Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Golf Swing With A Different Approach
The golf swing technique of today has become so complicated, that golfers are “paralyzed by over-analysis”. I’ve heard some great analogies lately!How about walking? Would we think of every biomechanical movement in every joint of our body when we walk? The same thing holds true with golf. Having a basic understanding of how to hit the ball to your chosen target is critical, but after that, you shouldn’t have to think of 30 different things to swing the club to make this happen.The answer and solution are quite easy.“It’s your body that swings the club, not the other way around”.Your swing is only as good as your current ‘physical’ capabilities. I mean…if your body is tight (inflexible), do you think you’ll be able to make a nice full backswing with minimal tension?
The ONLY way to be able to achieve optimal swing mechanics with minimal effort is to improve your body’s ability to reach these physical points in the golf swing consistenly. Whether it’s a 90 degree shoulder turn, or hips slightly open with your head stationary behind the ball at impact.It makes total sense to break down the swing fault you are currently dealing with and look at the physical requirement needed from your body.
The more involved I get with improving golf performance, the more interested I’m getting in the biomechanics of the golf swing and how to improve them with the physical approach (both strength and flexibility).I’ve seen dramatic results from members of my websites and customers of my golf improvement products, which tells me this is the way to improve your golf swing the quickest. I’ve had golfers literally tell me they wish they would have taken this approach 20 years ago!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Golf Flexibility Exercise
Turning your upper body (shoulders) 90 degrees, while maintaining less than half that with your hip turn takes a tremendous amount of dynamic strength and flexibility.It always surprises me when I speak to a golfer and really spell it out to them. I’ll even go through the swing visually and explain and certain points where physical restrictions can ruin your golf swing. I think the combination of my showing the golfer and explaining it really hits home for them.It’s tough via an article like this, or any of my websites to get the golfer to understand these physical demands on flexibility (and strength).
The sooner you realize flexibility exercise for golf is a necessity, the sooner you will see improvement. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience total “golf transformations” with the golfers I’ve worked with.Testing them before they started, on backswing range; follow through range; initial posture set up and restrictions: I’ve seen miraculous results with golfers. The senior golfers are the ones who see the biggest improvement. That’s mostly based on their initial level of fitness when they started. Never! Get started right away!Now…to define flexibility exercise for golf you just need to take a look at the golf swing.
Get in your golf posture right now, and bring the swing down into phases. Imagine taking a club back just a couple of feet.You’ll start feeling tension in your right shoulder, your core (from rotating), more in your upper left back muscle and shoulder.Isn’t it amazing to slow the swing down and realize how restricted you are? It’s a wake-up call to embark in flexibility exercise for golf right now.I don’t want to spend 5 more pages going through the entire swing, but hopefully you get the idea of the muscles that need to be stretched regularly to release the tension in your golf swing and improve the power you can produce.
The key now, is to start stretching those ‘golf muscles’ we just talked about. Get back in your posture, make a partial swing and stop. You will definitely want to incorporate some dynamic (moving) stretching as well.I hope you new realize the importance of flexibility exercise for golf.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Golf Swing Tips Thats Work
This is the Great golf swing tips! Do you know that a good golf swing has almost nothing to do with your arms? This is why practicing the No Arms drill makes perfect sense. Don’t forget to cock your wrists! The experts will also tell you to let your left arm roll slightly clockwise at the start of your back swing. So don’t sweat the small stuff!
Keep your feet on the ground. So you won’t forget to do this, keep in mind that no ballerinas are allowed in the golf field! This tip always works for a lot of people. It Don’t Mean A Thing If You Ain’t Got that Swing The Golf Down Swing starts from the bottom. Thus, you can still screw it up if you start your golf down swing with your shoulders.
Make sure you faithfully do these visualization exercises before you hit the green or the night before. A good golf swing setup is just not that tough. Do some relaxation activities to calm your nerves before you go swinging. Yoga, meditation, counting to ten while holding your breath can work if you let it.Finally, always adopt the athletic golf stance when on the field.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Tiger Woods Golf Swing
Tiger Woods golf swing is one that creates a lot of power and sometimes gets him into trouble. Without a doubt…being the number one golfer in the world, his Tigers golf swing is pretty good wouldn’t you say?What is the KEY to achieving a similar swing to Tigers?Rotate with your body.
Tiger does this with the strength of his core. A term for this is “staying-connected” throughout the golf swing.Tiger always fights his lower body getting way ahead of his upper body during the downswing (getting “stuck”), so he tries to keep his arms and club in front of his chest for as long as he can. If the towel drops, your arms have become disconnected from your body. Swing through to a full finish.
You’ll notice on most of Tigers shots he is fully rotated in the finish position. When you focus on swinging through the ball, you’ll find your distance will increase, as well as your fairways hit off the tee. It’s so easy to say we all can’t have Tiger Woods golf swing and that is partly true.
Benefits Of Golf Exercise
To explain golf exercise benefits to a golfer takes a little convincing, but in a short amount of time they become believers. Some of the main golf exercise benefits are; improved power for longer drives; dramatically improved stability for better consistency; a body that moves freer, removing tension from the swing; more energy for 18 holes; elimination of injuries; weight loss; improved concentration due to a reduction in fatigue; I could go on-and-on.
1. Improved Power For Longer Drives
If your body is weak and inflexible you will not be able to achieve optimal swing mechanics. Removing Tension From The Swing
When you improve your flexibility (range of motion specific to your golf swing) you are able to make a full backswing with no tension in the supporting muscles of the swing.
2. More Energy For 18 Holes
One of the biggest culprits of back nine blow-ups is loss of energy resulting in poor mental confidence and swing mechanics. Having energy for 18 holes builds tremendous confidence and a higher level of play.
3. Elimination Of Injuries
Golf injuries are prevalent among all amateur golfers, especially senior golfers. The golf swing is a damaging movement on the human body. Then hips, knees, shoulders and even wrists. A stronger, more flexible golfer will avoid injuries indefinitely.
4. Weight Loss
I have worked with over 10,000 golfers via my online golf performance website and they all fill out an initial golf fitness profile. There are more overweight golfers on the course than fit ones. This is because golfers have not come to the conclusion the fitness plays a critical role in golf performance. To not only improve their golf, but lose weight is icing on the cake for any golfer.
The result is poor club selection; swing mechanics and diminishing confidence. I hope you now realize the return on investment from these benefits of golf exercise.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Choose Your Golf Club
There are many specialized designs of club, falling into three general categories: woods, used for long-distance fairway shots; irons, the most versatile class used for a variety of shots, and putters, used mainly on the green to roll the ball into the cup.
Cast Iron Golf Club
The cast iron golf club is made from cast iron and the majority of the weight of the golf club is around the perimeter. Because of this the sweet spot is larger and this type of golf club is really great for beginners or those who have trouble making full contact.
Forged Iron Golf Club
The forged iron golf club is generally used by professionals simply because of its design and function. The center of the golf club is the center of gravity and the front of the club is a bit heavier. If you are an experienced player then you might consider a forged iron golf club.
Also, you will need to choose a size for your golf club as well from standard to midsize or oversized.
The standard club is smaller, so the sweet spot is as well. Generally professionals and advanced players use a standard club.
Midsize golf clubs are great because they have a bigger sweet spot and are a bit larger than the
standard golf club. Average players frequently use midsize golf clubs because they are easy to control and have a larger sweet spot.
Oversized golf clubs are generally used by seniors and individuals who have a hard time hitting the ball straight on. The one problem with these clubs is they can be difficult to control. The bonus, a huge sweet spot so when you make contact your ball goes further!
How To Make A Better Golf Swing
Along with strengthening comes stretching. Stretching muscles to attain a better golf swing is common among most golfers. Although it is common, most golfers don’t stretch. Why? Because it is viewed as ‘work’. But if it were viewed as a form of golf improvement it would be a different story.
When your physical capabilities are improved, your golf swing mechanics become much easier to achieve.
Your golf swing mechanics fall into place. It will only be a matter of time when all golfers will approach their golf improvement this way. It’s the only way that will warrant lasting results and ultimately a better golf swing.