Pro's And Con's of The Modern Golf Swing

Striking a tiny ball with a small club face at the end of a long shaft is the respectable skill of the golf swing. Making that tiny ball travel the distance and direction intended requires great skill as well as good body position technique with sufficient specific golf flexibility throughout the full range of motion.

This post is an excerpt from a more extensive article I wrote recently called - Golf Flexibility, The Golf Swing & Common Injuries

Let’s get into the golf swing of things; the arms move through a large range of motion while linking the golf club and the power-generating torso of the golfer. The golf swing involves 5 phases: the backswing, the downswing, acceleration, early follow-through and late follow-through. With each phase requiring an evolving recruitment of muscle activity and fluid technique there is risk of soft tissue damage throughout the full swing movement.

The original golf swing is said to have evolved in Scotland some hundred years ago. Modern equipment and material as well as advancement in performance technique has led to the 'modern golf wing' changing the dynamics of required golf flexibility.

Rather than rotating the shoulders and hips as fully as was practised in the original golf swing, the modern approach restricts the hip turn and uses a larger shoulder turn in order to build torque and power through the lower back and shoulder muscles. The specifics of required golf flexibility has changed somewhat it would seem.

The difference in rotational angle formed between the hips and shoulders at the top of the backswing is believed to provide greater accuracy and driving distance. However this greater angular displacement of the spine is thought to be the significant cause of injury for players, both low handicapper and high handicapper.

Swinging the club vs hitting the ball

Another important consideration is the relative effort of the golf swing. It is believed that if a player tries to 'hit' the ball, where the focus is on the impact of club-face with ball, the resulting tension in the hands raises the risk for injury.

Compare this to the best players who rather than 'hit' the ball they swing the club 'through' the ball, which is a far smoother swing, appearing almost effortless, with less rigid tension in the upper limbs.

So the objective is letting the club do the work - "Effortless Power; rather than Powerless Effort"
(Thanks Matt for explaining this to me.)

Has your golf game caused you back pain?

If it has and you have not had it assessed and treated it might negatively influence your golf performance longer than is necessary. You may need to see a Chartered Physiotherapist for a combination of manual therapy, acupuncture and rest. You may need to also consider a modification of your golf swing to keep you playing sooner rather than later.

For more information (including references) and insight, such as why you might cause yourself shoulder problems in trying to protect your back by modifying your golf swing, read the full article here - Golf Flexibility, The Golf Swing & Common Injuries

Related articles:

Let Your Physio Treat Your Back Pain - The Sooner The Better

by Simon.