Mobility and stability
Having dealt with the Mental, Technical & Physical dimensions relating to Setup, as well as the Mental & Physical dimensions in the backswing, we turn our attention in this article to the importance of the Physical dimension of Mobility & Stability in the process of COILING & LOADING.
Ian Corbett, BA (HMS) Hons (Sports Science); TPI Level III; PGA Full Member, explains:
Two of the great minds in Golf fitness, Mike Boyle and Gray Cook, once came up with the idea that the human body is nothing more than a stack of mobile joints interspersed with stable sections. The interesting observation, though, is that there is an alternating pattern of stable segments and mobile joints from the ground up.
- Our feet need to be stable on the ground.
- Our ankle joints need to be mobile – they turn through all ranges of motions
- The next joint up (the knee) is stable.
- The hip is mobile
- The lower back (lumbar spine) should be stable
- The middle back (thoracic spine) is mobile again. Btw, this is where we should turn from in the swing!
- The shoulder blades should be stable…and so on we can go.
It is imperative to ensure that this chain of mobility/stability is kept intact if we are after a well sequenced, repeatable golf swing. Even more important to note is that life and life-style (with its well documented postural challenges) makes it difficult for us to maintain our solid mobility/stability chain.
If you would like to determine your own mobility and stability empowerment for golf, your first port of call should be to book a golf functional movement analysis with either myself or Hannes at the Gary Player Golf Fitness Centre at World of Golf. This simple test of your range of motion in golf-specific areas will enable us to determine your weak links and help you get your training in line with your specific areas of limitation.
