Over the course of the year our monthly newsletter articles have addressed certain golf related areas of the body and how they impact the swing and affect performances. At KeNako we look at improving a player from a holistic point of view and I am personally a firm believer that a person’s swing characteristics are dictated by what their bodies will allow them to do and not by what they believe they should be doing.
It is difficult to make alterations in technique if one’s body will not accommodate change – how often does one hear a coach say that their client’s shoulder turn is incorrect! Well, if one does not have the stability, mobility and flexibility to turn correctly then it is never going to happen.
There are many technical aspects to hitting a ball straight. The starting point is good basics – you cannot start the ball on target if you do not grip the club correctly, align properly and position the ball in the right place for the trajectory you want to hit. Once the basics are in place consistency comes from the sum of the parts working in sequence.
Correct sequencing maximises our clubhead speed and gives us the consistency we strive for but correct sequencing cannot be achieved without stability, flexibility and mobility in the muscles of the golfing body. An injured ankle, knee or a weakness in the pelvis or shoulder area will interrupt a correct sequence resulting in compensations, producing frustrating inconsistencies.
Unfortunately, good sequencing is not purely about having the right stability, flexibility and mobility; there has to be an element of trust and conviction to utilise a body that is in great shape and working order.
One of the great pleasures I had as a player was to watch Tiger Woods hit balls 12 years ago, it was poetry in motion and you could sense what a great athlete he was by the way his body moved in sequence to produce the power to crush the ball. Unfortunately I haven’t seen that flow in his swing for a while now and although he has had well documented injuries which do create compensations, it appears his swing and thought processes have got too mechanical and it looks like he is grinding out there. Hopefully Tiger will learn to trust what he is doing now and we will once again see him playing golf as an athlete in full flow which is what Rory McIlroy is doing so well at the moment.
Understanding what is required from a physical point of view will help you sequence your swing correctly which will ultimately create consistency in your ball striking having a knock on effect in attitude and confidence.
Good luck, enjoy your golf this summer and keep it on the short stuff.
By Roger Wessels
Head Coach
