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What is the correct Kinematic Sequence?

MYSWING 3D GOLF - FINDING YOUR BODY-SWING CONNECTION


Kinematic Sequencing in Golf Swing

It’s March now and everyone is ramping up to get ready for the season with Master’s coming up in a month! I have been getting inquiries from golfers who had injuries in the past and trying to attack the issue of consistency, especially with longer clubs - it might be important to look at your kinematic sequence in getting ready for this season!


There is more than one way to swing a golf club, but there is one efficient kinematic sequence to achieve the maximum amount of energy transfer from the ground to the club head translating it into the ball speed properly without overloading your joints. Just like any other rotational sport, the speed of your club head into the ball decides how far the ball will travel in the air. In today’s golf world, there are many different kinds of swings and everyone has a swing that is suitable for their body. However, the key to every swing is efficiency and it plays a huge role in the body and swing connection.



ALL THREE TOP PLAYERS IN THE WORLD WITH THREE DIFFERENT SWING STYLES.


In golf, the ideal kinematic sequence should go proximal to distal, having the peak velocities in the order of hips – trunk – arm – club. Approximately 65=70% of professional golfers on the PGA/ LPGA tour have the ideal sequence which explains the efficiency and consistency. However, this does not mean that you can’t achieve consistency if you don’t have the exact sequence. The timing of the acceleration and deceleration is a key when analyzing your kinematic sequence and often times, a very small change can help improve your consistency and sequence.


Peak velocities and swing efficiency can be calculated and related to the golfer’s ability to stabilize each body segment to create the “lag” in order for the golfer to transfer energy to the next body segment. The lag created, however, should be natural as the body segments decelerate to accelerate the next one up. Throughout the golf swing, energy is initially generated with the reaction force from the ground and building up like a “coil” into the top, where stabilizing and transferring occur with the “uncoiling” movement into impact. Among the muscles, multifidus, transverse abdominis and gluteus maximus play an important role to be active and create a stable base for the upper body to “uncoil” with the club and transfer the energy to the ball. Those muscles are some of the biggest muscles in your body and they are the “TRUE CORE” that you should stabilize if you want to gain consistency and distance control.




MULTIFIDUS AND TRANSVERSE ABDOMINIS ARE YOUR BIGGEST SPINE STABILIZERS IN HELPING YOU STABILIZE AND ROTATE.


With a consistent kinematic sequence, you will be able to generate similar speed each time coming into the ball and therefore a more consistent ball flight and distance. A huge factor in this will be lower body stability and core stability to allow the efficient transfers of energy. With a stable base for the body to “coil” and “uncoil”, it allows the respective muscles to do their job to put the club back to the ball.  One of the most important muscles in this case is your Glutes – which is often not fired/activated effectively to stabilize and transfer the energy initially from the lower body to the upper body. As a result, efficiency is affected and can often lead to low back pain due to compensation. 


An example of an ideal kinematic sequence of the swing:


IDEAL KINEMATIC SEQUENCE WITH PEAK VELOCITIES HAPPENING AT DIFFERENT POINTS OF DOWNSWING.


Some key points from this is that: 


  • With a better understanding of efficiency of your swing, we can help improve your golf game by working on the weaknesses

  • We will also be able to identify any physical limitations, poor mechanics or equipment for your swing

  • We will also be able to help improve your swing to get a more consistent ball strike to make the game more fun!


So as you get ready for this season, try to take some videos of your own swing and see how is each of your body segment moving throughout the swing! You may not see the kinematic sequence and velocities without 3D motion capture but if you have a lingering injury from your swing or can’t seem to get rid of your big slice or miss, feel free to contact us for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION and we are always happy to help!


Wishing everyone a great season ahead with Moving Well & Playing better!


Michele


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