Tip of the Month
CORE STRENGTH and FLEXIBILITY
Core strength and flexibility is critical if you want to improve your golf swing. The power that comes from a strong and flexible core can lead to longer and more accurate golf shots. Your core is the engine to your swing. If your core is inflexible you will not be able to make a full backswing with minimal tension.
Picture your core being the middle of your body. That’s as simple as you can get it. It is mainly your abdominals, but can also include your glutes and lower back. This area of your body is the most susceptible to injury.
Having a weak core can lead to injury when trying to swing the golf club with too much power, this is why many amateur golfers have a low back injury at some point in their golfing career. They have never focused on core flexibility training, as well as core strength training for more power.
To produce more power and distance in your swing does not mean swinging harder with your arms. I am sure you have already tried that and I would ask did you hit it further? I’ll bet not.
Just like hitting a baseball, tennis ball or even throwing the discus in track and field, you use your core for most of your power. You rotate with your core to create torque then you unleash that stored up energy into the hit, whether it is a baseball, tennis ball or golf ball.
The more efficient you become with using your core, arms, shoulders and hands in a sequenced motion the more added distance that will come will seem quite easy. You’ll be shocked at how quickly your driving distance goes up.
Core flexibility training incorporates “rotation”. Every core flexibility stretch you do should involve some form of rotating. This is very important since the golf swing is a rotate (turn) back and a rotate (turn) forward. The more range of motion you can achieve in your core area the more power you will produce.
Here’s a little test you can do while your sitting there reading this article!
Put your arms across your chest, put your feet flat on the ground and keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Now rotate as far as you can to the right and make a note of how far it is. Did you get to a 90 degree shoulder turn (that’s where you need to be). Then rotate as far as you can to the left, are you able to get to 90 degrees in both directions.
This will be a “wake-up” call for many of you. If you find you can’t rotate at least 70 degrees of center, you’ll have no chance at maximizing your power and driving distance.
We do this simple core flexibility test seated to remove cheating of the lower body. If you were standing, it would be very easy to rotate your hips and get a bigger shoulder rotation.
Being seated removes this compensation!
A seated rotation is “true” core flexibility and range of motion.
If you are struggling with your rotation now is the time to start working on the strength and flexibility of your core. Get your body ready for a better golf season this year.
Sign up for a series of lessons with your CPGA professional and get started now for an improved and more enjoyable season in 2009.