Why swinging like Adam Scott, Tiger or Rory might not be right for you!
One of my favorite lines is that there is not one perfect golf swing out there ( though Adam Scott’s is pretty darn close), however there is one perfect swing specific for your body.
And here is why: We all move differently and have:
Varying levels of genetic flexibility ( think natural flexibility: naturally limber or stiff)
Different levels of acquired flexibility changes ( think we are what we repeatedly do)
Varying levels of general health and injury history
Specific and different muscular strengths, weakness and possible limitations compared to the tour pro.
Given all these variables and more, it is clear that as golfers we need to adapt our swing to fit our body initially and then work hard to improve the modifiable and specific problems we have to effectively improve our swing and our game. This will result in more injury free golf, more consistent golf, and as a result generally happier golf and lower scores! And I am yet to find a golfer who doesn’t enjoy those things.
So now you might be thinking how do I know how I should be swinging. Should I attempt to swing like Tiger, or Ernie Els, or Fred Couples or otherwise?
The answer is simple first you should find a golf rehab specialist in your area to help assess your movement, your strength and your health so they can relate what your body can safely do to your swing. Once doing so the next step is to work with a golf coach who can help you swing in the most efficient way for your body as well as most efficient way to help you play your best.
The Big Takeaway!
My biggest take away here applies to golfers of all ages and that is: first you must know your limitations and how they affect you before you can start to address them and make actionable changes!
Swinging like a pro might only be a few quick steps away for some, for others it may require many months of hard work on physical limitations and for others it may never be appropriate given their personal story and history.
There are however actions we can take as golfers to ensure we move and feel our best! From a physical standpoint it starts with improving / maintaining our flexibility and ends with taking care of our overall health and wellness with sleep, nutrition and stress management.
Keep an eye out for my next posts where I discuss common swing faults and why they can occur!
Until then here’s to happy and healthy golf!
James Ashcroft DPT, OCS, CSCS