Flexibility: Why stretch?

By David Bracken Physiotherapist and TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor

Director Golf Performance UK.

GPUK are dedicated to provide golf specific health and fitness information to golfers of all ages and standards. GPUK also have a network of golf specific fitness/ medical professionals situated throughout the UK.

Flexibility is a descriptive term used for the amount of movement, uninhibited by range of motion restrictions that a golfer needs to play to his/ her full potential.  There are some people with natural flexibility and for the rest of us flexibility is needed and can be developed.  Having increased flexibility is especially important for golfers who suffer with back, wrist, shoulder, hip and even knee pain.

Most individuals are very flexible at younger ages.  As we age our muscles shorten and lengthen depending on our activities and our genetics.  Although more flexibility is expected in a junior than the average adult, many juniors have numerous flexibility restrictions that limit top performance in their sport.

Stretching will enable the development and maintenance of optimal joint range of motion in the golfer’s body.  Optimal joint range of motion is a biomechanical prerequisite of the golf swing.  Tightness/ shortening of structures alters the body’s biomechanics progressively disrupting swing mechanics.  The balance/ ability of the muscles to work synergistically is altered, to the golfer this means compensation.  The more a golfer compensates the less consistent he/ she will be.  These compensations may also express themselves in the form of pain and/ or injury.

A good example of this is restricted shoulder range of motion.  Restricted shoulder range of motion is often compensated with excessive spinal rotation, frequently leading to back injuries because most golfers already lack rotational flexibility.  The golfer will frequently hit the ball fat or thin.

A common by product of reduced flexibility is reduced power.  Reduced power means less distance on the drive.

Time is a hurdle when it comes to stretching and exercising.  There are hundreds of stretches available in many forms of literature.  Selecting appropriate stretches most likely to improve your game will prove effective as a time management tool producing the best results.

Follow these four steps to flexibility success:

1.       Identify the short tight muscles

2.       Select stretches to restore optimal golf flexibility and golf mechanics

3.       Correct flexibility with developmental stretches

4.       Once optimal range is restored, maintain flexibility with maintenance, pre-event and post-event stretching.

To find golf fitness/ medical professional in your area visit www.golfperformanceuk.com.

References

Knight B (2008) Junior Golf Fitness.

Chek P (2001, 2^nd ed) The Golf Biomechanic’s Manual.  A C.H.E.K institute Publication.