The Swing Elements
|
|
|
|
Your Swing
What Matters: Let"s Break it Down
The golf swing is quietly explosive-even violent-and you must be prepared. The four elements that we discussed are particularly important to each element of the swing.
Flexibility, strength, balance and nutrition are essential to every element of the swing.
Better joint flexibility lets you swing in a fluid manner through a full range of movement. Greater muscular strength provides more striking force to drive the ball farther. Enhanced balance and leads to better coordination. Good nutrition leads to endurance and better concentration.
Elements of a Golf Swing
In general
Skip Latella, regarded as one of the top golf fitness trainers in the game analyzes the swing using in position analysis. Latella believes that you need an individually tailored program to improve your swing for the long haul. Latella"s company, Altheus, based in New York, has developed a detailed golf specific assessment in which they analyze your balance, flexibility, power, core, aerobic capacity, and more. Regardless of the expert, you will find that the elements of analysis are fundamentally the same.
Once these elements are assessed, the golfer moves into in-position training in order to analyze swing mechanics. At Altheus they combine the information from video technology -- including driving performance, speed, rotation, flexibility and balance -with the learning from the assessment to build an integrated prescription to improve your performance. The hips, legs, torso, shoulders and arms are all connected and work together or against each other. The analysis allows you to determine objectively how your power might be lost due to imbalances in body power.
These imbalances vary and are unique from person to person. What is clear is that if there is imbalance will result in physical demands that create strain and ultimate breakdown.
The efficient passing of momentum, referred to as kinetic linking, can be improved through training. By increasing muscle strength, while at the same time improving joint flexibility, balance, and coordination, you will develop a more efficient and effective swing. This basically translates into increased club head speed at impact, with less overall exertion and loss of control.
The Result:
To obtain the greatest benefit from proper sequencing of swinging actions, you must have strong leg, thigh, and hip muscles to generate driving power. These "ground forces" then must be transferred through well-conditioned midsection muscles to the upper body. Strong chest, back, and shoulder muscles permit greater acceleration of the club, while maintaining control through strengthened arms and forearms. No single action in sport requires more overall muscular strength and interaction, joint flexibility, and coordination, than a perfectly executed golf swing.
|
|
