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Category:
Published: July 2006
It may sound a little steep, but we have either been willing to pay it, or know a fellow golfer who has. Let's face it, when it comes to shooting a better score, golfers will do just about anything.....or will they? Fifteen years ago, the average golfer's handicap was 16.2 for men, 29 for women. Today, with the advent of titanium faced drivers, balls that go farther and straighter, high/low trajectory shafts, the 2005 average handicap was still 16.2 for men and 29 for women. That's right, it hasn't changed. The old adage is true, "It's the carpenter, not the tools." Most golfers are willing to "buy" a new score, but who is willing to work for one? I don't mean hitting jumbo bucket after jumbo bucket at the driving range. I mean working on the most important piece of equipment you can bring to the first tee-YOU. We have all seen golfers run out of their car, rush out to the first Tee, do a few twists with the club behind their back, take one practice swing and off they go mumbling things like, "the Advil should kick in by the third hole, then I'll be fine!" If you are really serious about shooting lower scores, you have to do something about your equipment.
Golf takes balance, flexibility and, lastly, strength. Posture is the key to all three. Poor posture off the course means poor posture on the course. The biggest fault I see in amateur golfers is in their slouching posture. This problem shows up in someone's form when striking the ball-head down, slouched and rounded shoulders, no flex in the legs. The result? Not quite "Tiger-esque." I could talk about the importance of posture for hours, and sometimes do with my patients. I am sure they are tired of hearing me say, "Posture, whether good or bad, is learned. What did your body learn today?" Many of you have been seated in front of the computer for six hours a day, five days a week. You've taught your body the classic slouched posture: round shoulders, a rounded, low back, with your head jutting forward as you stare intently at your monitor. Sounds a lot like the poor setup I described earlier, doesn't it? To demonstrate the effect of poor posture on your swing, take the following test. Sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and fold your arms across your chest. Slump forward and slouch your shoulders. From this poor starting position, make your backswing turn and note how far you can rotate. Return back to the starting position. Next bend only at the waist keeping your shoulders back and now rotate into your backswing. (spine angle) You should easily achieve an increase of 15-25 degrees rotation. Can you see how improving your posture can improve your backswing? You can gain 15-30 yards on your drive with simple postural changes, and it didn't cost you $500! After 18 years as a Doctor of Chiropractic, I have learned that the more complicated I make an exercise program, the less likely you are to do it. There are many simple postural exercises that can be performed while you are sitting at your computer desk. Exercise can be taken to the "Nth" degree-from working the major muscle groups, to the very small and specific muscles of golf. So I ask you again, are you willing to work for a better score? Contact your local Chiropractic Sports practitioner for a postural evaluation with recommendations on how you can improve your equipment! Next issue: Simple balance exercises.
Dr. Costello maintains a Chiropractic family and sports injury practice in Clifton Park.
For questions, please feel free to contact him at 518-877-0234 or
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