| One of the most common complaints from older | | | | enhanced. . . like the hinging of the wrists for an |
| golfers is that they can't seem to be able to hit the ball | | | | example. |
| as far as they used to. For some, this frustration | | | | Another factor could be lack of external rotation in the |
| often leads to less playing time or giving up the game | | | | shoulder joint. The inability to rotate the arm back |
| entirely. | | | | from the shoulder while holding the arm out to the side |
| If the senior tees are not an option, here is a factor to | | | | and elbow bent 90 degrees (as when winding up to |
| consider when evaluating your game. Range of | | | | throw a ball), can also play an integral role in a |
| motion or the degree of movement one has for a | | | | restricted backswing. |
| particular body part, can play a vital role in the golfer's | | | | Other commonly seen factors include tightness in the |
| ability to obtain distance on their shots. In particular, is | | | | chest muscles and/or lats, as well as limited flexibility in |
| the ability to get the club back during the backswing in | | | | the thoracic or mid back area. The latter also results, |
| order to produce sufficient clubhead speed at impact. | | | | especially in amateurs, in a greater reliance on the |
| One of the preventable consequences of aging is a | | | | lower back to swing the golf club. This may increase |
| loss of flexibility and range of motion. This often is | | | | the potential for lower back injury as it places greater |
| the result of a more sedentary lifestyle and/or the | | | | stress to that area. |
| absence of a stretching routine. The stretching | | | | A physical assessment evaluating the various |
| routine probably being the more significant of the two | | | | anatomical components of the golf swing will identify |
| as even individuals who are active will lose their ability | | | | where the deficiencies are, and help plan a course of |
| to move body parts, as stronger muscles tend to | | | | action to begin the corrective phase. Precise |
| become tighter muscles. A consistent flexibility | | | | exercises to improve flexibility can be recommended |
| program will offset the tightness that develops through | | | | to enhance range of motion and improve swing |
| activity or the lack thereof. | | | | performance. |
| As far as the backswing is concerned, many aging | | | | The aging golfer who never really did much in terms of |
| golfers lose their ability to disassociate their upper from | | | | stretching to improve their game will be quite surprised |
| their lower bodies, the X-factor as it's known in the | | | | to see how much of a difference it will make. . . in a |
| golfing world, resulting in a progressive limitation in their | | | | relatively short period of time. The key is to first |
| takeaways. This lack of mobility consequently | | | | identify the deficiencies, so that a more targeted focus |
| reduces the distance the club head will travel during | | | | on the weakness/tightness can be achieved. A |
| the downswing, thereby decreasing the ability to | | | | reputable golf fitness instructor will be able to assess |
| generate speed. Less speed generally results in less | | | | and develop a personalized program that will better |
| distance, unless other swing components are | | | | your body to better your swing, and increase distance. |