A golfer asked me the other day whether he should work on his core muscles to improve his game. His physiotherapist had told him that his core muscles were weak and therefore needed to start a program of exercises. This is an interesting question. He'd been playing for over 20 years and yet somehow his core stability was considered to be an issue following a test by a physio. 

There's a few points to consider here.  Firstly, if he'd been playing for so long why are his core muscles considered weak? Surely after all this time they should be strong because he played four times a week on a regular basis. So, either he doesnt need these muscles to play (he was pretty much injury-free) or his technique was questionable because he wasn't using his core muscles in the right way according to those advocating core stability etc.

If he's not playing 'properly' then would a course of exercises that have nothing in common with natural golfing movements really help? Would he suddenly have better technique after doing them? Or is it the case that, actually, core strength isnt really an issue for golfers?

My belief is that we should not focus on individual or small groups of muscles and work them in an isolated fashion as it doesnt promote natural coordination. A golfer should focus on how they move, that is, their technique, and if you move well, all your muscles will be conditioned in a way that is relevant to golf. Exercises to develop specific muscles do not teach you how to swing, putt or chip.

Your thoughts are welcome :0)

For more 'out of the box' thinking on improving your game see my book - Golf Sense.

The very first question I'm usually asked by a new client is 'how can you help me if you're not a golfer?' This is obviously a reasonable question to ask seeing as they'll be paying for my services so I'm careful how I answer. I reply, 'as an expert in movement and coordination I can break down any sporting technique into the basic building blocks and reconstruct it based on sound, efficient movement to improve the end product.' But the best way to convince them is to give them a practical experience straightaway and 99% of the time they will see the logic almost instantly.

All sports involve developing skill through learning techniques but if your ability to rotate, bend your knees or hold an object are suspect you're success at golf is always going to be limited.

Where I can help is to improve these basics, For example, I don't advise players on their swing, I show them how to get into a poised stance by eliminating unnecessary muscular actions that many players unknowingly bring to their technique. They will instantly feel the difference and notice how much easier it is to perform the rest of the technique.

I can't tell players how to read a green but I can help them to get into the right state of mind to remove any distracting thoughts, tension in their neck or shoulders so they can better judge just how to execute the shot they have in mind.

I don't know much about football but I can see when a player isn't running well and restricting their speed by holding tension in the wrong places. There are many such examples of where players are their own worse enemy by doing things that make executing their techniques harder. The sad thing is, they don't realise they're holding themselves back because its become a habit.

Players can dramatically improve their game by learning how to break free from their performance-limiting habits and the process starts once you become comfortable with getting it wrong! If that sounds a bit odd you might want to read my article, When Right Is Wrong: Overcoming Problems With Your Golf Technique.

If your golf swing isn't quite there, what do you do? Do you look for what's missing? Are the top golfers doing something you're not? Many of the golfers I work with really need to turn this around and ask the question - am I doing something the top golfers don't?

When you see a golfer hit the ball way further than you can with what appears to be an effortless swing, it's because they're better coordinated. One thing that prevents good coordination is excessive muscle activity - brought about by, oddly enough, trying to hit the ball too hard! The more effort you put into any activity the more likely you'll interefere with your body's reflexes for coordination. Muscles will contract when they should be letting go and stop your free-flowing rotation and developing the power when you need it.

So when you're standing over the ball preparation to unleash hell, check you're not clenching your jaw and revving up those muscles. Stay relaxed and let it flow and see how little effort you need. 

Read more here.



 

I'm sure you've experience this before - you've chosen your club, lined up your shot and gone through your preparation ritual and then...... aaarrrhhh! What came out at the end of the process definitely wasn't what you thought you'd put in at the start! This was how a golfer described it to me today on the range. So why does it sometimes go so wrong? Please read the rest of this post here..

Last month I gave a talk and demonstration at South Bedfordshire Golf Club in the UK. I always enjoy working with golfers because they really appreciate the importance of preparation and technique. The slightest tension in the wrong place can send the ball way off course and into the bunker.

I often get asked how can a person who doesn’t play golf help a golfer improve their technique. I answer it's because I do know quite a bit about balance, movement and posture. The players at the talk discovered that before they even think about playing their shot there are a number of ‘mental checks’ they can use to ensure they are in the best position for action.

I had a practical experience of this at the weekend. I have just returned from a few days in Ireland with my in-laws and whilst there my nephews challenged me to a game of darts. Now it’s been over 20 years since I last played but I was fascinated just how much my aim improved when I practised what I preach and listen to my body and stopped trying.

Darts, like golf and many other sports that involve aiming at a target, require poise and precision to make the necessary adjustments for the shot, that is, you need to be able to judge appropriate power and direction for success. Even the slightest unnecessary tension we invariably add when we 'try to get it right' can ruin your shot. If you can’t feel what you are doing it makes it difficult to execute an accurate movement.

Just for the record I used my new found deadly aim to ‘miss’ in order to let my young nephews win the darts game. Well it wouldn’t be right to use such an unfair advantage to whoop them would it!