Having trouble reading this email? View it on your browser.

Therapeutic Associates Golf Performance at the Athletic Club of Bend Physical Therapy @ the Athletic Club of Bend Rates & Packages Media Articles Links Golf Stretch of the Week Golf Performance Online Therapeutic Associates Golf Performance Follow Us On Facebook
space

January 2012 E-Newsletter

space
space

The Core of Golf

space
space

If you think golfers are not athletes take one look at Dustin Johnson or Camilo Villegas, Sandra Gal or Natalie Gulbis. These modern day golfers are SERIOUS athletes and their golf-specific exercise programs are SERIOUS workouts.  If you are a serious golfer who wants to improve your golf performance you ought to take your exercise time seriously.  You can bet the top 10 golfers in the world work long and hard at creating strong, powerful bodies in order to compete at the highest level. A major component to every one of their workouts is core stabilization and strengthening.

The golf swing is primarily a rotational movement. Just about every body part rotates in various planes during the golf swing. The center of the body (aka the “core”) links the upper and lower bodies and when strong, creates a power generating base to maximize speed and leverage. The core is made up of the abdominal, lumbar, posterior and lateral glute and pelvic floor muscles. Exercises that work these muscles are called core stabilization exercises. In order to have the most carryover in regard to creating a strong, powerful golf swing, core stabilization exercises should mimic the movements and positions of the swing as much as possible—mainly into rotation or stabilizing against rotation. Strengthening the core muscles will not only increase swing power it will also protect the lumbar spine which takes a beating with excessive rotation especially when in a forward bent position (the golf swing!). The #1 injury and complaint that golfers have and see me for is pain in their lower back!

 

Numerous swing faults can and will occur if your core is weak including loss of posture, early extension, coming over-the-top, sway, slide, reverse spine angle, and hanging back. A lot of these swing faults can occur even when your core is strong if you have not had good golf swing instruction from a teaching professional. Swing faults are basically compensations to get the club face to the ball but they create biomechanical inefficiencies and increase the potential for injury.

 

Core exercises are good for most dynamic activities . . . like living life! . . . but they are especially important for athletes participating in sports.  The core exercises I have included below can be done without fancy equipment and although they might look easy, if done properly will most likely challenge you considerably. They work the front core, the side core and the back core not into rotation but stabilizing against rotation. Pre-engagement of the lower abdominal muscles should precede each position and movement and last throughout the exercise. That is, drawing your navel toward your spine (or tightening the lower tummy from belly button to pubic bone) at about 30-40% of your maximum contraction. Included is the starting position which can be held for time and provide challenge as a stand-alone exercise. The second position demonstrates an added challenge creating asymmetry and the need to stabilize symmetrically. The goal of these exercises is to perform them with good quality over a large quantity of repetitions or long holds.

 

To view exercises to help increase core strength, click here >

space
space Facebook Like ButtonTweet Button space
space

Now Partnering with Teaching Professional Todd Cover from Pro Golf of Bend

space
space

The Ultimate Golf Fitness and Instructional Program
 

Cost: $380 or $480 which includes the K-VEST Swing Assessment
 

The truth of the golf swing is it varies by person depending on body type, age, fitness level, injuries, past athletic experience, and golf instruction. We swing the club the way we do because that is what is easiest for our body to do! Pro Golf of Bend's Head Instructor, Todd Cover and Therapeutic Associates’ Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and physical therapist, Chris Cooper have teamed up to offer the Ultimate Golf Fitness/Instructional Program available in Central Oregon. Research has surfaced over the past few years emphatically demonstrating the positive correlation between golf-specific exercises to improve a golfer’s movement deficiencies and swing efficiency. This bettering of the body to better the swing will, in turn, result in better ball striking, greater distance, decreased risk of injury, and improved playing performance and satisfaction. Combining the two is the modern day’s ultimate golf performance package.
 

Your Workouts:
You will receive an initial physical screening by physical therapist Chris Cooper at Therapeutic Associates at the Athletic Club of Bend using the Titleist Performance Institute’s golf-specific assessment. Personalized workouts sessions are designed around your physical assessment and fitness goals. You will get a golf fitness handicap which is similar to your golf handicap—the lower the better. You will then be assigned 18 web-based exercise sessions that you can do at your own pace either at home or at a gym. You will have access to your personalized workouts via the MyTPI website that will include a complete list of exercises along with screen shots and downloadable videos of each exercise. Prior to the completion of your 3rd workout you will make an appointment for your first golf lesson with Todd at Pro Golf. This will continue in the same order until the completion of all 18 workouts and 5 lessons. You will then go back into see Chris for your follow-up evaluation. To learn more about Therapeutic Associates’ Golf Fitness and Performance program, click here >

 

 

Your Golf Lessons:
Todd Cover, Teaching Professional at Pro Golf of Bend, will build a 5 - 30 minute Golf Instructional Program that coincides with your TPI workout program. You will notice a big difference in flexibility and improved ability which will allow you to make the changes necessary to make the correct golf swing. Every lesson will be videotaped and a comparison will be made from lesson #1 to Lesson #5. Give yourself an hour for each lesson which will be conducted in the simulator at Pro Golf of Bend. The first 30 minutes will be spent doing your TPI workout and the next 30 minutes will be spent on your swing changes. It is advisable to space out the lessons weekly or every other to allow you to complete your TPI exercises and practice swing changes. 

 

 

K-VEST Swing Assessment 
We are also offering the latest in 3D motion analysis technology to look at the efficiency of your golf swing in 3 planes of motion. The K-Vest can determine your kinematic sequence which is how your body transitions from the top of the backswing toward the downswing. Transition sequence helps determine how your body is able to separate with the lower body ideally moving first followed by the upper body and lastly the club so that swing power is maximized. The K-Vest is also able to measure your “X-Factor” at the top of your backswing and your “X-Factor Stretch” in transition which help determine your potential for greater power. The information gained from the K-Vest Swing Assessment will help Todd and Chris further understand the linkage between your physical body and the efficiency of your swing as well as allow them to better map out a fitness and instructional program to meet your needs and maximize your performance.
 

For more information on the K-Vest, click here >
 

Please feel free to contact Todd or Chris to sign up or with any questions in regards to this or other programs. We sincerely look forward to being an integral part of your 2012 golfing season and beyond.

 

Todd Cover
Teaching Professional
Pro Golf of Bend
Cell: 541-306-9692
epicgolfadventures@gmail.com

 

Chris Cooper, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
TPI Level 2 Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
Therapeutic Associates- Athletic Club of Bend                  
Cell: 541-350-1631
ccooper@taiweb.com

space
space Facebook Like ButtonTweet Button space

header bg