Nearly 30 million people in the U.S. play golf each year. It requires patience, focus, and practice to become consistently good at this difficult sport. The amateur golfer takes an average of 90 to 100 strokes per every 18 holes. That is 90 to 100 opportunities to either master good swinging habits or further develop poor habits. Feeding into poor habits will not only become frustrating, but it will also increase the likelihood of developing a musculoskeletal injury.
There are three things that lead to efficiency breakdowns in the swing: poor mechanics, poor conditioning, and poor equipment. Any one of these can lead to a breakdown in your swing and ultimately result in injury. A player should be fit for clubs just like runners are fit for shoes. Marathoners don’t simply buy a shoe off the shelf without trying it on first. Poor mechanics can be caused by any number of breakdowns through the swing. Loss of posture, early extension, scooping, and cupping are just a few possibilities. Professional golfers all swing very differently to the naked eye; however, when analyzed using a 3D motion analysis system, they are all extremely similar due to the sequences. This means, despite their body-type differences, they all follow a specific set of motion by leading with their hips, followed by their trunk, the lead arm, and finally the clubs. This sequence remains the same from the backswing to the downswing and follow-through. Maintaining this rhythm is the key to consistency and accuracy.
Poor conditioning can be a result of numerous impairments or deficits within the body, and can lead to poor mechanics. The golf swing is a complicated movement that requires specific mobility allowances at each joint in the body, from the ankle all the way to the neck. Along with mobility, specific muscle groups are relied upon to maintain balance and joint stabilization. Good segmental stabilization is the key to power.
So, how can you achieve all of these things to give yourself the best opportunity to improve your game and avoid injury? Find a golf pro that can fit you with the appropriate clubs. Then seek out a medical professional who has been certified to perform a gross movement screen in combination with video motion analysis. The movement screen will point out specific mobility restrictions and/or instabilities throughout the movement chain. The video swing analysis should complement the findings from the screen, and together they will lead the medical professional to a treatment plan. The overall goal is not to change your swing. There is not only one way to swing a club. The goal is to find the most efficient way for you to swing a club based on what you can do physically.
Angela Austin is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy and Center Manager at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Frisco. Angela is also Titleist Performance Institute certified to perform medical screens in conjunction with video swing analysis. Baylor Rehab has more than 50 outpatient therapy locations across North Texas. To find the nearest location, or if you need to be evaluated by a sports medicine professional, contact [email protected] or go to BaylorHealth.com/BIR.
