32 individual muscles. Like any other physical skill, repetition using the proper form is the best way to improve. However, the dedicated golfer can rapidly increase their skill level by supplementing the basic swing drills with exercises specifically designed to strengthen crucial muscle groups and optimize their response.
Breaking Down the Swing
The three basic components to this movement are called the back swing, the down swing, and the follow through. Most of the power needed to drive the ball across the course is generated by the forward swing component. The back swing stretches key muscles in order to maximize their ability to generate power in the down swing. A properly executed follow through is necessary to reduce the possibility of injury by allowing muscles to reach their full biomechanical configuration before returning to their resting state.
The power for the swing is built up in three areas, the trunk, the arms, and the wrists. Force generated through the trunk is mainly a translation of rotational force around a pivot and is primarily a function of building momentum. This requires a strong base and a stable pivot. The pivot points are the spine and the hip joints.
The bulk of the propulsive power is generated through the arms, where contraction of the muscles greatly increases the velocity of the club. The seemingly inconsequential contribution of the wrist is important for stability and in order to properly direct the forces the swing has built up
Muscle Groups Getting into the Act
The major muscle groups used in the trunk are the lateral rotators of the spine and hip. Most of these muscles are part of what is commonly referred to as the core group of back and abdominal muscles. These muscles initially rotate the trunk laterally from left to right in the back swing. After which the group on the other side contracts to rotate the trunk from right to left to power the downswing. Hip and thigh muscles help stabilize the spine and assist in the rotatory motion.
Muscles in the chest, back, and upper arms are used in the downswing to generate propulsive force. This power is translated through the speed built up in the golf club. The main movers of the arm are the pectoralis muscles of the chest and the deltoid muscles of the shoulder and teres and latissimus muscles of the back. Finally, the fine tuning of the direction of the swing is controlled by the muscles of the forearm and wrist.
Training Strategies to Improve Power and Speed
The goals of supplemental training are to improve muscle strength and increase response time. Strengthening core muscles is important, so abdominal exercises and balance drills will help stabilize proper form. Weight lifting is optimally concentrated on the muscles of the chest, shoulders and upper back where power is generated. Most people who do not do manual labor tend to have weak forearm and wrist muscles, so these should be targeted as well.
Isometric training is incorporated into supplemental training to improve response times. Golf swing velocity is best transmitted to ball speed by making the contact time as short as possible. This requires fast muscle responses, so drills to improve speed of muscular contraction are necessary. By balancing both strength and speed, golfers will quickly see improvement in their game.
shared by : Golf-golfcourse.com
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Making the Perfect Golf Swing
Self-assurance on the course is a key element to reap success and pleasure in a game of golf. Practicing the essentials of golf over and over again will lead to an improved game. However, different golf players have different body types; hence, no two people will exhibit the same golf swing on the course.
Each person trying to be good at golf will have to find ways to adapt to their body kind, and develop a swing that works best for them. Read on to pick up a few helpful pointers, and make that perfect swing next time on the course.
It pays to warm up
As with any other sport, the saying “practice makes perfect” is an important part of improving one’s game. In fact, it’s the only way to earn self-assurance on the field, especially in a game of golf. Before heading towards your golf tournament, you should first spend a few moments on the practice area. This is where everything is developed in the first place.
This is the place where you get two hit two important things: warm up and slacken off your muscles and improve your ball-striking skills. It is best if you start with a wedge, slowly making your way down the entire set to the driver. This is a great way to get the feel of hitting the ball correctly, as well as minimize your risk for injury.
Giving the swing power
Unlike badminton where wrist flicks play a major role, golf, on the other hand, is not a wrist game. Many amateur golf players tend to hit the ball relying on the power of only the arms and wrists. Although this may work from time to time, this does not yield real stability and power. To achieve an effective swing, you should use the entire body – employ the muscles of the trunk and legs for maxed out power.
However without a good balance, no swing is effective enough. As with any structure that requires a solid foundation, your swing also needs to be provided with a firm support. Try practicing hitting some balls with your feet approximately six inches apart. This will enable you to keep up a great balance, as well as pace, and will be helpful when you return hitting at your usual stance.
Noting the knees
It is best if you put your body’s weight on the inside of your right foot and preserve a slight bend in the knee while on the backswing. As you swing the club backwards, make sure that the right knee is rock-solid – this helps you utilize the power coming from your trunk, and send the ball flying. Many amateurs too have this mistake of letting the left knee give way towards the right leg during the backswing.
This does not good a swinger any good except making the hips sway and make an overturn. In order to deal with this properly, on the backswing, you should stabilize both knees. Imagine there’s a basketball between your thighs, and that is how stabilized your knees are – enough to hold the ball up.
Perfecting your golf swing takes a lot of time and practice. With the few pointers mentioned above, you can work out your most confident swing, depending on your body type and, of course, on what work for you.
shared by : Golf-golfcourse.com
Each person trying to be good at golf will have to find ways to adapt to their body kind, and develop a swing that works best for them. Read on to pick up a few helpful pointers, and make that perfect swing next time on the course.
It pays to warm up
As with any other sport, the saying “practice makes perfect” is an important part of improving one’s game. In fact, it’s the only way to earn self-assurance on the field, especially in a game of golf. Before heading towards your golf tournament, you should first spend a few moments on the practice area. This is where everything is developed in the first place.
This is the place where you get two hit two important things: warm up and slacken off your muscles and improve your ball-striking skills. It is best if you start with a wedge, slowly making your way down the entire set to the driver. This is a great way to get the feel of hitting the ball correctly, as well as minimize your risk for injury.
Giving the swing power
Unlike badminton where wrist flicks play a major role, golf, on the other hand, is not a wrist game. Many amateur golf players tend to hit the ball relying on the power of only the arms and wrists. Although this may work from time to time, this does not yield real stability and power. To achieve an effective swing, you should use the entire body – employ the muscles of the trunk and legs for maxed out power.
However without a good balance, no swing is effective enough. As with any structure that requires a solid foundation, your swing also needs to be provided with a firm support. Try practicing hitting some balls with your feet approximately six inches apart. This will enable you to keep up a great balance, as well as pace, and will be helpful when you return hitting at your usual stance.
Noting the knees
It is best if you put your body’s weight on the inside of your right foot and preserve a slight bend in the knee while on the backswing. As you swing the club backwards, make sure that the right knee is rock-solid – this helps you utilize the power coming from your trunk, and send the ball flying. Many amateurs too have this mistake of letting the left knee give way towards the right leg during the backswing.
This does not good a swinger any good except making the hips sway and make an overturn. In order to deal with this properly, on the backswing, you should stabilize both knees. Imagine there’s a basketball between your thighs, and that is how stabilized your knees are – enough to hold the ball up.
Perfecting your golf swing takes a lot of time and practice. With the few pointers mentioned above, you can work out your most confident swing, depending on your body type and, of course, on what work for you.
shared by : Golf-golfcourse.com
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