We all know the clubface must be square at impact and the club releases thereafter. Generally speaking a large amount of swing mechanics are centered upon returning the clubface to square at

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Squaring the Golf Club Face, the Rotator Cuff, and Golf Fitness Exercises

We all know the clubface must be square at impact and the club
releases thereafter.

Generally speaking a large amount of swing
mechanics are centered upon returning the clubface to square at
impact. In order to square the clubface at impact a combination of
separate but connect components work together. The first of these
components is your golf swing mechanics. The biomechanics of the
golf swing are an intricate series of movements, in a sequential
order, and executed with a specific timing.

The golf swing
mechanics if performed correctly allow for the clubface to return
square at impact. In conjunction with golf swing mechanics the body
executes these biomechanics.
In relation to the body, specific muscles are very active in
returning the clubface to square. The golf swing is a "total body"
activity involving the entire neuromuscular system in the execution
of the golf swing.

Looking at a specific part of the body and
squaring of the clubface, we can see a significant connection to
certain muscles. During certain phases of the golf swing we see a
rotation of the clubface in the backswing, returning of the
clubface to square at impact, and release of the club in the follow
through. These three actions within golf swing require rotation of
the arms.
The action occurring within the arms is elevation, internal, and
external rotation.

This allows the club to rotate, return to
square, and release during the follow through. That being said,
there are specific muscles involved in the rotation of the arms.
Again, these are not the only muscles involved in squaring the
clubface, but from an anatomical perspective, these muscles are
active in the internal and external rotation of the arms. Going
back to squaring the clubface, internal and external rotation of
the arms is required.

The muscles we are talking about are the
rotator cuff muscles. Yes, the rotator cuff.
Not necessarily a group of muscles that go "hand-in-hand" with the
golf swing and probably more thought of when we talk about baseball
and pitching. Nevertheless, these muscles are an active in the golf
swing.

The rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles in the
shoulder complex. For those of you who love the science behind this
stuff, the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff are;
supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
The rotator cuff has a couple primary functions when it comes to
the shoulder complex. First off, they act to stabilize the shoulder
capsule.

The skeletal structure comprising the shoulder is a ball
and socket joint. The "socket" part of this joint is very shallow,
and the rotator cuff muscles help to stabilize and essentially keep
the arm from coming out of the joint. The rotator cuff provides
tension during movement to keep the shoulder joint stabile. The
rotator cuff creates what is called a musculotendinous joint for
the shoulder, stabilizing the shoulder.

Secondly, these four muscles are actively involved in elevating,
internally, and externally rotating the arms. All of which are
movements involved in the golf swing. Utilize a picture of the golf
swing and the actions involved in the phases of the golf swing to
create the connection. During the backswing, downswing, and follow
through these muscles assist in the biomechanics of the golf swing.

The rotation of the arms in the backswing, squaring of the clubface
at impact, and release of the club during the follow through are
some basic components of the golf swing where the rotator cuff is
involved in the golf swing.
The shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscles are subject to overuse
and early degeneration. The repeatable action of the golf swing,
and involvement of the rotator cuff in the golf swing add to this
situation. These two factors; the repeatable nature of the golf
swing, and subject of the rotator cuff to over use injuries point
to the need of injury preventative rotator cuff exercises.

Injury
preventative rotator cuff exercises should be a part of a
comprehensive golf fitness program. The goals of a golf fitness
program are two fold; number one to prevent injury to the body from
the stresses placed upon it by the golf swing. Number two is
performance improvement.
Rotator cuff exercises within a golf fitness program fall into
category number one.

These types of golf fitness exercises develop
additional strength and endurance within the rotator cuff muscles.
The purpose of the added strength and endurance is to prevent
overuse injuries from occurring. The added strength and endurance
allow for the golfer to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing
over and over again without fatigue or comprise the joint structure
of the shoulder.
During my years on tour, I have never seen someone injure a cuff
muscle from swinging a golf club.

I have seen rotator cuff injuries
impede a golf swing, and if you have ever injured your rotator
cuff, you know how debilitating an injury it can be. The point
being this: The rotator cuff muscles are actively involved in the
golf swing. The biomechanics of the golf swing are a repeatable
athletic action, stressing the muscles of the rotator cuff every
swing. In order to combat a rotator cuff injury from occurring, the
implementation of rotator cuff exercises in a comprehensive golf
fitness program can be beneficial.

These types of golf fitness
exercises are injury preventative. Assisting to develop high levels
of strength and endurance in the muscles of the rotator cuff.
Preventing breakdown from over use. Injury to rotator cuff can be
very debilitating to your golf swing or any activity for that case.

And I suggest regardless if you are avid golfer or a weekend
warrior. Implementing a series of rotator cuff exercises to them
healthy is a good idea.
Sean Cochran

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors
in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004
Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson.

He has
made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing
improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website
www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at
support@bioforcegolf.

com.

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