Where the top of the golf swing is has been debated for a long time. A question we address all of the time is "Where is the top of the swing?" It is not unusual to hear the answer from most amateurs is: the top of the swing is when the club is at parallel to the ground. Really? Have you thought that answer out or is that what you have been told for years? See if you agree with this logic.....
The first question I would ask is: what club is being used? Swinging a driver to parallel at the top of the swing is a different ball game from swinging your nine iron to parallel. Think about it or go to the garage and grab both and try to do it. With the shaft of the nine iron being shorter, the club does not need to get to parallel to achieve maximum results.
The second question would be: are you getting properly coiled or loaded in your golf swing? ON YOUR BACKSWING, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU NEED TO BE PROPERLY COILED OR LOADED. Coiled? Loaded? What does that mean? It simply means that you are stretching muscles away from the target so they will want to move in the opposite direction which should be at your target. Imagine stretching a rubber band. If you do not pull it tight enough, it could go anywhere and not very fast. If you pull it correctly, it moves where you are aiming it and fairly quickly. Finally, if you pull it too far, the rubber band can not handle the tension and breaks. OUCH!
The third question that gets asked is: where do you think the top of your swing is? Ninety plus percent of the time, the student will take the club to parallel. In order to do this, the student will over turn their hips or move their right knee to allow their body to turn far enough to get to parallel. Is this a powerful move? NO! Think about pushing something heavy like a golf cart. Stand away from the cart and attempt to push the cart with your arm(s) extended. Now get closer to the cart and put your weight into it. Is this not easier? It makes it easier to hit a golf ball as well.
So with this info have we answered where the top of your swing should be? YES! It should be when your muscles are stretched away from your target and you are coiled and/or loaded. This should leave your left arm and club shaft in the shape of an "L" in the spirit of the illustration above. The new top of your swing means an extended left arm to create the base of the "L" and not a broken arm at the elbow. A broken arm at the elbow results in us creating a "J" and losing power and accuracy. Yes, I have gotten some funny looks when people think they are going to need to "shorten" their full swing but let me explain further....
This "L" position will more than likely be a position in your "Mind's Eye" or in your head. Everyone has seen someone, maybe even you, look at video of their swing and have a gap between the reality of what is happening and what they are feeling. Depending on the length of the club you are using, going to the "L" in your "mind's eye" will take the club back to the proper position and more importantly allow you to stay loaded. You will not look silly, you will look much better as your shots will greatly improve with YOUR TOP OF THE SWING!
Over The Top Golf Swing
Flexibility, how many times have you heard that term used in describing the golf swing of many pro-golfers? Flexibility and strength are used as adjectives to describe the extreme mobility exhibited in the golf swing of Tiger Woods. His flexibility and strength have made him one of the brightest young golfers on the PGA tour.
Flexibility might be one of the most important components of a great golf swing. Flexibility increases the range of movement needed to apply force to achieve distance when hitting the ball. Studies have demonstrated that a greater amount of force is produced when a muscle is pre-stretched before performing the activity demanded of it. A pre-stretched muscle creates elastic recoil that applies additional force for a more powerful contraction. This is known as preloading the muscle. The most effective and powerful swings are produced when the force generating muscles are preloaded first.
Yoga is a well-rounded approach to improving your golf game not only physically but also mentally. Yoga helps to increase flexibility and range of motion. Yoga promotes flexibility by strengthening, toning and stretching all of the muscles of the body. In addition to improving flexibility and increased range of motion needed to execute a good or better yet, a great golf swing, yoga also bring the added benefit of improving the ability to focus and control stress. A flexible, strong body will provide fluidity to the golf swing and will help to prevent injury to the back.
Tips for beginning yoga exercise program:
?Check with your healthcare professional before beginning any type of exercise program.
?Look for a class with a certified yoga instructor. You can check on the internet for a studio or class in your area. Many YMCAs and recreational centers offer yoga classes.
?Do you prefer to practice in the privacy of your own home? Be sure any instructional material or video has instructions for different levels such as beginner, intermediate and experienced. On the other hand, you may want to look for one made especially for golfers or athletes.
?To get the maximum benefit from your yoga practice it is important that you learn proper form and how to use the breath
?Stay with it! With daily practice, you will become more flexible, feel physically and mentally better with more energy and a better outlook on life.
Both Brad Myers & Bj Schwehr are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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