GOLF INFO

Golf Posture – Your Foundation for A Great Swing

As a kid, I heard it all the time. “Straighten up!”…I was told when they caught me slouching. Well, “straightening up” is not quite the tight thing in your golf but I’m sure you’re not surprised to discover that your posture is crucial in ensuring consistency and power in your strokes. What’s more when you embody, my “3 Tenets of Great Golf Posture” you’ll enjoy a more relaxed, easy comfort through 18 holes of play…

P for Posture – Your swing is a whole body phenomenon involving your feet, your legs, your hips, your trunk, your arms, your shoulders etc. You need good flexion, stability, strength, rotation in the hip, knees and torso in order to effectively result in perfect contact between the club and the ball. Proper posture is the framework that brings it all together and it’s crucial to executing a killer swing. Here are some pointers that will help you guarantee that posture is not the weak link in your game.

Start from a relaxed upright posture, with your ears over your shoulders and knees slightly bent. It is very important during your golf posture to maintain the space between your head and your chest so that you allow easy rotation of your shoulders. Now let’s talk a little “spine angle”.

Spine Angle is the angle that your torso makes with the ground. Bend at the waist while keeping your torso and spine straight. You’ll need an angle of about 30-45 degrees depending on your height and the length of your club. The taller you are and the shorter your club, the more spine angle you’ll need. To complete your posture, simply flex your knees so that your head comes over your feet. You will engage the most powerful muscles of your body – your leg muscles. You are now perfectly set to take a power shot with optimal comfort. And what’s more, because this posture is congruent with the natural bio-mechanics of your body, you can do it over and over through the course of 18 holes without the fatigue, the aches and the pains that come from improper use of your body.

Maintain a Consistent Spine Angle through the full range of your stroke and you will be delighted to produce a great shot. Keep your eye on the ball as you swing and notice how your posture changes. Be sure to keep your head up and maintain your viewing position by appropriate flexion of the hip and knee joints. Keep your spine straight at all costs. Bending the spine causes the chest to collapse and the neck and shoulders to rotate forwards and inwards. This not only distorts the natural arc of your swing but it makes it difficult to turn your head through the range of motion required to keep your eye on the ball. The accuracy of your shot goes to hell in a hand basket. So keep your back straight and you’ll maintain a solid base from which you can accurately aim those long drives.

Core Stability and Flexibility is the key, and a little practice on the core stability ball with some simple yoga or Pilates exercises can help you develop these much needed attributes for a great golf swing. Abdominal crunches are an excellent exercise for developing core strength and endurance. But that’s a subject for another article.

The 3 Tenets – So the next time you’re enjoying a gorgeous, sunny round on the fairway, be sure to practice the “3 Tenets of Great Golf Posture”, keep your back straight, adjust your spine angle by hinging at the hip and most important, keep it constant through the execution of your swing. You can look forward to hitting, longer, further and with more accuracy. What’s more you’ll feel great at the end of the day with far fewer aches and pains from improper posture.

“Why do Injuries Occur in Golf?”

Injuries occur in all athletic events quite frequently, certain
sports more so than others. Golf is no different than any other
sport. The severity of injuries in golf usually are not as
severe as in other sports. The scenario of a 300 lb. defensive
lineman slamming into the side of your knee tearing every
possible ligament structure in the knee will never happen in the
sport of golf. An interesting visual if you combined the sports
of football and golf onto the same playing field, but
inappropriate for this paper.

There are two types of injuries classified by professionals in
the fields of athletic training and sports medicine. The two
types of injuries are: 1) acute and 2) chronic. The above
example of the football player is classified as an acute injury.
An acute injury can be defined as the trauma in the body
occurring immediately after the injury. Refer to the football
player example above for a reminder. (For us older golfers,
remember Joe Theisman of the Redskins and Lawrence Taylor’s leg
breaking tackle? Acute injury.) Relating an acute injury to golf
is a little more difficult. Probably the easiest, and maybe most
the common, acute injury in golf, occurs while swinging and you
hit a rock or something that creates an injury to your wrist.
That would be the best example in the sport of golf of an acute
injury. Overall, acute injuries tend to be rare in golf because
contact by the body with external forces is rare.

My back is always killing me!

The second type of injury, chronic, is much more prevalent when
it comes to the sport of golf. A chronic injury is one that
occurs over time. Think of it as a “wear and tear” injury. These
are usually the result of the body breaking down over time. A
great sports example outside of golf is when you hear about a
baseball pitcher having tendonitis in the elbow. Tendonitis is
an inflammation of the elbow resulting from the stresses placed
upon it from throwing. Over time the elbow becomes tired and
eventually injured from the number of pitches thrown. If you are
a runner and, after a certain amount of time, your knees begin
to hurt, this is usually a chronic injury. When we talk about
golf, the majority of injuries are chronic. They tend to be a
direct result of the golf swing (just like the pitcher’s elbow).
Usually the chronic injuries in golf show up in the lower back.
If chronic injuries are caught soon enough in the cycle, rest
and proper treatment (i.e. massage, chiropractic care) will heal
them. But if you wait too long the body is going to “break,” and
then you will not be playing any golf for a long time. This is
where the unfortunate situation of surgery and other invasive
procedures are considered.

So a couple of questions we must ask when it comes to chronic
injuries in relation to golf are: how do they occur, and how do
we prevent them? Chronic injuries occur as a result of the body
becoming fatigued and eventually “breaking down.” The muscles,
ligaments, and tendons of your body are required to perform the
activity of swinging a golf club. Over time this activity causes
fatigue within your body. As the body continues to fatigue, or
get tired, the body gets sore. This is the first indicator of a
developing chronic injury. If you continue with the activity
you’re participating in, with soreness in the body, eventually
your body will break down. This “break down” will be in the form
of maybe a pulled muscle, muscle stiffness, tightness, or some
other type of inflammation. All of the above examples are a
result of structures in your body breaking down from fatigue and
overuse. Even if just on one swing you feel “your back go out,”
nine out of ten times it is a chronic injury, and that last
swing was the “piece of straw that broke the camel’s back.”

How to Prevent Chronic Injuries in Golf

We all know that the golf swing is a repetitive movement,
meaning the body is performing the same activity over and over
again. This creates fatigue in the body over time. And if over
time our body can’t support the number of swings we are taking,
it is eventually going to break down. There are three variables
we have when it comes to the prevention of chronic injuries in
golf. Number one is workloads. Workloads can be defined as the
number of swings that the body takes with a club over a given
period of time. That time frame can be seven days or an entire
tour season. Number two is efficiency of your mechanics. When we
say “efficiency of mechanics” we are talking about how
biomechanically correct your individual swing is. “Why is this
important?” you ask. Let me tell you. I think most of us would
agree that the tour players have very “efficient” swings; their
swings are smooth and look almost effortless. A swing like this
asks less out of the body to perform and requires less effort
from the muscles; hence fatiguing levels in the body are lower.
Some amateur swings look like they take a lot of work to
perform, and in reality they do! These types of swings ask a lot
more out of the body and fatigue it more quickly. The final
variable is what we term “golf strength.” Golf strength is a
measure of the required levels of flexibility, strength,
endurance, balance, and power to successfully support the
mechanics of the swing. Large amounts of golf strength allow the
body to support an efficient swing. Low levels of golf strength
do not provide the support needed for the swing.

Workloads, Swing Mechanics, and Golf Strength

All three of these variables work together to determine if you
are a candidate for a chronic golf injury. Golf strength is
essentially the foundation upon which your swing is built. This
variable indicates how many times you can swing a golf club with
your current mechanics before you come up injured. If you have
high levels of golf strength then regardless of how efficient of
a swing you have, you will be able to play for quite awhile
before you get sore. The flip side can also be said. If you have
low levels of golf strength, regardless of your swing mechanics,
you will come up sore in a shorter amount of time.

Secondly, let us look at swing mechanics. If you are a player
that has a very efficient swing that places very little stress
on the body, you will undoubtedly be able to play many rounds
before your body starts screaming at you. Again, if you have
poor mechanics, it is going to take its toll on your body and
your game.

Finally, we have workloads (i.e. number of swings). The number
of swings one makes must match up with levels of golf strength
and swing mechanics. The golf swing is a “stressor” of the body
and breaks it down over time. If you have an efficient swing,
each swing does less “damage” to the body. If you have a poor
swing, the body has to work harder, thus fatiguing it more
quickly. In addition to this is golf strength. If you have high
levels of golf strength, you can swing the club more (i.e.
workloads) before you get tired. Low levels of golf strength
present the situation of the body’s fatiguing more quickly. “So
what is the magic formula?” you ask. My first suggestion is
twofold: 1) work on your swing to improve the efficiency of it,
and 2) increase your levels of golf strength in order to support
your swing. For the time being, match up your swing and golf
strength levels to determine what workload levels you can get
out of your body. If you are in need of some more information on
the golf strength side of the equation, take a look at
www.bioforcegolf.com.

About the Author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness
instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour
regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson.
He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf
swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the
website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him
at support@bioforcegolf.com.

Top 5 Golf Courses Near Paris

Going on a golf break in France has never been easier. With the Eurostar now faster and more popular than ever, Paris is only a comfortable two hour train journey from the centre of London. The French capital has numerous charms, and many golf enthusiasts will be loathe to trade the attractions of the city for the country while on a golf break in France. Luckily there’s no need to, as some of the best golf courses in France are within striking distance of Paris, allowing you to combine a visit to the capital with some rounds of classic golf.

The best golf near Paris is concentrated in three regions: Chantilly, Fontainebleau and Versailles. All three feature beautiful countryside and some outstanding golf courses; though Chantilly has the widest and best range of courses, there’s plenty to enjoy in Fontainebleau and Versailles as well.

Here are five of the best courses for a golf holiday near Paris:

Paris International Golf Club

The only golf course in France to be designed by the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, Paris International Golf Club is consistently rated by visitors as one of the best maintained and enjoyable courses to visit for golf near Paris. The club house has to be seen to be believed; it’s enormous, elegantly designed and has luxurious facilities that include a spa and a swimming pool.

Chantilly Vineuil

Widely reckoned to be the best golf course in France and ranked as one of the Top 5 golf courses in Europe, Chantilly Vineuil was designed by the legendary Tom Simpson at the beginning of the 20th- Century and is traditionally laid out and immaculately kept. This course has hosted the French Open numerous times, with Nick Faldo winning it here in 1989. It’s a challenging course – you’ll need to combine accuracy with power to avoid ending up in the woodland or numerous bunkers. Located 1 mile north of Chantilly and 30 miles away from the capital, the Chantilly Vineuil is one of the best options for golf near Paris.

Fontainebleau

Another classic Tom Simpson design, the Fontainebleau is arguably the most enjoyable of the three he designed in France. The golf course is set amidst the largest forest in the country and is ranked in the European Top 20 and World Top 100. It is often remarked that the landscape and layout have a remarkably English feel so this course (one of the oldest in the country) can provide a taste of home for those on a golf break in France. The art deco clubhouse is a real treat and a great place to relax between rounds.

Chateau d’Augerville

Situated near Fontainebleau, this course is something of a hidden gem out of all the golf courses near Paris. The design is unusual, tricky and rewarding. The variety of this course is what makes it so enjoyable – each hole presents its own unique challenge including a couple of blind shots that require a brave and steady hand. Diligent golfers will be rewarded on the 9th and 18th holes with a walk up to the beautiful 17th-Century chateau (also a luxury hotel), where you can take lunch on the terrace and watch other golfers as they try to tackle some of the more challenging holes.

Golf National Albatros

Now the home of the French Open, Golf National Albatros has been voted by the European Tour Pro’s as the second best course on the entire European tour. It’s not for the faint hearted and is renowned as one of the toughest golf courses in France. With its tricky fairways causing pros and amateurs alike more than a few headaches, it’s a true Championship course. However, if you’re feeling brave enough to tackle it you’ll be rewarded with a great round of golf on one of the best designed courses in the world.

Why, oh why, is the Golf Swing SO hard?! Giving insight to frustrated Golfers

An excerpt from the book Golf Swing Eureka by Jon Barrett – www.golfswingeureka.com

I’ve inserted this section in as I believe it may help you understand why we find the golf swing so hard.

Why do we find a move that seems so easy to the professionals so incredibly difficult to perform?

Recently I discovered that psychologists believe that we learn differently as adults than we do when we were children. And I believe this may be the key to explaining why we have such a difficult time of it.

The large majority of professional golfers will have taken up golf when they were kids – Tiger Woods was swinging a club well at 3!

But, I would imagine the majority of amateur golfers took golf up when either in their late teens, early twenties or even later in life – as adults.

The psychologists believe that as children we learn from repeating the model that we see – we know that kids are very trusting of what they are told. Yes, they ask lots of questions but they trust the answers given. They see, and are told, and DO.

Now as adults we learn differently. We have already formed opinions about how the world is and how things operate. So when we learn something new we actually test it against the rules that we have already built up in our heads as to what is right and wrong.

Unfortunately for us, the golf swing is actually illogical. That’s where the problem stems from. In our heads we can’t actually accept or believe that that is how the golf swing works. We then trust our instinct and test it against our rules and go back to what we believe is logical.

Here is what is illogical about the golf swing:

A Golf Swing without Effort = A Powerful 300 yard drive

It’s been said before that the secret to the pros swing is that it achieves ?Power WITHOUT Effort – how illogical is that!

It’s a bit like saying we’re going on a 200 mile car journey, but we’re not going to turn the engine on! No ones going to believe you.

That’s how our brains interpret it – we think there’s no way you can hit a golf ball 300 yards without LOTS of effort.

So next time we coil up on the backswing our brain tells our muscles ?right guys we need plenty of effort if we’re going to send this ball long and straight’.

Pro’s do actually put effort into their swings to get the ball to go that far (look at Tiger Woods face just before impact and you’ll see what I mean) BUT they put it in at a completely different point in the swing to amateur golfers. They also know the technique that allows them to produce such great results – and it doesn’t involve power, certainly not how the amateur golfer understands it.

Amateur golfers think you need to start the golf swing powerfully BUT the pro golfers know that you put the effort in at the bottom of the swing.

If you try and take this point on board this will start the process of adjusting your mind.

Over the next few pages I’m going to OPEN your EYES to how the golf swing actually works – much of which us amateurs don’t appreciate.

Understanding is the 1st key to unlocking your golfing potential.

Towards the end of my book I’ll show you where to get a piece of software that will by-pass your conscious mind and reprogram your sub-conscious mind to believe what you will see and start to understand about how the pro golf swing works. How YOU can swing powerfully without effort.

EYE-OPENER No. 2

What part of the body contributes the most

to generating the maximum speed of the club head?

This single answer allowed me to make a huge leap in my understanding of the golf swing, and in everything I had seen and read about the golf swing none of it emphasised it enough.

I carried out a survey on the Internet over several weeks and asked visitors to my web site the question:- What part of the body contributes the most to generating the maximum speed of the club head?

Only 20% got the answer correct – That’s only 1 in every 5 golfers! And these golfers had a wide range of handicaps down to single figures.

Interestingly this figure corresponds to another golfing statistic – Did you know that only around 20% of golfers have a handicap of less than 18? It made me wonder whether the misunderstanding of the fundamental aspect could be the one thing that is holding so many golfers back.

Which part of the body do you think creates the maximum speed of the club head?

Is it:

Shoulders

Arms

Hands

Hips

Legs

Torso

wrists

(Graphics and explanations omitted here)

….So the answer to the question that I posed above is that it is the hands (or wrists) that contribute the most to generating the maximum club head speed. The club is moved through over 180 degrees whilst the arms move through less than 60 degrees – all of the rest of the movement of the head of the golf club is generated by the movement of the hands. Unfortunately the large majority of golfers think that it is with the shoulders and arms. I’ll come back to this point later as even when you get everything else right in your swing this can be a real good swing killer!

Find out the details and much more in Jon’s Eye Opening ebook: Golf Swing Eureka – www.golfswingeureka.com