Re-Train The Brain

Golf Swing Training Palm Beach Gardens

I think we have all heard the 10,000 hour or in this case repetition rule.  It takes 10,000 times of doing something to be considered an expert.  Now, I am not sure if this number is research based, but I can tell you that it will take a considerably higher number of repetitions to re-learn a certain movement (golf swing) if we have been doing it incorrectly for most of our life.

Golf Swing Lessons

Any sort of change in the golf swing requires a re-programming of motor skills.  The body has developed a certain way of learning a movement (in this case the golf swing) in accordance with the individual’s flexibility, balance, and stability levels.  More simply put, the body will always take the path of least resistance to execute a golf swing, so breaking that mold means asking the body to do exceed its comfort level.  In addition to the golf pro assigning swing drills (re programming the motor skill) to the student, the golfer must also devote some attention to enhancing the bodies level of tolerance for the new swing pattern i.e. gaining stability, strength, and flexibility.  Once this process begins, the golfer will have a much better chance of making changes on a more permanent level. 

If we hope to make a swing change proper time must be spent re-training the brain to “feel” the proper kinematic movement of the golf swing.  Next time you are at the gym, do some swing drills with your arms across your chest or using a medicine ball in between sets of resistance exercise.  Do the exercises in front of a mirror so you can get the sensory feedback you need to make sure the movement is executed properly.  

Golf Swing Exercises

Examples of some motor learning exercises include separation drills in the following sequence:

• Seated Stability Ball Rotations – Place your arms across your chest and sit down on a stability ball with good posture (chest our, low back flat).  Practice rotating your torso from side to side while stabilizing your lower body i.e. no hip movement.  Make sure to keep your head still
• Half-Kneeling Rotations – Get in a half-kneeling position (one knee down) and place your arms across your chest.  Begin to rotate your torso side to side keeping your lower body/knee and head still.  You may find this position difficult to maintain balance
• Golf Stance Rotations – Get in your golf stance with your arms across your chest.  Begin to rotate your torso in both directions while you keep a stable lower body.  The challenge here will be the coordination of the movement more so than balance.  You will find your hips wanting to rotate with your upper body.
• Lunge Stance Rotations –  The hardest of the four.  Get into a split stance (one foot out in front of the other) and hinge from the hips as if you are addressing the ball.  Practice rotating your torso in both directions while you maintain lower body stability.  The muscles of the lower body will be significantly challenged in this position.

Perform 10 repetitions for 1-2 sets in between your sets of resistance exercise.