I hope you have been loving our posts for you so far! Tyler and I are grateful that you do and are always looking to provide you with the best and most truthful information around.
Here’s is a dose of truth!
I was in the my rec center the other day, busting my butt on the Espresso Bikes (which are awesome by the way!) and I watched this “trainer” essentially watch about five minutes of TV while his client worked away on the stupid seated hamstring machine! Do you think that his client was recieving any benefit from his “coaching? HECK NO, I say! It’s fitness people like that that give bad names to “fitness professionals.”
Think of exercise as a drug. It can be prescribed correctly and the result will be the elimination of your sickness, OR it can be mal-presribed and the result can be greater sickness or even death!
So when choosing someone to provide you with an exercise program, specifically a golf fitness program make sure you do your research (just like you would do find a good doctor) to find a qualified golf fitness professional!
Saying that, if we go back up to my first story of the “trainer,” I say that his client was being “prescribed” a bunch of junk for her body! He was prescribing poor “medicine” for that lady’s body, and in the end will negatively affect her at some point in the form of injury, lack of information or worse yet, a poor “physical education!”
In the end, seek those who are qualified professionals to help you with your most important asset, your body! You wouldn’t go to the average doctor on the block, so don’t go to the average “trainer” either! Your body and health is too valuable!
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 2nd, 2009. Comment. 
This past week we witnessed what was billed as the most long awaited return in sports. And with a birdie – eagle start, it is hard to say that his return was less than impressive. But his loss in the second round sparked some nostalgia for me.
I have followed Tiger since late in his collegiate career. The one weakness that he had in college and when he first turned pro was his wedge play. Not so much around the greens where his legendary short game could save him from anywhere, but somewhere in the 110 – 130 yard range. He airmailed more green then any player I had ever seen. While he didn’t quite fall all the way back to his old move, he did struggle with the area that historically gave him some trouble. It’s funny how easily the body will fall back on what is natural. So how did he get to the point where he struggled with wedges?
If you listen to his old interviews, you will hear that a lot of the stuff that he has worked on his entire career was there to fix his overactive hips due to early clubs that were too heavy for him. I think he’s doing ok, but this brings up a great point about how important it is to get your kids started correctly because those initial patters will last forever.
Dee has some great posts about starting your kids off right, check them out, and leave us any questions if you have them.
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 4th, 2009. Comment.
Many experts in the scientific community believe that it takes a minimum of 10 years and around 10,000 hours of training for an athlete to reach elite levels. In Tim gibbons and Tammie Forster’s landmark study for the US Olympic Center’s Athletic Development Program, “The Path to Excellence”, they provided an in-depth look at the development of US Olympians who competed between 1984-1998.
Here are the results…
1. US Olympians began their sport-specific participation at the average age of 12.0 for males and 11.5 for females.
2. Most Olympians reported 12 to 13 year period of talent development from thier sport introduction to making an Olympic team.
3. Olympic medalists were younger- 1.3 to 3.6 years- during the first 5 stages of development than non-medalists, suggesting that medalists were receiving motor skill development and training at an earlier age. However, caution must be taken not to fall into the trap of early specialization in late specialization sports!
Golf is a late specialization sport! According to most data, golf is a 20 year developmental sport to get to elite levels!
So take your time, learn golf the best ways possible, with a golf fitness program as a foundation, great equipment and instruction, good course management and a strong mental game, and you will play long and well for a long time!
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 9th, 2009. Comment.
Golf is hard…
I had a big epiphany concerning the golf swing today. It was very thrilling. I realized that I had no idea how a swing plane feels. This was a sobering realization, but was very exciting to finally figure it out (I use those words cautiously because it is hard to say you’ve really figured something out in the golf swing). I want to let things settle and get a handle on what I learned today, but I am seeing how the hands work in a different way, which I hope will be a clearer image for golfers to imagine and feel (two key points before actually doing something).
So why do I rant her today? Look, I am like you. I am a do-it-yourselfer who has struggled with aspects of the golf game for years. My version of struggling is not what you might consider it, but it is my story so I will call it what I want.
At my peak, one year after college, I was a +1 handicap. That meant that for a while about one in five rounds I expected to be under par. I have always been a solid driver of the golf ball and struggled with the shorter clubs. I hit the ball a long way and putt pretty well. As one top instructor in my area claimed, “I do all the hard things well and struggle with the easy stuff”. Want to see my swing…well, here you go.
Not too bad. I sway off the ball; reverse spine angle at the top; early extend, slide and scoop a bit coming into impact. It really makes me wonder how I shot under par. Think about this, i’ve shot 30 for nine holes twice and I did it without being on plane.
Golf is mean, you’d think that you’d have to do something right to shoot under par, but you can get away with a lot if you are a good athlete. That being said, I don’t recommend those swing faults for everyone. More importantly, I think we can now fix most problems by testing for swing faults and fixing the biomechanics. But here is where the science breaks down a little bit. I can pass every test we have on requirements for the golf swing (my deep squat is borderline but much improved). So I could do everything required to swing the golf club correctly yet I still had all those swing faults. Why? I have drills to fix everything you could do poorly yet I couldn’t fix it until today. What changed?
Golf is about concepts. If you don’t know what you are trying to do you will never succeed. You might not use the same words as me, but you have to see it and feel it before you can do it. So this post is simple. You can do the best golf workouts and have all the golf tips in the world, but until you get someone to help you “see it” and “feel it” you will never do it in the swing. At least not repeatably.
Good luck golfers and thanks for listening…and stay tuned I’ll share what I learned about the swing plane soon!
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 11th, 2009. Comment.
Today we will start a twelve part series that identifies the physical reasons as to why you have the swing faults you do. We believe that when you correct your bio-mechanical issues that retard your ability to make a pure golf swing, you will not only learn a better swing, but also be able to play better golf with better scores, longer drives, and less or no pain! Enjoy!
Defined-
When the hips and spine start into hip extension or straighten up to early in the downswing, it is termed Early Extension. This is where the hips and pelvis move closer to the ball on downswing. This causes the upper body to lift up in order to maintain their balance. The lower body does not easily rotate through impact, instead in pushes forward into the space where the club is supposed to go, forcing the player to stand up.
Causes-
1. Stiffness of joints in lower body- Hips, low back complex, SI joints, knees, ankles
2. Can’t rotate around lead hip (internal rotation)- if the pelvis is unable to rotate around the lead hip due to joint or muscular restrictions then forward and lateral movements will dominate the pattern.
3. Inability to separate upper and lower body- and visa versa allows the player to maintain a stable posture and a proper sequence of motion during the swing. Limited trunk to pelvis separation is usually caused by reduced spinal mobility and shortened lat flexibility.
4. Inability to stabilize trunk- abs/glutes- the ability to stabilize the lower body is directly proportional to gluteal and abdominal strength. A stable neutral pelvic posture helps prevent thrusting toward the ball.
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 13th, 2009. Comment.
Defined-
Loss of posture is any significant alteration from your body’s original set up angles during your golf swing. This loss of posture can affect all aspects of the golf swing including timing, balance and rhythm. Losing spine angle or altering posture usually causes two miss-hits, a block to the right or a hook to the left. As the body angles change, the player is put in a position to have to rely on their hand action to square the face. This becomes a timing-driven swing that can be inconsistent.
Causes-
1. Stiffness of joints in lower body- Hips, low back complex, SI joints, knees, ankles
2. Flexibility in hips and shoulders- in order to rotate around a stable posture, one must have good flexibility in the hips and shoulders. This allows you to get the club into key positions without altering your spine angle.
3. Inability to separate upper and lower body- and visa versa allows the player to maintain a stable posture and a proper sequence of motion during the swing. Limited trunk to pelvis separation is usually caused by reduced spinal mobility and shortened lat flexibility.
4. Inability to stabilize trunk- abs/glutes- the ability to stabilize the lower body is directly proportional to gluteal and abdominal strength. A stable neutral pelvic posture helps prevent thrusting toward the ball.
Remember, you lose posture for the above reasons! So the biggest way to get rid of your loss of posture besides with your professional, is to get rid of it in the gym!
If we can help, let us know…now is the time to get rid of those nasty swing faults!
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 16th, 2009. Comment.
I was reading a book this week where a study, called the “marshmallow study”, was referenced. After a quick google search, I realized that this study was pretty powerful. Here is a quick synopsis and how it might apply to golf. Enjoy.
“Stanford University psychology researcher Michael Mischel demonstrated how important self-discipline (the ability to delay immediate gratification in exchange for long term goal achievement) is to lifelong success?
In a longitudinal study which began in the 1960s, he offered hungry 4-year-olds a marshmallow, but told them that if they could wait for the experimenter to return after running an errand, they could have two marshmallows.
Those who could wait the fifteen or twenty minutes for the experimenter to return would be demonstrating the ability to delay gratification and control impulse.
About one-third of of the children grabbed the single marshmallow right away while some waited a little longer, and about one-third were able to wait 15 or 20 minutes for the researcher to return.
Years later when the children graduated from high school, the differences between the two groups were dramatic: the resisters were more positive, self-motivating, persistent in the face of difficulties, and able to delay gratification in pursuit of their goals. They had the habits of successful people which resulted in more successful marriages, higher incomes, greater career satisfaction, better health, and more fulfilling lives than most of the population.
Those having grabbed the marshmallow were more troubled, stubborn and indecisive, mistrustful, less self-confident, and still could not put off gratification. They had trouble subordinating immediate impulses to achieve long-range goals. When it was time to study for the big test, they tended to get distracted into doing activities that brought instant gratification This impulse followed them throughout their lives and resulted in unsuccessful marriages, low job satisfaction and income, bad health, and frustrating lives. ”
This was the clearest recount, but there are others pointing to this fact contributing to as large a gap in SAT scores as any socioeconomic issue. Neat stuff, but how does it relate to golf. Simple, check the tittle.
Are you willing to struggle slightly in exchange for greater performance a few weeks, months, or maybe even years from now? Tiger did. Twice. He was willing to put his scoring on the back burner for approximately 18 months to improve his swing. As a result, he has continued to improve and reach levels of golf performance that are unparalleled. Would you take the marshmallow?
I think that golf tips are like the marshmallow. I offer them to my students all the time, but I usually tell them, “this is a band-aid” and “if you want to play better in the long run, we need to fix this also.” Usually that second option involves improving the body in order to improve the game, but those who have taken the second path have realized greater gains that were easily recovered when misplaced.
It is a lot easier to commit to a process when you know where the destination is and what the path looks like. With 3D data, physical assessments, high speed video and a greater understanding of motor learning the paths to improvement have never been clearer. Find someone qualified in your are or do what I did and learn it yourself to help your game.
Knowing how your swing works will help take the fear out of the game of golf and give you the power to say, “no thanks, I’d rather have 2 marshmallows later.”
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 19th, 2009. 2 Comments.
Defined-
Is described as premature release of the wrist angles during the downswing and through impact. This release results in a weakened impact position with the left wrist being cupped at ball strike. It adds loft to the face of the club and as a result we see a loss of power and consistency. It is termed casting or early release when the club-head and left forearm are in a straight line prior to making contact with the ball. It is termed scooping when the club-head passes the hands through impact and the student is trying to lift the ball into the air. At impact we should see the shaft leaning slightly toward the target. This helps to compress the golf ball and creates a more powerful impact position.
Causes-
1. Wrist Flexibility- Good flexibility is essential for setting the club and maintaining that set during the downswing. The lead wrist must have good flexion and the trail wrist must have good extension abilities, and both must have ample radial deviation (hinge).
2. Forearm and grip strength- Forearm and grip strength is important is important to set and hold the club properly.
3. Any lower body dysfunction- As with any upper body swing faults, any dysfunction in the lower body can be the root cause, ie., poor hip mobility, poor ankle mobility, poor core, and poor pelvic tilt.
Remember as well, Early Release and Casting usually goes hand in hand with coming “Over the Top!” We’ll get into to that one soon!
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 21st, 2009. Comment.
I like that question because it creates a pretty strong, familiar picture in our heads as to what each looks like and the environment that defines each.
I ask that question becuase hydration is one of the most important things you can do for yourself to fight off…
1. Fatigue
2. Disease
3. Sleeplessness
4. Muscular weakness
5. Inablility to concentrate
6. Decreased sex drive
7. Digestion problens
8. Headaches
9. Cholesterol “problems”
10. Acute and Chronic pain
How’s that for a list?!
Here’s how you can do something about it…drink half your bodyweight in ounces of filtered water (NOT TAP!) each day!
Example- I weigh 200lbs, so I need to drink 100ozs each day of water.
So what are you? Do you live your life as a “desert,” where the environment is harsh and inhospitable, or is it a “rain forest, ” where life is abundant and plentiful?
It is simple as that! Now get to it! Watch how it improves your game too!
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 23rd, 2009. 1 Comment.
I recently watched an episode from Haney Project: Charles Barkley and was unimpressed. No not with the show, I think it is great. But with the process of how Charles is going to fix his swing. After the first meeting Charles was told that he was going to have to do a “Tiger Day.” A “Tiger Day” involves getting up early and hitting thousands of golf balls with breaks to work out and eat. I understand how this works for refining a swing like Tigers (and you’ll understand by the end of this) but it pretty much ignores all modern motor learning research. I am by no means an expert, but if you hang around experts you will pick up a few of these key points. Let me explain what could (or should) have been done with Mr. Barkley.
There are different neurotransmitters in the brain that relate to motor patterns. One of these is used for “automatic”tasks: Tying your shoes, blinking, and cursing at the ball going out of bounds are all examples of automatic responses fueled by one form of transmitter. A second neurotransmitter is used when learning a new skill that actively involves short term memory. When Tiger is hitting thousands of golf balls, he is doing so with the power of one neurotransmitter. When Charles Barkley is concentrating on making swing changes, he is using the power of acetylcholine, the short term memory and learning jet fuel we have in our brain. Ok, enough of the nerdy stuff, here is what this means.
Charles Barkley (and you) only have enough energy for a small amount of focused effort when learning a new pattern and using acetylcholine. It is actually better, for longevity of the pattern, to hit 50 balls with focus over more days than it is to hit large amounts of golf balls in a single session. Tiger day is good for Tiger, but is it good for Barkley? I don’t think so; at least not in the long run. It does make good TV though to see a thousand golf balls teed up and a nearly defeated Charles staring them down the way he did Hakeem “the dream” back in his day. But don’t for a second believe that it is the best way to LEARN a new pattern the way Charles is doing it. On to my second gripe.
Where is the physical assessment??? Charles is going to do boxing to get in golf shape? And Hank Haney is going to allow this? How does that help Charles stop that transition move of diving his head down 2 feet where he looks like he is inspecting the golf ball, like a two year old looking at a lady bug? Well at least he’ll be in a good position to give an upper cut to the golf ball after that move.
Hey, a good offense is the best defense, right? I read an article on ESPN before the show aired and in it the interviewer stated, “But Barkley’s self-taught swing started to deteriorate as he lost flexibility from the series of back and leg injuries that eventually forced him to retire from the NBA in 2000.” Was I the only one that thought, hey if lost flexibility was how his swing went bad, maybe some increased flexibility would help fix it. Maybe Charles could try a little yoga or some other form of golf flexibility would help him have a chance of bringing the club down on plane. Or maybe he could hit 8 hours of golf balls and make golf improvement seem like a full time job. I hope that Charles doesn’t scare off golfers from making potential changes, because it’s really not as hard as he is making it seem
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 25th, 2009. 3 Comments.