Page 32 - Golf Champion - January 2020

[ GOLF LESSON ]

Establishing Better

Biomechanics Off the Course by Mac Powell, Ph.D.
• PGA Master Professional
• Dean of The National University
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f winter weather is limiting the time you are spending on the effective for long-term change to use many and varied small pe-
Icourse or practice tee, use your time indoors to improve your riods of rehearsal and feedback (rather than procrastinating and
biomechanics. Whether you’re trying to modify your full swing, trying to alter a movement with a longer session). Lots of rep-
pitching, or chipping, utilizing some basic sport psychology and etitions broken up over time, and under varying circumstances
biomechanics practices can yield significant improvements when and levels of awareness, will lead to quicker and more permanent
you return to the course. change.
The most important thing to do as you develop a plan to improve Practice the movement that you are trying to master in the mir-
your game is to understand the key changes that are required ror (or with video) as often as possible. I had a student who was
to improve (and assess whether you have the strength and flex- working diligently to keep his hands more forward at impact
ibility to make the change or transition). I always recommend with his irons, and if he was in an elevator or a department store
consulting with a PGA Professional and someone with expertise or anywhere with a mirror, he’d spend ten or twenty seconds in
in physical training to ensure that you are capable of a particular the reflection rehearsing. Here are some examples of movements
swing evolution. Choosing the “right” thing to focus on can save that my students have improved because of their work off the
you tremendous frustration and time in getting the most out of course:
your game. • Feeling the hands properly square the clubface six inches before
Once you have identified the one biomechanical change that will and after impact (while in their golf posture).
offer the most long-term benefit to your game, break down the • Taking the club away in a single piece (not letting the hands pull
skills required to achieve the change into tiny movements of the the club away without moving the shoulders).
body that can be rehearsed in practice. With the movement well • Feeling the lower body transition its weight as the club begins
understood, use small periods of visualization and rehearsal dai- to slow in the backswing.
ly. Put in small units of time. It will pay dividends. It’s much more If you note the language I’ve used, the word “feeling” appears

30 | GOLF champion