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Squaring The Golf Club At Impact, The Rotator Cuff, And Golf Fitness
We all know the clubface must be square at impact and the club
releases thereafter.
Generally speaking a large amount of golf
swing mechanics center upon returning the clubface to square at
impact. Additionally, the golf swing is a "total body" movement
incorporating every joint in the body. In order for the clubface to
be square at impact all of these joints must work in coordination
to allow this to occur.
In relation to the body, specific muscles are very active in
returning the clubface to square.
One joint directly involved in
the squaring of the clubface at impact with the golf ball is the
shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is a "ball and socket" joint
allowing for the arms to move through a large range of motion.
Review of the biomechanics of the golf swing, it becomes very
evident the arms move through a large range of motion.
That being said, there are specific muscles involved in the
rotation of the arms.
Again, these are not the only muscles
involved in squaring the clubface, but from an anatomical
perspective, these muscles are active in the internal and external
rotation of the arms during the golf swing.
Going back to squaring the clubface, internal and external
rotation of the arms is required. To get a sense of internal and
external rotation, simply stand up with your arms hanging at your
sides. Rotate your hands inward and outward.
This is a simple
description of internal and external rotation of the arms. Now if
you relate this movement to the golf swing you can see how the arms
internally and externally rotate during the backswing, downswing,
and follow through.
Certain muscles within the shoulder complex have a direct effect
on internal rotation, external rotation, and stabilization of the
shoulder complex in the golf swing. The muscles we are talking
about are the rotator cuff muscles.
Yes, the rotator cuff.
Not necessarily a group of muscles that go "hand-in-hand" with
the golf swing and probably more thought of when we talk about
baseball and pitching. Nevertheless, these muscles are an active in
the golf swing. The rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles in
the shoulder complex.
For those of you that love the science behind
this stuff, the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff are;
supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
The rotator cuff has a couple primary functions when it comes to
the shoulder complex. First off, they act to stabilize the shoulder
capsule. The skeletal structure comprising the shoulder is a ball
and socket joint.
The "socket" part of this joint is very shallow.
As a result the muscles of the rotator cuff in addition to muscles
in the "back-side" of the shoulder assist in stabilizing the
shoulder during movement. An over simplification would state these
muscles assist in keeping the arm in the socket. If the rotator
cuff muscles did not assist in stabilizing the shoulder, the arm
would literally come out of the socket every time you swing a golf
club.
Secondly, these four muscles are actively involved in elevating,
internally, and externally rotating the arms. All of which are
movements involved in the golf swing. Beginning in the take-away
and completing with the follow through, the muscles of the rotator
cuff are active in every phase of the golf swing. That being said,
we know the muscles of the rotator cuff are under stress each every
golf swing.
It is important to understand the muscles of the rotator cuff
are very small. They are not big muscles such as your quadriceps or
deltoids. They are very small muscles asked to perform a myriad of
activities. As a result of the size and workloads placed upon these
muscles.
They can become fatigued quite easily. Once muscles become
fatigued they begin to falter in performing their required
activities. In addition once muscles are fatigued, they can easily
become injured.
During my years on tour, I have never seen someone injure a cuff
muscle from swinging a golf club.
I have seen rotator cuff injuries
impede a golf swing, and if you have ever injured a rotator cuff
muscle you know how debilitating an injury it can be. The point
being this: The rotator cuff muscles are actively involved in the
golf swing. Injury to a rotator cuff muscle can be very
debilitating to your golf swing or any activity for that case.
Knowing what we know about the mechanics of the golf swing, the
rotator cuff, functions of the rotator cuff, and how they affect
the golf swing.
This information invariably indicates to us it is
necessary to keep the rotator cuff healthy and strong. How can one
achieve this goal? Simply by adding a golf fitness program
incorporating rotator cuff exercises.
Rotator cuff exercises will focus on these four muscles. These
types of exercises will develop higher levels of strength and
endurance within these muscles.
This will assist in these muscles
handling the workloads placed upon them during the golf swing or
any athletic activity. So I strongly suggest if you are an avid
golfer or a weekend warrior. Add some golf fitness and rotator cuff
exercises to your training program. This will help keep you in the
game and off the sidelines.
Sean Cochran
Catalogue: Recreation & Sports | Golf
Title: Squaring The Golf Club At Impact, The Rotator Cuff, And Golf
Fitness By: Sean Cochran
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