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Power can be elusive to golfers. Is true power generated through technique, strength or something more? Every golfer wants more power, more distance, more consistency. Here are 3 ways to generate the kind of power you have only dreamed of...until now.
- Spinal Rotation. Every
time you swing the golf club, you rotate around your
spine. So, what does this have to do with power?
Power is generated every time you stabilize your
hips to make a full backswing with spinal rotation.
Most golfers have heard of the X factor. This, of
course, refers to the differential between the
movement in your hips and your spine. Increase your
spinal rotation and a new sense of power will be
released.
- Core Based Exercises.
Your body's "core", the area around your trunk and
pelvis, is where your center of gravity is located.
When you have good core stability, the muscles in
your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen work in
harmony. They provide support to your spine. The
core is the power zone. It is where all movement
begins. A well-developed core allows for improved
force output, increased neuromuscular efficiency,
and decreased incidence of overuse injuries. A weak
core can make you susceptible to poor posture and
injury.
- Plyometrics.
Plyometrics are any exercise where the muscle is
contracted eccentricly then immediately,
concentricly. Put simply, the muscle is stretched
(i.e. loaded) before it is contracted. A good
example is medicine ball horizontal twists and
standing golf swings. According to a recent study
published in the National Strength and Conditioning
Association's (NSCA) journal, amateur golfers
significantly increased their driving distances
after just eight weeks of strength training while
incorporating plyometrics. Mean driving distance
increased 4.3% for the combined training group, with
mean club head speed increasing 1.5%. Once you
incorporate these 3 techniques into your exercise
program, you'll never be disgruntled about driving
distance or power generation again. Susan Hill is a
CHEK Golf Biomechanic and President of
FitnessforGolf.com, a private, member's only, online
golf fitness website dedicated to the improvement of
golfers worldwide. For more information on her golf
products and services, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
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