3 ideas to improve your swing movements at home.
In these uncertain times, some of the things we may have taken for granted have been temporarily taken away from us for the greater good. Despite these constraints, this is an opportunity to work on our movement and golf technique in a new way. I have listed below 3 key ideas you can do at home to encourage improvement. Number 3 was especially helpful for me with my coaching and with my own game
When we move fast, we move in a way that is consistent with our strongest movement patterns. Unfortunately, our strongest patterns might not be our best movement patterns. This is an opportunity to adapt and to study our movements deeper.
Think back to your last session on the range and ask yourself was I focusing closely enough on how I was trying to move? Throw frustration into the mix and we have created an environment where long-term physical gains are limited.
What can I do?
Below are 3 ideas and exercises you can do at home that will help you closer study and develop your movements. These exercises will not only help you now but will also serve you in the future and improve your practice habits:
1. Heighten your senses: Tension is a huge roadblock to good movement and most of the time we are unaware of it. The first exercise is an awareness exercise. This is to discover and understand any areas of our swing that may be limiting or tense.
If it is safe to do so, in a large open area make practice swings with a club
As you are making practice swings, notice parts of your body which are tense or blocking. Notice other parts of the body that are compensating because of this tension or blocks: like a rising of the head, twisting or rolling of the feet or excessive movement of the body
Continue to make practice swings. See if you can change the way you move: length, amount of rotation or a reduction in tension with an aim to move without needing these compensations
Individual’s swing technique is unique, but there are fundamentals like pivot point (swing centre) and balance that are important for all golf swings. Often due to tension these are compromised and as a result lead to complications and compensations.
Secondly, see if there is a part of your body that is strongly initiating the downswing. The ideal swing sequence starts gradually from the lower body, to the upper body and out to the club. Think about how you would throw a club or an object. When coaching I often see parts of the upper body start the downswing too early and too aggressively, which lead to swing compensations. Typically I see the arms, hands and upper body start the down-swing too early.
Make a near full speed practice swing and in transition (from back-swing to down-swing) see if your down-swing sequence is started by the upper body.
Aim to start the downswing with the lower half and feel the movements gradually move through the body to the club - think of throwing an object
Use just your right hand (or left hand for left handers) as a ‘hack’ to encourage the body to make a good sequence
2. Challenge your balance: A golf swing needs to be able to adapt to different shots and different terrains. Often when we practice we are standing on a predicable flat surface. This has its benefits, but often shots on the course are made on undulating and different textured ground. Practice challenging your balance to develop your swing to be adaptive and more flexible to different environments.
Start by making slow full swings with your feet together
Vary the speed with your feet together
Swing standing predominantly on one foot with the other foot supporting behind – then switch
Make practice swings with one arm then change to the other arm
These exercises can also be used as an effective warm up for a round or a practice session.
3. Enter curiosity mode: Often when we hit balls on the driving range, we are judging the shot results. This judgement can send mixed messages and distracts us from the technical changes we are working on. This then limits learning and physical development. Change happens when movements are first slow with our full attention and without the judgement of shot results. I call this curiosity mode, as you are looking to understand what you are currently doing and what is currently happening. The martial arts world have recognised this method of learning for centuries.
Make some slow practice swings and focus on the current technique you are working on
Study and focus on what is happening and make adjustments if needed
Once you have spent some time in this mode, you can then start to move faster. If you don’t have enough space or it doesn’t feel safe to do so, you can wait until you can hit balls on a driving range
When you start to move faster you will have a better feel and understanding your technical changes and challenges you have when trying to change them. This will allow you to be more receptive to changes in the future
BLOG SUMMARY
Tension leads to poor compensations during the swing. These compensations compromise our ability to deliver the club at impact and hit good shots
Take this opportunity to make lasting change by slowing your movement and thinking down to allow 100% focus on your swing changes
Challenge how you practice when on the range and take time to enter curiosity mode before judging shots
Undesirable parts of the body often start the downswing upsetting the ideal swing sequence. Use techniques to encourage a better swing sequence
Please let me know how get on with these ideas by clicking one of the SM links below!