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Sensory Golf
Your foundation to better golf
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| Issue: #3 |
28/January/2009 |
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Dear Todd,
A new golf season has arrived and you may be planning vacations or business trips, and will need to jump-start your golf game. With this, I've included a game improvement system link below. This should give you a great feel for the elements of your game that can be refined in 2009.
On a personal note, my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful little girl, Kylan Carol Smith, in December. She's definitely keeping us on our toes thus far, but giving us plenty of special moments as well.
Sensory Golf will once again be based out of Leo J Martin GC in Weston, and also include teaching in Burlington and Middleton. For your reference, below are highlights of Sensory Golf in 2009.
- Building business relationships on the links
- Junior golf tournament training
- Indoor, outdoor and on course instruction
- Covered teaching station with ASTAR video feedback
- Uneven lie training
- Psychology of golf ... "See it, feel it, trust it"
- Physical conditioning with Performance Golf & Fitness
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Evaluating Your Golf Game in 2009
You've likely set some goals to improve your golf game this year. These goals may include a lower USGA handicap, fewer putts, better course management, and hitting more greens in regulation. The beauty of golf is that you can eliminate strokes in many different areas of the game. One player may develop an extraordinary short game to score lower and another player may develop great accuracy on their drives to score lower. It is based on each individual golfer and what is realistic to their respective golf game.
In the end, it should be based on a thorough evaluation of your game and diagnosing which facets will produce lower scores. It should be very personalized based on a player's goals relative to the realistic practice and playing time available.
Evaluate your golf game by following the link below and clicking on the PowerPoint icon:
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Performance Golf & Fitness
Arguably one of the most important muscles in the body, the Psoas (pronounced 'so-az'), commonly referred to as your hip flexor, continues to be one of my primary focuses when working with golfers. Attaching from your hip up to all 5 lumbar (low back) vertebrae (see highlighted muscle in red), it functions mainly to flex the hip or trunk, depending on which end is fixated. The importance of keeping this muscle, the tenderloin of the human body, healthy and lengthened cannot be understated. Many of my low back patients with many different diagnoses (sciatica, stenosis, and arthritis to name a few) benefit from mobilizing or stretching this muscle. Due to its orientation and points of attachment, it plays a key role in the biomechanics of normal hip motion. When shortened, it can significantly limit the hip's ability to extend and the trunk's ability to sidebend and rotate. It also significantly increases the amount of compressive and torsional forces displaced throughout the surface area of your intervertebral discs. There's only so much wear and tear one can tolerate before structures begin to break down, requiring a trip to your local physical therapist.
I have yet to meet a golfer who didn't desire more hip "action" as they initiate their downswing and progress through the ball from impact to follow-through. This uncoiling helps to maximize the separation between the lower and upper body and is one of the direct influences in producing greater yardage. There are many factors involved in one's ability to replicate the golf swing from lessons, to properly fitting equipment, to consistent practice or play. I'd encourage all of you to start with the piece of equipment you have the most control over...your body. Commit yourself to following a consistent flexibility routine, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training regimen. Start lengthening those hip flexors and watch that ball fly off the tee! And when your playing partners ask what's gotten into you, tell them your therapist has got you working on your "filet mignon!"
Matt McManus, PT is a physical therapist and the Regional Clinical Director at ProEx Physical Therapy in Woburn, MA. He has worked with amateur and professional golfers for more than ten years and has lectured at many clubs, outings, and seminars regarding performance enhancement as it relates to the game of golf. He can be reached at mmcmanus@proexpt.com.
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Referral Program
Help Sensory Golf grow by:
- Simply forward this link to gain a feel for Sensory Golf:
- Follow the link below to forward your referrals:
Thank you for your support.
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I hope you've enjoyed this Sensory Golf electronic newsletter.
Call 617.719.2567 to schedule your lesson. Your next step to lower scores!
Yours in quality golf,
Todd Smith, PGA
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