Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: One of golf's most common swing flaws is failing to maintain the posture created at address. Many amateurs rise out of their stance as they swing the club down from the top, and this causes them to make poor contact with the ball. Fat and thin shots are a typical result.
Golf instructors will often try to fix this issue with various drills that help keep students from "standing up" when they swing down and through the impact zone. An example would be to hold a golf shaft just over a student's head and have the student make swings trying not to bump the shaft. Another would be to the student maintain the knee flex created at address.
Both are effective, and often a golfer with this stand-up problem will immediately start hitting solid shots after using these drills. The teacher and student shake hands and go on their merry ways. Problem solved, right?
Not always.
It's easy to correct this problem for a swing or two, or even half a round. But without strong, flexible hamstrings (the muscles on the back of your thighs), the problem will come back;
especially after fatigue sets in. Your hamstrings help support the body
while you swing. Wherever you are right now, get into your address
posture and then feel the back of your legs. If you can't feel your
hamstring muscles working to hold that posture, you're probably going to
struggle to hit the ball solidly.
If you haven't already, you should make the hamstrings a top priority of workouts, says Chris Noss, one of the PGA Tour's most-respected fitness trainers. He works with Camillo Villegas and Zach Johnson, to name two of his clients. In fact, starting workouts by warming up the hamstring muscles is always a good idea, since they play a key role in doing many exercises with proper form as well as avoiding injuries. "Tight and weak hamstrings often lead to back issues, not just swing flaws," Noss says.
To see me demonstrate a good hamstring warm-up exercise, click on the video below.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
If you haven't already, you should make the hamstrings a top priority of workouts, says Chris Noss, one of the PGA Tour's most-respected fitness trainers. He works with Camillo Villegas and Zach Johnson, to name two of his clients. In fact, starting workouts by warming up the hamstring muscles is always a good idea, since they play a key role in doing many exercises with proper form as well as avoiding injuries. "Tight and weak hamstrings often lead to back issues, not just swing flaws," Noss says.
To see me demonstrate a good hamstring warm-up exercise, click on the video below.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
