Improve Your Golf Swing
One of our Osteopaths, Daniel Wood is also a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certified expert. Three years ago as a keen golfer, Daniel decided to gain more expertise about the sport he loves. Ever since, he has been utilising these skills to work with golfers and helping them to develop a more efficient and pain free golf swing.
TPI is one of the leading bodies when it comes to golf fitness (mytpi.com) and is responsible for some of the world’s greatest golfers including Australia’s own Adam Scott.
The course Daniel undertook enables him to perform a thorough screening protocol to work out potential problematic areas in your swing. He couples this with his six + years of experience as a fully registered Osteopath to get you hitting the ball in the most efficient way possible for your body.
“IF YOU DON’T TEST, IT IS JUST A GUESS” Titleist Performance Institute
Today he will discuss a common problem with golfers who spend increased time at the desk.
Is sitting at the desk all day hurting your golf swing?
In this era of more sedentary work at computers, smart phones and tablets, we are now flexing our spine forward for sustained periods of time. This can lead to the development of kyphotic posture due to our muscles and joints adapting to this forward position.
This is prevalent among golfers; just have a look at your playing partners as they set-up at the tee. TPI conducted a study of 423 professional and amateur golfers assessing their posture in the set-up position. 33.1% were found to address the ball in a C-posture/Kyphotic posture.
If your posture is kyphotic, the following biomechanical limitations will likely occur during swing:
-Your shoulder rotation is limited and your trunk rotation decreases
-Your neck needs to extend to keep your eyes on the ball
-There is less ability to control the movement of the scapulae on the thoracic wall
-Your abdominal muscles aren’t able to contract optimally because they are shortened
This can lead to an increase in strain on joints and muscles, less efficient transfer of power through to the ball on impact; and perhaps worst of all, pain.
There are other factors that can contribute to poor posture over the ball. They include:
-Clubs that are too short
-Poor understanding of correct posture
-Standing too far away from the ball
An assessment by an osteopath including:
-Detailed golf and medical history (previous injuries, general health, daily activities, years playing golf, prior coaching, handicap etc)
-Thorough examination of the way your entire body moves throughout a golf swing with identification of problem areas
-Functional strength and mobility testing
All these help find the underlying cause of your postural problem.
By addressing these findings with a combination of techniques addressing strength and mobility, we aim to keep you on the course longer by reducing risk of injury as well as hitting the ball cleaner by optimising your transfer of power.
Come in today to get a TPI certified screen of your entire body to assess the best way to improve your body function and golf swing. Call 0425 876 929 to make an appointment or BOOK ONLINE HERE!
- Daniel Wood (Osteopath and TPI certified Expert)