How to Up Your Golf Game
Golf is an incredibly popular sport, combining being out in nature with the enjoyment of some competition. If you’re a golfer, then you know: having a good swing is everything.
Having a good golf shot all depends on your technique. And there are dozens of ways to approach a swing. The only ideal swing, however, is performed by following the right biomechanics.
When it comes to golf, the biomechanics are anything but simple! It requires all your muscles and joints working in coordination, making sure that the proper amount of tension and power are involved. Without the right technique, you won’t get the force and accuracy you need in a good swing.
There are four main phases of a golf swing to consider:
- The setup. Your approach to the swing is where it all begins. During this phase, you must focus on having proper posture aligned with the ball. Watch your stance to make sure it’s not too wide or too narrow, which will negatively affect your hip rotation. Shoulders, feet, and even your grip are all further areas to investigate.
- The backswing. After the right posture has been achieved in the setup, it’s time to move into the backswing. This is the phase when your golf club moves backward. It’s all about getting the right position for the downswing. The weight in your feet will shift with this movement. The shoulders, hips, knees, shoulders, and spine will rotate.
- The downswing. Directly following the backswing is the downswing. Weight shifts to the front foot, and the torque created by your lower body will be transferred to the torso, which then turns toward the ball.
- The follow-through. After hitting the ball, your body will rotate, and the force produced by the rotation of the previous phases fades. Your hips should directly face the target. Note that an overswing, or conversely an incomplete swing, are common here.
How Can You Improve Your Swing?
Studying the biomechanics of golf are essential. Golf has been extensively researched scientifically, down to the split-second movements of each part of the body. Since a golf club is swung at a high speed, the ball must be hit dead center for an accurate shot.
There are various forms of software and equipment you can use to analyze your golf swing, from having someone film you on your mobile phone camera to a more complex motion analysis system. Even experienced golfers can benefit from making sure they know exactly how their swing is executed. Only with a proper and thorough assessment will they know how to do better!
Another resource – Chiropractic. As a Chiropractor with a depth of expertise in the human body, I have the advice and tools you need to up your golf game. Call the office to schedule a comprehensive assessment of your mobility, allowing you to understand where you need to improve in your biomechanics.
The result might just be the best game you’ve ever played!
Hypermobility and Chiropractic Care
Have you been asked if you have Hypermobility? It can be a confusing term to understand, but simply put, it’s being double jointed. What many people don’t know is that being double jointed also means your joints are loose, and that you have an extended range of motion. Hypermobility is often noticed in childhood, and can be overlooked as something that is just a normal part of being young.
Signs or Symptoms
These can vary widely from person to person, and some may never experience any problems at all. However, many do complain of having muscle and joint pain, and some even have mild swelling around their joints. The most common areas of pain are the knees, elbows, thigh muscles, and calf muscles.
A person who is hypermobile can be more prone to sprains and soft tissue injuries. In addition, the joints affected could be more inclined to dislocation. Some other symptoms of hypermobility could lead to back pain, osteoarthritis, nerve compression disorders, and chronic pain.
In children, it is believed that those who are hypermobile are more likely to experience growing pains. However, it is likely that children will grow out of having hypermobility, and those who don’t often suffer from the pain and discomfort associated with this as an adult.
What Causes Hypermobility?
The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be genetic. It appears as though there is an increase in collagen production, which is a vital protein that aids in joint, tendon, and ligament development and function.
What Can Chiropractic Do?
There are so many variables in relation to care options. The symptoms vary greatly from person to person, along with severity, pain levels, and the impact it is having on the quality of the person’s life.
Mild symptoms may not require much more than some exercise and adjustments, while more severe cases could require pain relief and more frequent adjustments and more rigorous workouts.
Regular exercise will help to build the muscle around the joints will help to stabilize and protect the joints. Practicing good posture, overall muscle strengthening, balancing techniques and even orthotics can help relieve symptoms.
As a Chiropractor, I can assess you and your level of discomfort or pain. A program of care consisting of spinal adjustments is often recommended to ensure proper spinal alignment so that your body can function properly, relieving stress from the joints that were compensating as a result of misalignment. Core strengthening is an integral part of any exercise regimen, as this is the foundation of much of the work you will do.
Living Pain Free
The overall goal here is to assist with pain relief that will not require medication. A a Chiropractor, I will treat your entire spine, and you will find an improvement not only in your level of pain or discomfort, but in your mobility as well.
If you believe that you may have hypermobility, contact our office to be assessed. The pain you are feeling is not “normal.”