Archive for June, 2012
The Golf Lab
June 23rd, 2012The Most Important Golf Functional Exercise
June 17th, 2012The Deep Squat
Functionally the ability to squat tells a doctor a lot about an individual’s physical ability. All the physical requirements necessary to complete a full squat are necessary for optimal swing mechanics let alone normal walking and running.
That doesn’t mean that one who can’t squat, can’t swing a golf club anymore than one who can’t squat can’t walk or run. What it does mean, is that if you can’t squat you must compensate physically, compromising optimal body mechanics through the actions of walking and swinging a golf club in a powerful and consistent manner.
“But I experience ankle/knee/hip/back pain when I squat.” Many adults do find it painful to squat; however the ability to squat has nothing to do with age. Unless you have a significant ligament tear or joint replacement, whether you are 8 or 88 you should be able to squat “correctly”. In fact by not addressing your inability to squat you will increase the arthritic changes in your joints and increase your pain as you age, let alone your golf performance.
As stated, what happens during your squat can reveal how you transfer weight and load muscles in your swing. A breakdown in mechanics can be a primary cause of many swing faults including a loss of spine angle, sway or slide, early extension, coming over-the-top, and becoming trapped, to only name a few.
A full squat is defined as the ability to bend down so that your buttocks rest against the back of your achilles tendon while your feet constantly remain flat on the floor during the entire process. Many things can go wrong preventing the process, which I can’t address here, but the most common problem begins with a faulty movement pattern. Additionally not being able to keep your arms vertical with your golf club above your head while you squat tells us about your upper body …. both spine and shoulders.
Many people wrongly start a squat by bending the knees and transferring weight into the toes (image 1). The correct pattern imitates a “seating” pattern (image 2). Begin by arching your pelvis backwards, then dropping your bum towards the ground with your weight in your heels. Frankly … like you would sit on a toilet.
Aside from all the benefits to your golf swing, virtually all health professionals will agree that the “correct” squat is one of the most functional exercises applicable to human health at any age. Start by mastering the movement pattern demonstrated in image 2. If you can’t do it … then there are issues not only in your swing but even in the way you walk the course. There could be many reasons why … pin pointing that reason is one of the keys to not only better golf but less back, hip and knee pain.
If you would like to learn more, contact us at 905-501-0033 or docfletch@thinkcore.ca
June a month of great expectations … are you ready?
June 17th, 2012June, a month of great expectations and dreams for the new golf season but are you ready?
Each new golf season, our expectations are high. We look forward to the hope of better golf, better scores and perhaps to even take few dollars from our buddies. Some of us also have aspirations to play in the Ontario Amateur or win the Club Championship. Regardless of the size of our aspirations every golfer wants to play better few if any are happy with just the joy of walking the course with our worst score.
So we all want to play better but what is the plan to make that happen? If it’s like most it probably involves getting out to the driving range to 3 millions of golf balls … and chances are for some of you that is close to what you have been doing for the past number of years. But if you were to be honest and critical have your scores dramatically improved from that approach? Want a different result then what do you need to do … ?
Another important question is how long do you want to play this great game? The hard reality check is that even some of you low handicappers are just really good compensators. With that reality is the fact that as you age your ability to compensate will diminish and along with your climbing handicap will also be the number of Advil or Aleve required to finish the round due to pain.
So where is the best place to start – short game, driving consistency (and of course distance), long iron play … etc.? Fact is the best place to start is a solid assessment of your entire game including the body you are playing with. Yes it may sound complicated but it’s really not. A sold assessment and evaluation will help you indentify the many potential issues you may have and more importantly which ones if addressed will give you the most ROI. After all none of US are being paid to play and so we need to maximize our efforts with our limited time. I guarantee the number of balls hit on the range will not be the answer in the 21st Century.
Did you know that if you walked beyond the washrooms at the CORE we have arguably the most equipped and technologically advanced golf lab in the country; 3D Motion analysis, physical testing by one of Canada’s authorities on golf biomechanics. Did you know that Dr. Fletch has certified over 200 golf pros in his biomechanics program run for the Canadian PGA? Our lab also includes a computerized putting and short game evaluation, multiple angle video analysis and Force plate analysis of weight transfer and lower body power production under our hitting bay, not to mention the launch monitor.
Bottom line we can in less than an hour give you a complete breakdown of where you breakdown and why in your game. We can with scientific precision pin point the weak link(s) in your game.
We will go far beyond simple physical testing and screens. If you think of the slow motion video analysis you see on the golf channel (which we have) like an x-ray of your golf swing, 3D motion analysis is like taking an MRI of your swing. With this technology we can pin point where you not only breakdown in your swing but also determine how you generate power and reveal hidden injury patterns before they become an injury even if you aren’t already struggling with pain.
Are you ready for change? Are you ready to start playing consistently better golf? So what are you waiting for? Pick up your phone and reserve your spot for your full Game Assessment
Call 905-501-0033 or email: docfletch@thinkcore.ca
Want a great suggestion to work on to improve your game …. make sure you check out our Tip of the Month – the Deep Squat.
