In the last article, “3D Kinetic Link Analysis, Your Golf
Swing’s MRI”, we talked about the proper
unwinding of the body during the downswing.
Each segment, the hips, torso and arms, has to rotationally accelerate
and decelerate at the proper time in order to get the club to accelerate into
the ball. Each segment should double in rotational speed. Consequently, the club will optimally accelerate
into the ball with eight times the speed of the hips. Often times the hips will not be moving at
1/8 the speed of the club and there will not be an efficient transfer of energy
up through the body out to the clubhead.
In order for the body to sequence properly the hips are the
first segment to initiate the unwinding.
To get the hips to accelerate and then more importantly decelerate
properly they must stabilize as weight is transferred onto the leading
foot. With a stable lower body you will
initiate the downswing with a slight shift to your target foot. As this lateral shift occurs your hips will
start to unwind and accelerate. Once you
have loaded completely onto your target foot your hips need to decelerate in
order to allow the next body segment, your torso, to accelerate. (The towel whip affect.) Keep in mind the downswing takes less than 2
seconds to perform and trying to think about this movement while you swing
would be impossible. Instead the movement must be felt.
To
feel the proper movement of the hips accelerating and decelerating try the
hockey swings drill. The drill is used
to get pressure on your target foot prior to swinging the golf club into the
impact zone, as well as, to get your hips to slow down prior to impact.
For more information contact Cory at cpuyear@athletico.com or visit www.athletico.com
Cory Puyear, PT, CSCS,
MGFI
As a licensed physical
therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist, Cory has dedicated
his career to understanding the biomechanics, manual therapy, rehabilitation
and corrective exercises as they relate to golf. Cory has been an adjunct
staff to many golf schools and has appeared on The Golf Channel as a golf
fitness expert. He has worked closely with many PGA teaching
professionals including two of Golf Digest's top Six PGA instructors.
Cory has been certified as a golf biomechanic through the C.H.E.K. Institute
and as a Master Golf Fitness Instructor through Advantage Golf.
The articles at GolfFitnessProducts.net
are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute
for direct examination and exercise prescription by the appropriate
health professional. It is strongly recommended that you do not
perform any exercise program without the consent of your personal
physician.
