Quick Golf Tips for Restoring Muscle Imbalances

As a golf biomechanic, my focus is on looking for areas of poor flexibility and muscle imbalances which effect the mechanics of the golf swing and create opportunities for the body to break down in injury. Each of these situations presents possibilities for improvement in your swing as well as keeping the body in an injury free state.

When the body is out of balance, this means some muscles are shorter than normal and some muscles are longer than normal. When muscle length is less or more than optimal, swing mechanics are altered.

According to Paul Chek of the Chek Institute, there are five factors which influence the flight and destination of the ball.

- Club face alignment

- Swing plane

- Angle of attack/impact

- Club head speed

- Hitting the sweet spot

Unfortunately, many golfers experience limiting physical factors which prevent them from achieving accuracy and consistency regarding these five factors.

Here is an example of a common swing fault and how it may be affecting your current swing.

Tight hip flexors are a common reason for loss of distance off the tee in addition to limitations in achieving a full backswing because of restrictions in trunk rotation.

Short and tight hip flexors are a known source of lower back pain where the low back muscles tighten while hamstring and abdominal muscles lengthen. You see, everything has a cause and an effect within the body.

Tight hip flexors limit a golfer's body in trunk rotation which ultimately leads to compensations at the shoulders, elbows and wrists. It is important to clearly understand where the chain broke down in the first place so corrective action can be taken. Follow these quick golf tips to restore optimal rotation in the joints which most affect the golf swing.

1. Contact a CHEK certified golf biomechanic for a personal analysis of your golf specific strengths and weaknesses.

2. Begin using exercises and stretches which primarily focus on your weak links.

3. Follow a continuum of flexibility, stability, strength, then power in developing your body for better golf.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized golf fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com