| biomechanics of golf swing | golf lessons |

Using this definition in golf, it is essentially studying how the body moves when swinging a golf club. Biomechanics is the study of what the skeleton, muscles, and nerves of the body do when hitting a golf ball. There are actually people out there that make a living studying these movements, they are called Biomechanists’. And the great thing about golf is that there have been a ton of scientific studies on the golf swing. In addition, this research has allowed biomechanists to create a model of the “optimal” swing in the sport of golf.

All of this research has been beneficial to the golf industry. It has provided club manufacturers, swing coaches, trainers, and players with an abundant amount of knowledge to improve the game in many areas.

We will talk about the swing into the following phases: 1) address, 2) back swing, 3) transition, 4) down swing, 4) contact, 5) follow through, 6) finish. I will also relate what the body does during each of these phases, which muscles are active, and any additional information applicable to biomechanical study of the golf swing.

The golf swing begins in the address stage. The address stage is the position that the golfer places their body in to begin the swing. According to Glenn Fleisig MD, the address position is a functional body position which includes the proper grip and body position. A balanced, “athletic” address position, which is consistent swing to swing, will provide the golfer with the correct starting position for the swing. Inconsistency in either how the body is set up or with the grip leads to inconsistency on shot to shot. The body in terms of muscle activity is fairly low at address. The muscles of the body are supporting the body in a specific anatomical position and preparing it to swing a club.

The back swing (take away) is when the body begins to move the club. The back swing is the portion of the swing that places the body in the correct position to begin the downswing. During the entire back swing the body begins the recruitment of energy that will be transitioned at the top of the back swing towards the ball. Key points from a biomechanical analysis of the back swing are: as the club moves backwards shear force is applied to anterior portion of the right foot, at the same time a posterior shear force is applied to the left foot (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). This is the beginning of torque development in the body that will be transitioned into the club head at impact. Rotation of the knees, hips, spine, and shoulders continues during the back swing creating additional torque to be translated into the club head in later stages of the swing. The important point to remember in the back swing is that the entire rotation of these body parts occurs around an imaginary axis of the body. EMG activity is moderate during this stage of the swing as a result that the body during this portion of the swing is essentially creating/storing energy that will be released towards the end of the swing.

The completion of the back swing is what is termed the “transition” stage of the swing.

The transition point of the swing is where the body finishes its backward movement and begins the forward movement of the swing. The best reference point of when the transition stage of the swing begins is when weight shift onto the inside of the right foot (right-handed golfer) is completed and movement back towards the left foot begins. The transition in terms of a time frame is very short and is completed when weight transfer begins to move forward, and the club completes its movement backwards. Research states that the transition of the swing is where additional elastic energy is stored within the body. This is a result of the lower body moving forward and the upper body still “coiling” backward. Studies show that at the completion of the transition (top of the back swing) the hips are closed to approximately 45 degrees and the shoulders are closed to about 100 degrees (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf).

After completion of the transition, the down swing into impact begins. Weight shift continues during the down swing. The generation of torque is created in the lower body and then transitioned up through the body into the club and eventually the club head. According to Fleisig, the majority of torque in the swing is generated by the lower body muscle groups of the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and core region (low back, abdominals, obliques). The torque created in the lower body creates acceleration in the upper body as energy is transferred into the club head. EMG studies indicate that there is moderate activity of the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and rotator cuff muscles (Geisler, Kinesiology of the Full Golf Swing) during the downswing. The downswing is complete at the point in which impact occurs with the golf ball.

Impact with the ball occurs for approximately half a milli-second (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). The purpose of impact is to hit the ball in the correct direction with the chosen amount of force by the golfer. At impact the weight transfer is complete. Shear force from both feet are towards the intended target. Research indicates that at impact the left foot (right-handed golfer) is supporting 80% to 95% of the golfer’s weight (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). Impact again occurs for a very short amount of time (.0005 seconds). Impact is the point at which the potential energy created by the body during the back swing, transition, and down swing is transferred into the club and club head. The potential energy created by the body is then transferred into kinetic energy as club head comes into contact with the ball.

After contact, the impact stage of the swing is complete and the follow through stage begins. The follow through is essentially the deceleration of the body after contact with the ball has been made. This is completed through the body rotating to a completion point where the club head is behind the golfer. Deceleration by the body occurs as a result of the absorption of energy back up through the kinetic chain of the body. Follow through is where the body slows itself back down and dissipates all the kinetic energy create by it, which was not delivered into the ball.

As you can see, the golf swing is directly connected to the body. And it is the body that generates, directs, and delivers energy to the golf ball. Limitations in the body in terms of flexibility, muscular strength, endurance, or power can create limitations in the swing from a biomechanical perspective. In addition, mechanical inefficiencies in the swing itself limit the potential and kinetic energy outputs of the body.

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Because the golf swing is one of the most unnatural, complex, and explosive movements in sport, you must prepare your body to perform this powerful athletic action as successfully and safely as possible. Better joint flexibility lets you swing in a fluid manner through a full range of movement. Greater muscular strength provides more striking force to drive the ball farther. Enhanced balance and coordination are the keys to control and will help you place each shot closer to your target area Taken together, these fitness factors can make a big difference in your golf performance, playing satisfaction, and game scores.

Elements of a Golf Swing

Chris Welch, president of Human Performance Technologies of Jupiter, Florida, uses his program and software package - the Biolink System - to analyze the golf swing using body segments (hips, trunk, shoulders, and arms) organized into functional links (hips-trunk, trunk-shoulders, and shoulders-arms). The main purpose of the Biolink System is to determine specific forces and power outputs during the swing phases and how these factors relate to optimal club head speed. The analysis allows you to determine objectively how your power might be leaking away.

The forces that act on the segmental components of the spine vary from individual to individual, depending on skill level and physiological factors. Preexisting conditions of the spine, such as degenerative joint disease, postural imbalance, or degenerative disc disease, will change the way swinging forces are distributed. Of course, if the physical demands exceed tissue function or recovery capabilities, the result will be a breakdown of the joint structure. Normal forces that occur to the spine during the golf swing are as follows:

Recent research at the New Jersey School of Medicine has found that professional golfers demonstrate less sliding, lateral bending, and twisting forces than amateur golfers. Compressive forces were approximately eight times body weight for both groups. Neuromuscular firing of the trunk muscles revealed that professionals use less effort while performing the trunk coiling and uncoiling process. In addition, the sequence of neuromuscular firing was different between the groups. These findings suggest that the lower-handicapped golfers have more efficient swing patterns than higher-handicapped golfers. The key in explaining the way that these spinal segments and muscular forces are decreased in the better golfer might lie in how well each individual is able to pass momentum from one segment of the body to another. This efficient passing of momentum, commonly referred to as kinetic linking, can be improved through training. By increasing muscle strength, while at the same time improving joint flexibility, balance, and coordination, you will develop more efficient and effective summation of momentum. This basically translates into increased club head speed at impact, which results in longer drives.

Golf Swing Analysis

Kinesiologically, much of the work on golf swing analysis has been performed at the biomechanics laboratory at Tenent Medical Center in Englewood, California. Most of this work has been done under the supervision of sports medicine pioneer physician Frank Lobe. The analyses show that there is little activity of the trunk muscles during the backswing and relatively high and constant activity in these muscles throughout the remainder of the swing.

These results demonstrate the importance of the trunk musculature throughout the golfer's entire performance enhancement, preventive, and rehabilitative program. Studies of the shoulder demonstrated that the rotator cuff muscles acted predominantly at the end ranges of motion. The internal shoulder rotators were activated during acceleration and the front shoulder muscles were activated during the swing and follow-through movements. The middle and rear shoulder muscles on the lead arm were extremely active to stabilize the shoulder girdle throughout the swing. More important, peak muscle activity of the hip and knee during the golf swing was recorded before the peak muscle activity of the trunk and shoulders region. This substantiates the importance of the sequential actions of the different components of the body for generating power.

To obtain the greatest benefit from proper sequencing of swinging actions, you must have strong leg, thigh, and hip muscles to generate driving power. These lower-body forces then must be transferred through well-conditioned midsection muscles to the upper body. Strong chest, back, and shoulder muscles permit greater acceleration of the club, while maintaining control through trained arms and forearms. There is perhaps no single action in sport that requires more overall muscular strength, joint flexibility, and movement coordination than a perfectly executed golf swing.

Defining the Forces of the Golf Swing

Your feet generate forces when they push against the ground. These forces act to propel your body and create motion. Two types of forces are important to the golf swing: normal forces and shear forces. Normal forces are illustrated in the linear components of the swing, and shear forces are illustrated in the rotational components of the swing.

Shear force is applied by the feet along the surface of, or parallel to, the ground. Through the swing, shear forces are being applied by both feet. These shear forces create torque that turns the hips around the axis of the trunk as shown in the figure below. This defines the rotational component of the lower body movement. The rotational component can be related most directly to the ultimate club head speed attained in the swing.

When faults occur in lower body mechanics, the effect on the golf swing is analogous to cracks in the foundation of a house. When a stable base is lost, swing efficiency erodes. The most common fault in lower body mechanics is sliding. When a golfer slides, the interaction between the linear and rotational components breaks down, weight transfer is diminished, and rotation is lost.

Postural Stability for a Consistent Swing Plane

The most important rule in a golf conditioning program is to work and develop strength from the core region of the body outward.

A strong trunk allows forces to be transferred effectively from the legs to the upper body during activities in which kinetic linking is required. It also enables the body to withstand those forces without breakdown.

Once you have achieved a reasonably high level of overall muscular strength, the next step is postural stability through sensible midsection training.

You will benefit from the development of core strength for stabilization. Yourindividualized program should consists of isolating the lower abdominal region, the oblique musculature as well as the upper abdominal muscles.

A lower back strengthening program is also extremely important, because postural stability allows you to maintain the spine angle throughout the entire swing.

Overview Of Golf Swing Mechanics

The golf swing is a very complex movement involving very powerful muscles as they contract, creating acceleration through precise timing. The golf swing is a very physically demanding athletic movement, especially when one drives the ball utilizing almost 90% of exertion of the major muscles.

Golfers use 90% of their peak muscle activity when driving a ball. This 90% exertion equals to lifting a maximal weight that a multiple of four times before fatiguing.

Science contributed little to the discoveries made in golf. Science only confirms what is proven in trial and error experimentation.

The golf swing is completed in just over one-second duration. The goal of the golf swing is to strike the head of the club squarely on the ball while it is accelerating in order to drive the ball accurately and consistently. Scientific measurements show that the actual time of impact of club-head to ball is 5/10,000 of a second. The velocity or club head speed of the average golf swing approaches and exceeds 100 miles an hour and for elite players it can exceed 120 miles per hour. However, these few miles an hour could mean the difference of landing on the green or rolling off the green.

High-speed video camera analysis has helped in the scientific assessment of swing motion. These analysis have revealed that if the club face is 0.5 degrees less than square to the ball, the ball will deviate from its path by an average of 20 yards. Additionally, if the ball is struck ¼ of an inch too high, topspin will develop and the ball will dribble onto the fairway. Contrary, if the ball is struck ¼ inch too low, the loft would get to high and the ball will run short of the target.

Golf is interesting and proposes a challenge for precise mathematical modeling and equations that are rarely understood. There are many golf physics books that provide valuable data, unfortunately, most healthcare professionals and most golfers do not benefit from this due to lack of mathematical understanding. However, it should be pointed out that there are some important scientific principles that are worth noting which help the instructor as well as the golfer in optimizing golf performance.

Comparing the physics of a baseball pitcher and a golfer may shed some insight into how much force the muscles have to create to power a golf swing as well as throw a fast ball.

Biomechanics Of The Golf Swing

Overview Of Golf Swing Mechanics

An example to note is that a golfer will rarely shoot par if his driving distance is less than 230 yards. If all components and mechanics of the golf game were optimal for par with the exception of the driving distance, then for every ten yards short of 230 yards a golfer will lose two strokes.

Older golfers due to aging and overuse develop bone spurring called osteophytes (medical term), which eventually decrease the joint space and adversely affect proper golf swing biomechanics. .