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Golf is a recreational sport that someone of any physical fitness level can play. The activity is known to reduce stress levels while burning calories, with a very low risk of injury. Golf is a great sport to play in the spring, summer and fall to be active outdoors. However, performance is an important factor in the improvement of your game, as well as injury prevention. How does Integrated Rehabilitation’s Golf Performance Enhancement Program help accomplish this?
Biomechanics of the Golf Swing
Biomechanics is the study of human movements. To be a better golfer, it is important to understand the science behind your swing. There are three main stages: preparation, execution and the follow-through.
The Prep Stage
In the first stage of your swing, it is essential to establish your stance, posture and grip. Before the tee, stand with your legs shoulder width apart and knees slightly flexed. Your body should create an imaginary line through the ball to your target; stand parallel to that line. When you’re ready to swing, remember that golfers need a solid grip on the club to transfer the force from their body to the ball.
The Execution Stage
When you hit a golf ball, you start with a backswing and end with a downswing. Both swings should create an angled plane from your shoulders down to the ball. The angle will depend on your individual height and the distance you stand from the tee. Your backswing should be balanced and powerful to lead into your downswing. As the club is about to hit the ball, your hips should rotate and your weight should shift to your front foot.
The Follow-Through
Follow-through is the most critiqued stage of a golfer’s swing because it is dependent on how well the first two stages are executed. A good golf swing will accelerate on impact with the golf ball for improved accuracy and reduced risk of injury.
Identifying Swing and Body Faults
We like to say that a swing fault is usually the result of a body fault. The power and accuracy of your golf swing depends on how well you position your body to hit the ball. If your knees are too bent in the preparation stage or you don’t rotate during your downswing, your swing will suffer. Our physical therapists will perform a body fault assessment to identify the areas that need improvement.
Developing a Physical Conditioning and Training Program
After your body fault assessment, the physical therapist will teach you proper warm-up and flexibility techniques. Energizing your muscles takes more than a few practice swings on the green. A proper golf swing requires loose, flexible muscles to drive the ball far and accurately towards the target. You will work to strengthen the necessary muscles to improve your game and reduce your overall risk of injury.
Our Golf Performance Enhancement program is available to individuals or groups. To learn more, contact us today.