| |
|
Rotation,
Rotation, and More Rotation in Your
Golf Swing
|
|
by: Sean
Cochran
|
In
real estate, it’s location, location
and location.
In golf, it’s all about rotation.
More power requires better rotation.
To keep your body healthier, it’s
about better rotation. For
consistency, you’d better be able to
rotate.
The body rotates around a spine angle
that should be fixed or stable,
keeping your club on the proper swing
path. Are you able to do this with
your swing?
This may be the idea that separates
the high handicapper and low
handicapper: the ability to rotate
your body, keeping the club on a
consistent swing plane.
Admittedly, some of the pros like Jim
Furyk make some interesting movements
in the swing, but if you dissect it a
little further, you will notice they
keep the club in a certain slot on the
backswing and on the downswing. Every
tour player is able to rotate around a
fixed or stable spine angle, make a
linear weight transfer, and
successfully hit the golf ball.
This is the goal of the golf swing:
keep the golf club in a slot,
essentially dissecting the shoulder on
the back swing and follow through.
How many of us do that?
Fewer than we would probably like to
admit. So how do we rotate the body
and keep the club in this slot? The
answer is probably not the one we
would like to hear. It requires
developing a “feel” for the golf
swing and knowing what the body is
doing at every step of the golf swing.
Essentially, you must develop a feel
for both the club and your body. Some
of us are better at it than others. At
this point, it is ingrained into the
body and you will know when the swing
is off and what to correct. Keep in
mind, we are not going to make a
perfect swing every time, but that is
our goal.
How do we go about keeping the swing
on the correct plane and developing
“feel?”
I know of two possibilities. One of
the answers is probably quite obvious.
The first answer to this question has
to do with your golf swing mechanics.
Yes, probably not a surprise to many
of you.
The golf swing is an intricate,
biomechanical movement requiring you
to perform a large number of movements
with the correct timing and no room
for error.
Understanding the correct
biomechanical sequence of the golf
swing and the ability to execute it
take great instruction, a good amount
of practice, patience and time.
The body can learn either the correct
or incorrect way to swing a golf club.
As a result, it is imperative to
receive quality instruction on the
proper way to swing a club.
Secondly, the mind and body learn new
movements through repetition. The only
way to learn the correct golf swing is
through consistent practice. Practice
ingrains into your brain, nerves, and
muscles how to properly execute the
movements of the golf swing, the
correct sequence of the golf swing,
and the correct timing of the golf
swing.
Finally, to learn the golf swing
correctly it takes time. It is not an
overnight process but requires
consistent time spent practicing and
playing. Don’t let anyone fool you
that there is a quick-fix patch that
will drop your handicap 25 strokes
while you’re sleeping.
Over a certain time period the body
will learn the swing. It’s different
for each of us. Once the body learns
the swing, the “feel” begins to
develop. Once you get that feel, you
will begin know exactly where your
clubhead is at all times during the
golf swing.
I can’t feel a thing!
Most of us understand that the golf
swing is a rotational movement and
requires learning the proper
biomechanics of the golf swing.
However, the second part of the answer
of developing “feel” may be less
understood.
Now think about this for a second.
What if your body is not able to
rotate around a fixed spine angle? If
you can’t rotate, it will be very,
and I mean very, hard to keep your
club in a slot.
I see it all the time with amateurs.
They want to develop a good swing
desperately, but are unable to do so
because of a weak, inflexible, and
powerless body.
If you are inflexible in the hips, how
are you going to rotate in a manner
that places the club in the correct
slot for the downswing? It’s not
going to happen!
If you have poor balance, how are you
going to develop “feel” in the
golf swing? You’re not!
It comes down to this notion about the
golf swing.
Your body is performing the mechanics
of the golf swing. In order to do this
properly, your body must have certain
levels of flexibility, balance,
strength, endurance, and power.
The only, and I mean only, way to
develop a good swing and “feel”
within your swing requires a body that
can support your swing.
The swing is a very complex movement
requiring a synergy between your body
and the mechanics of the swing. If you
attempt to develop a swing without a
body to support it, you are on your
way to a very frustrating experience
and lowering your handicap will be a
trying time.
I would strongly suggest implementing
a program that develops your swing
mechanics in conjunction with your
body. The exercises in Your Body &
Your Swing will take your body to
where it needs to be.
If you are looking for help learning
the correct golf swing mechanics, take
a look at our golf swing instructional
videos. Putting both the body and the
swing together will give you the
results you’re looking for.
About the Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most
recognized golf fitness instructors in
the world today. He travels the PGA
Tour regularly with 2005 PGA &
2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson.
He has made many of his golf tips,
golf instruction and golf swing
improvement techniques available to
amateur golfers on the website
www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean,
you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
GOLF SWING :: Improve
your game by improving your swing. Check our
selection of articles to help you swing like
a pro.
EXERCISE :: Strength,
Distance, Stability. Try these exercises
designed specifically to improve your golf
game. You can never be too strong or too fit
to play golf.
PRACTICE :: Practice does
not make perfect. Perfect Practice makes
Perfect Performance. Are you practicing your
game the wrong way? Read these articles to
find out the best way to practice and
improve your golf game.
|
|
|
|
|
|
