Playing Golf Involves the Muscles and Uses the Motor Skills - Research Paper Example

Swinging a Golf Club, the Muscles Involved, and the Motor Skills Used In the game of golf, nothing is more critical than the swing of the golf club. Swinging the club involves the use of muscles throughout the body, and it requires that those muscles be not only strong but also flexible. It is also no secret to athletic trainers that a golfer’s swing can be improved by focusing on consistency in the use of the individual movements involved in their swing. Because of the precise muscle control required, it is common that novice players strain muscles where as experienced players exhibit barely any muscle fatigue at all from long golf games. In order to understand golf, techniques and physics involved in swinging a golf club, muscles involved in the dynamic weight transfer that occurs during the swing, and motor skills of the golf game must be analyzed. Golf players must take into consideration both the long game and the short game. Many players have different handicaps in the long game than in the short game. In the beginning of the game, the player is concerned with his long game swing. In the long game, players must make long shots that require full body movement. In these shots woods and irons are often used to swing for distance rather than accuracy, though the accuracy a player can achieve in the long game often impacts his success in the sport (“Golf Smith”). Conversely, in the short game, the payer is concerned with making more controlled movements using the short iron or putters. The goal of this part of the game is accurately putting the ball on the green and holing the ball in as few swings as possible (“Golf Smith”). Most golf players are stronger in either the long game or the short game, and improving a player’s weak areas can often be a critical point in enjoying the sport both recreationally and in competition. As in many sports, physics can be used to explain the interaction of forces that produces movement of the golf ball during game play. To the inexperienced observer, it can seem that some golfers hit the ball easily and it travels much further than others that appear to hit the ball very hard. This is because the physics involved in moving the golf ball and directing its path are much more complicated than simply striking the ball directly. Ultimately the golf ball moves because of the total combination of forces it receives during the transfer of energy from the club to the gold ball itself (“Golf Physics”). All forces are included, which means that just hitting the ball harder does not necessarily mean it travels further. Newton’s laws of physics tell us that energy cannot be created or destroyed. In golf this means that the energy that the ball is using to soar across the golf course comes from the energy of the body, and that energy is transferred by the part of the club that comes in contact with the golf ball upon impact. The area of the golf club that strikes the ball is known as the golf club face, where this energy transfer occurs. For the golf ball to travel the golfer is actually concerned with three things: transferring the maximum energy to the ball, losing as little energy as possible in the process, and losing as little energy as possible during flight (“Golf Physics”). Many experienced golfers instinctively can estimate how much energy will be transferred and lost in order to very accurately approximate the flight path that the golf ball will take. In order to minimize these variables, golf balls are designed with dimples on the surface. Though rather counter-intuitive, these dimples actually help to reduce the real drag the ball experiences as it flies through the air (“Golf Physics”). Because the distance the ball can travel is directly related to the force, which is turn related by the mass times acceleration, it may seem that a heavier club is better. This is not true, because a heavy shaft and handle can ultimately reduce the speed that the club head travels, which reduces the overall energy transferred to the ball (“Golf Physics”). This is why flexible, light-weight shafts are a common choice for golfers and also why clubs have larger heads than putters. In order to move the ball, the golfer must cause a force using the club, which is done by swinging the club at the ball. The swing of the club creates a torque caused by the rotation of the body and the movement of weight from the central point. The further the point of the rotation, in this case the head of the golf club, is from the center of the rotation, the more force is created by the same swing (“Golf Physics”). The physics of torque are much more complex than simple push-pull interactions. The standard swing consists of two main phases, the backswing and the downswing. The backswing is the part of the golf swing where the club is moved backward in preparation for the swing. The downswing immediately follows this, and is responsible for the generation of force that is transferred to the ball itself (“Golf Smith”). Almost innately, novice players tend to extend themselves backwards in order to generate a longer downswing. The longer the downswing, the larger the force will be that is able to be brought in contact with the golf ball upon impact. There are two areas of the club that golfers with which golfers generally try to make contact with the ball. One is known as the sweet spot, which is marked on most club faces and is generally near the center of the club (“Golf Smith”). This is an area where very little energy is lost in transfer. The hot spot, which is where the most distance will occur, is slightly higher than the sweet spot (“Golf Physics”). This is because this is the point where the least energy is lost in transfer and the most efficient launch angle and spin is achieved. The hot spot is generally “felt” by experienced golfers. In addition, golfers have varied statures. A thin female golfer or child has less mass, but is still able to use torque to create a large force against the ball. Larger golfers may also use their weight to create force against the ball. A good swing, however, will concentrate of movement of the center of mass of an individual in what is known as dynamic movement, or dynamic weight transfers. This allows the body to maximize the torque through subtle movements during the swing (“Golf Physics”). Because of this, light weight players can often achieve high forces against the ball, making the ball soar much further than less experienced players with more physical mass. Dynamic weight transfer refers to a movement where the movement of the upper and lower body are perfectly synchronized as the hips rotate. This shifts the golfer’s weight from side to side in a single fluid movement that is a result of the interplay of many different muscle groups acting in coordination (“Golf Physics”). If the weight transfer is not smooth, such as when a novice golf player swings wildly or in the case of poor muscle tone or muscle fatigue, not as much torque is created. This means that the ball will not travel as far. It also means that the golfer will feel tired much sooner because of the additional stress on some muscle groups over others. This explains the large difference in how far a professional golf player can cause the ball to fly versus the short distance of many novice players (Pederson). It also explains how experienced golfers are able to play all day with little or no signs of fatigue—because all of their muscles are working harmoniously to counter each other, resulting in little stress or strain on any single muscle group. In order to create the most torque and thus achieve the best golf swing, a golfer must be aware of the muscles used in the swing and many professional golfers undertake full-body training to improve these muscles. The core muscles, or the muscles of the torso, are the power behind the swing, and some call these muscles the engine of the swing. These are the same muscles that are involves in throwing a ball, and are used in many other sports as well. Both strength and flexibility in these muscles are required, as the swinging movement in golf, like throwing a ball, are rotational movements that require strength and the ability of a muscle to stretch (Pederson). Lower body muscles, such as the hamstring, provide the grounding that the body needs to maintain a firm golf posture. When these muscles are weak, such as sometimes occurs in older golfers, the posture can shift during the swing, causing weight to shift in the wrong direction. This reduces the torque and keeps that ball from flying as far or in the right direction. In addition, if a golfer consistently swings with poor posture this can result in injury or permanent damage to the lower back (Pederson). Posture is important for maintaining torque for performance in golf, but it is also important in preventing injury while playing the sport. Also important in posture is the quadriceps muscle, which helps the golfer to flex the knee during the swing. Flexing the knee is an important part of dynamic weight transfer, and professional golfers, like other athletes often train these muscles so that they will perform better on the golf course. Simply hitting balls will not improve the tone or condition of these muscles (Pederson). Fitness plans that target these muscle groups are necessary to achieve an optimal golf game. The muscles of the upper back, such as the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, and trapezius are responsible for the support of posture necessary to generate a good backswing, where the club is pulled backwards in preparation for the swing (“Your Upper Back Muscles”). These muscles again are often weaker in older golfers, and can only be improved by training that both stretches and strengthens these spinal muscles of the upper back (Pederson). The spinal muscles in the upper back are the primary component in backswing, which in turn is a major component in creating the torque necessary to hit the ball long distances accurately. The shoulder muscles, or those attached to the scapula, humerus, and clavicle must be both strong and flexible because they are involved in almost every part of the swing. These muscles include the deltoid, pectoralis minor, and sternocleidomastoid, among others. If these muscles are weak, the golfer will have poor control over the club. If they are inflexible, the golfer will not be able to consistently hit the optimal point on the ball with the club, resulting in poor accuracy. These muscles make up the rotator cuff, which is the most commonly injured area of the body in the sport of golf, partially because the cuff is rotating with enough force to move a golf club over one hundred miles per hour (Pederson). The shoulder muscles are important in many parts of the swing, and as such must be strong and flexible to prevent injury and ensure optimal accuracy and distance in the golf swing. The muscles in the forearm, or wrist, are important in holding the club, especially when the club comes into contact with the ball at the end of the downswing. This is when the most force occurs, and if the muscles of the forearm are weak, the contact that transfers energy can break down. This means that energy is lost, and the ball will not travel as far and may lose accuracy. When the weak wrist caused errant balls, this is generally called flipping the ball by golfers. If the wrist is inflexible, then the wrist cannot be cocked, and it will not generate the correct amount of spin on impact, which means that a dramatic loss of distance will occur in the swing (Pederson). The wrist muscles must be both strong and flexible to ensure that the club can make contact with the ball firmly and without the loss of energy created during the act of swinging the golf club. Proper training of these muscles groups is necessary to improve a golfer’s game. When a golfer has not trained these muscles or if these muscles are weak or inflexible, generally that golfer will not improve his or her swing when instructed in correct swing methods. Also, like any athlete, a golfer that has weak or inflexible muscles is much more prone to injury and muscle fatigue (Pederson). Training these muscle groups is critical to improving the golf swing. Golf is a sport in which all participates are welcome, and many players play the game for many years as a recreational or professional activity. Because aging affects the mechanics of the body, it is important to note the challenges that face older players, who may be at greater risk for muscle strain or rotator cuff damage. As the body grows older, muscles generally become weaker and less flexible. This means that the overall achievable torque is greatly reduced, and players may not be able to make swings that reach the distances that they once did. In particular this can be caused by weakening in the wrist and hand muscles, such as in arthritis, which affects the point of contact between the club and ball. Older players may also suffer from poorer rotational flexibility in the hips or shoulders, and much be much more cautious when golfing. Special golf equipment is now available to older players to help enhance performance and prevent injury (Allen and Vad, Ch. 7). Learning proper motor skills in golf, as in many sports, is a function of muscle memory that takes both conditioned muscles and a lot of practice. There are many variations on the swing used by expert golfers, and there are many pitfalls that affect both novice and experienced golfers alike. In order to learn the proper form for golf motor skills, most golfers benefit from coaching, where a third party can observe and comment on the form of the golfer’s swing. Many times golfers are not even aware of the mistakes that they are making in their swing. In order to avoid making mistakes that may produce injury or impact the distance or accuracy of a golfer’s swing, most golfers establish a pre-swing routine that may involve loosening muscles and mentally preparing themselves for the swing. During this time the golfer may align the club, correct posture, and focus on the swing or target (“Tips”). By establishing a routine, golfers can improve their performance and avoid common mistakes. Common mistakes that golfers make include over-swinging and incorrect angle of impact with the ball. Also many golfer dip their heads during the swing, which causes a backwards shift in weight that will reduce torque, effectively counteracting the previous forward weight shifts. This is why many instructors stress to their students that it is critical to keep their head up at all times when swinging, often encouraging them to look at the green instead of instinctively looking down at the ball itself (“Tips”). In over-swinging, the backswing the golfer takes is exaggerated. Because of this large backswing, the club goes behind the line of the shoulders and the grip of the left wrist is weakened. This weakens the impact with the clubface. Also, if the backswing extends back far enough, balance is shifted to a point where the arms and wrists become the dominant force instead of the leg muscles. These muscles are much weaker, and this results in less force being transferred from the club to the ball. Generally the backswing should only go as far back as the shoulders can naturally rotate without strain or relaxing the grip of the wrist (“Tips”). Choosing the correct amount of backswing is important in achieving the optimum golf swing. With the exception of the driver and putter, when swinging the angle of approach should be descending. This does not mean that the ball should be hit downwards. It means that the club should make contact with the ball while it is still in the downward portion of the downswing. The clubface will have sufficient force and friction to lift the ball into an upward path, making it soar across the course. If the ball is hit with an ascending motion, the ball tends to travel across the open clubface and will lose distance (“Tips”). Making contact during the descending portion of the downswing is important in getting the ball to fly the maximum distance with the highest accuracy. Many variations on the standard swing exist. The most popular, and the most widely accepted and taught, for making swings with the most distance is called the two-pivot swing, which looks almost like swaying. This is the swing that is used by famous golfers, such as Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. To do a two-pivot swing, the backswing is changed slightly as the upper body turns. During the backswing, the left shoulder moves across and towards the right so that it is directly in front of the right foot when the backswing reaches its highest point. At this point, a golfer can feel his head move slightly, and he will finish with the right shoulder approximately above the left foot. This shot is characterized by the finish position, which is much more vertical than a standard swing, giving it the appearance of a sway (“Tips”). This is one variation that can help golfers improve the distance they are reaching with their swing. In order to understand how to improve a player’s golf game it is important to professional and recreational golfers, coaches, and healthcare professionals to understand the science behind golf. It is important to understand the physics involved in swinging a club, the muscle systems required for swinging, and the specific motor skills required to improve a golfer’s performance. These factors combined with regular physical conditioning can result in drastic improvements in the distance and accuracy of a golfer’s swing. Works Cited Allen, Dave and Vad, Vijay. Golf Rx: A 15-Minute-a-Day Core Program for More Yards and Less Pain. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. “Golf Physics.” The Golf Swing Club. Electrosmart Ltd. 2010. Web 01 Dec 2010 “Golf Smith.” Golf Glossary. 2010. Web 01 Dec 2010 Pedersen, Mike. "Muscles Used In Golf Swing." Golf Trainer: The Evolution of Golf Has Begun. 2010. Web 01 Dec 2010 “Tips.” Golf Support. 2010. Web 01 Dec 2010 “Your Upper Back Muscles: What Do They Do?” Smart Strength Training. 2010. Web 01 Dec 2010 Read More