| If you tend to be sedentary and sit for a good part of | | | | Weakening of the glutes or quadriceps can impact the |
| the day, you're developing imbalances in the body that | | | | stability and control of the lower body and decrease |
| will not bode well for your golf game. The problem is | | | | the amount of power that you might be able to |
| that most people don't stop to think just how much | | | | produce while swinging the golf club. The glutes supply |
| they do sit during a typical day at work, in the car, or at | | | | power in any swinging skill (i.e. golf, tennis, baseball). |
| home, and therefore don't realize how it's affecting | | | | They also play a role in the ability to control the lateral |
| their health or golf performance. | | | | movement of the hips during the swing, reducing the |
| The anatomy of a sitter goes like this. When you sit, | | | | potential for sway in the backswing and slide in the |
| you place the muscles in the front part of the hip, | | | | downswing. |
| known as the hip flexors, and the ones in the back of | | | | Another common occurrence in amateurs is the |
| the thigh, the hamstrings, in a shortened position. While | | | | inability to maintain the bend in the trail leg while bringing |
| this shortening is occurring, there is a concomitant | | | | the club back. This straightening of the back leg during |
| lengthening and weakening of the opposing muscle | | | | the backswing, which among other things is a |
| groups. Affected are your glutes, or buttocks, opposite | | | | precursor for over rotation of the hips, can be linked to |
| the hip flexors, and the quadriceps muscles in the front | | | | a lack of strength in the quadriceps muscles. |
| of your thigh, opposing the hamstrings. | | | | A good golf fitness program should identify these |
| Collectively, this scenario is often referred to as the | | | | muscle deficiencies and imbalances, and then work to |
| lower cross syndrome. | | | | correct them. A brief interview with the golfer will |
| The hip flexors and hamstrings can play a significant | | | | establish lifestyle habits and the degree of daily activity, |
| role in your golf posture and in the mobility of the hip. | | | | which should be considered when developing the |
| Tight hip flexors, for example, often times contribute to | | | | exercise intervention. A physical assessment is an |
| an S-posture or a swaying of the lower back while at | | | | absolute must in order to identify and determine the |
| address over the ball. This can very easily lead up to | | | | extent of the weakness and/or tightness, and help to |
| acute and chronic low back discomfort and pain. | | | | determine which particular type of exercise is |
| Similarly, tight hamstrings are one of the bigger factors | | | | necessary. Without this information, the golfer may be |
| that lead up to low back problems in general, never | | | | only making matters worse by strengthening an |
| mind golf. Combine this muscle deficiency, however, | | | | already tight muscle group, as an example, thereby |
| with the explosiveness of the golf swing and you set | | | | enhancing the deficiency. |
| the stage for back injury. | | | | Sitting for a good part of the day can not only have |
| Individually, or in combination, tight hip flexors and | | | | deleterious effects on your physical health, it can |
| hamstrings can also limit the range of motion required | | | | wreak havoc on your golf swing. The often times |
| both for front-to-back and side-to-side, rotational | | | | undetected muscle imbalances that develop from |
| movements of the hip. This can detract from the | | | | sitting can be the underlying cause for poor golf |
| efficiency of the golf swing and result in swing faults | | | | performance and physical discomfort. |
| and/or loss of power and distance. | | | | |