Where do swing faults come from?

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mjyounie

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Everyone has a swing fault, some have many but where do they come from?
Its true that every golfer has their own ''Golf DNA'' and by that I mean, everyones swing and action is unique to them and is present right from the first time the player picks up the club.

Most people when struggling head over to the pro shop and book in a couple of lessons.. No problem with that, getting help from a professional is very smart. But in order to improve there is another aspect that needs to be considered... Your BODY! A golf pro can only get you into the positions your body is either strong enough or flexible enough to get into. Meaning that if you only work on your swing, yes you will improve but you could improve so much more by training your body as well. If you are serious about playing better golf then do a quick search online and find your nearest 'TPI' instructor. These are people trained specifically in identifying faults in your body which lead to faults in your swing. After identifying areas of your body which need work the instructor will then come up with a programme consisting of exercises and stretching that will improve your swing.

So basically I am saying, if you are looking to improve then by all means go and see your local Pga professional but consider visiting your local TPI instructor as well because at the end of the day its your body that swings the club and by combining the both with help you improve more significantly and a lot faster.

If anyone has any questions about a technical fault of theirs and whether the root could be down to a body imbalance or weakness then please reply and Ill do my best to help and point you in the right direction.

Cheers
 
mjyounie said:
Everyone has a swing fault, some have many but where do they come from?
Its true that every golfer has their own ''Golf DNA'' and by that I mean, everyones swing and action is unique to them and is present right from the first time the player picks up the club.

Most people when struggling head over to the pro shop and book in a couple of lessons.. No problem with that, getting help from a professional is very smart. But in order to improve there is another aspect that needs to be considered... Your BODY! A golf pro can only get you into the positions your body is either strong enough or flexible enough to get into. Meaning that if you only work on your swing, yes you will improve but you could improve so much more by training your body as well. If you are serious about playing better golf then do a quick search online and find your nearest 'TPI' instructor. These are people trained specifically in identifying faults in your body which lead to faults in your swing. After identifying areas of your body which need work the instructor will then come up with a programme consisting of exercises and stretching that will improve your swing.

So basically I am saying, if you are looking to improve then by all means go and see your local Pga professional but consider visiting your local TPI instructor as well because at the end of the day its your body that swings the club and by combining the both with help you improve more significantly and a lot faster.

If anyone has any questions about a technical fault of theirs and whether the root could be down to a body imbalance or weakness then please reply and Ill do my best to help and point you in the right direction.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Agree with some, not with most.

Firstly. To me it depends on what you class as a swing fault?

Would you class having poor address posture as a swing fault? Personally I would, yet you don't need a great deal of flexabilty to stand over a ball, with your legs shoulder width apart and bend forward from the hips over the ball.

Secondly. Everybody has a different build and swing.

While it would be nice to have the flexibilty and core strength of Rory Mcilroy, it's not naturally feasible for most people.

Take a look on tour. They come in all shapes, sizes and swings. Even top, top professionals have swing faults. Look at KJ Choi's throw at the top. Dustin Johnsons Bowed left wrist. I wouldn't know where to start the Jim Furyk's swing. All these swings have faults yet they all deliver the club back to the ball in a mannor that is very effective. It has to be as they play on tour.

They also all have different builds, ranging from Mcilroy to Stadler. Bubba Watson to K J Choi. Again each build will have it's physical limitations with regard to flexability.

Thridly. Professional coaching.

All the above players (... With the exceptiuon of Bubba) will have had some form of professional coaching at some stage.The difference is a good teaching professional will work with the swing you currently have and your current physical build, conditions and limitations (Flexability, strength etc) and work to get the absolute maximum from what you have in the above fields. You take take it as far as you want to.

Would you recommend the same course of changes (above) for Angel Cabrerra, Kevin Stadle or Carl Pettersson?

Being physically fit is not a neccecity to play good golf, and I say that as a former qualified personal trainer. You could take the 3 names above as evidence to that point, with Cabrerra having won majors.
 
Its not a coincidence that 99% of players on both the European Tour and Pga Tour are into their gym work. If being physically fit to play good golf wasn't needed as you said then why the worlds best players be in the gym 6 days a week regardless of their schedule?
Players like Dustin Johnson is an incredibly fit guy who works out a lot.. His bow of the left wrist would be a problem if he didn't have the power, the flexibility and the strength to get from that position back to the ball consistently. If he wasn't physically able to do this then he would not be on the PGA tour. What I am saying is that every player has their own swing and certain characteristics, just like Dustin Johnson. If a player turned up to lesson and had the same swing characteristics as DJ with an extremely bowed left wrist I can absolutely guarantee you he will not be able to hit the same shots consistently.. This is because the guy will not have the sheer power and flexibility required to get the club back to the ball from this position.

A poor posture at address is definitely a fault that is linked to the body. If a player is hunched over the ball it demonstrates a severe lack of strength in the muscles up the back which would need to be working to straighten out the spine. If a player cannot do this then strengthening this area will very quickly resolve this problem. There is no point a coach saying to a player you need to get into this position if your body simply isn't able to..But with the right kind of training you will be surprised how much a golf swing can improve but strengthening the right areas and increasing areas where a lack of flexibility is present. For example a coach tells a player he needs to have more or a coil at the top of the swing and rotate his shoulders more.. If he is not flexible enough to do this he can be trying for the rest of his career but he will never get into the wanted position.. that is of course unless he works on this in the gym and increases his range of motion.

A good coach will identify these problems not work with what a player has got. If a player is serious about improving and the coach says it would be good if you could get a full turn but it doesnt matter to much if you cant, we'll work around it.. this is a great example of very poor coaching. The coach should be saying, look at every single player on tour.. Full shoulder turn. If you want to improve and get to that level then you need to be able to do this as it will make the downswing a lot easier.
 
Mjyounie, are you a gym/TPI instructor or sports nutrition expert?

Two threads you've started lately have been about fitness and nutrition, so it got me curious...
 
Every player has their own unique moves but in order to improve and play golf to a good standard there are positions that a player absolutely has to get into. Players like Cabrerra are naturally gifted in certain areas which means they can get into the positions during the swing that others need to work at to get into. All the other guys on Tour need to be constantly working on their body to make sure they can maintain their angels and positions in the swing
 
Im fortunate, according to the coach I see currently I don't have swing faults, I have characteristics :) Sadly some of them are bad ones lol.

Fitness doesnt make you a pro golfer etc as there those who prove otherwise, but without doubt there are benefits within golf (especially at the very top level) to being fitter and healthier
 
I have qualifications in sports nutrition, sports psychology and sports fitness specialising in golf.
I am also trained in lifestyle management for athletes and have qualifications in analysing what aspects create an elite performer.
Also a professional golfer on the Europro Tour
 
mjyounie said:
I have qualifications in sports nutrition, sports psychology and sports fitness specialising in golf.
I am also trained in lifestyle management for athletes and have qualifications in analysing what aspects create an elite performer.
Also a professional golfer on the Europro Tour
Click to expand...

Good to have you posting on here, always nice to have pros posting :) What is your playing schedule for the year?
 
mjyounie said:
I have qualifications in sports nutrition, sports psychology and sports fitness specialising in golf.
I am also trained in lifestyle management for athletes and have qualifications in analysing what aspects create an elite performer.
Also a professional golfer on the Europro Tour
Click to expand...

Excellent! Welcome:thup:

Can you provide a link to your profile etc as I'm sure many of us would be keen to follow your progress. How has the season been for you so far?
 
Theres a vid I found extremely interesting and kept in my favourites, it was from the 2011 PGA show and features TPI cofounders Dr Gregg Rose and Dave Phillips presenting on the body and how it affects the swing. Unfortunately they have removed it now from youtube:(
 
mjyounie said:
Its not a coincidence that 99% of players on both the European Tour and Pga Tour are into their gym work. If being physically fit to play good golf wasn't needed as you said then why the worlds best players be in the gym 6 days a week regardless of their schedule?
Players like Dustin Johnson is an incredibly fit guy who works out a lot.. His bow of the left wrist would be a problem if he didn't have the power, the flexibility and the strength to get from that position back to the ball consistently. If he wasn't physically able to do this then he would not be on the PGA tour. What I am saying is that every player has their own swing and certain characteristics, just like Dustin Johnson. If a player turned up to lesson and had the same swing characteristics as DJ with an extremely bowed left wrist I can absolutely guarantee you he will not be able to hit the same shots consistently.. This is because the guy will not have the sheer power and flexibility required to get the club back to the ball from this position.
Click to expand...

But were talking about tour players, with tour levels of fitness, timing and strength. Not something you can really relate to the Average Joe handicap club golfer.

If we're talking about tour levels fine. Take Adam Scott, Masters Champion. He is a fine example you could use of the modern ultra fit tour players who practically spend as much time in the gym as they do on a golf course.

Yet he was taken to the wire and through a play off by a 43 year old, non gym freak in Angel Cabrerra.

As I said previously. Fitness is not a prerequisite for good golf.


mjyounie said:
A poor posture at address is definitely a fault that is linked to the body. If a player is hunched over the ball it demonstrates a severe lack of strength in the muscles up the back which would need to be working to straighten out the spine. If a player cannot do this then strengthening this area will very quickly resolve this problem. There is no point a coach saying to a player you need to get into this position if your body simply isn't able to..unless he works on this in the gym and increases his range of motion.

A good coach will identify these problems not work with what a player has got. If a player is serious about improving and the coach says it would be good if you could get a full turn but it doesnt matter to much if you cant, we'll work around it.. this is a great example of very poor coaching. The coach should be saying, look at every single player on tour.. Full shoulder turn. If you want to improve and get to that level then you need to be able to do this as it will make the downswing a lot easier.
Click to expand...

Completley disagree, sorry.

Working within a players physical limitations is exactly what the professsional should be working with! Not advising them to joing a gym or seek out professnal TPI instructors. It's a hobby not a job.

If a 50+ year old man (No offence to the PING players on here :smirk: ) decides he wants to improve no amount of gym work and stretching is going to get him to the flexability level of a 20 year old.

I'll happliy stand corrected but I see plenty of low handicap golfers, including a lad in his 20's at my track who plays off 2 who cannot make a full back swing due to previous injuries. The absolute best he can manage is a 3/4 back swing, yet he hits the ball further and straighter than people of doube and treble his handicap.

He has had regular coaching and by the end of this season is looking to be playing near to the scratch mark.

We have another gentleman at our course well into his sixties who playes off 8. He has very little flexability but manages to maintain a handicap lower than most people will ever attain.

Now to be selfish and move on to me.

I'm 31 years old. 6ft tall and weight about 14.1/2 stone. I've been playing just under 3 years. For my size I am quite flexible and pretty strong, but saying that I didn't hit the ball very far.

I started a battery of lessons about 3 months ago. The first thing the pro asked me to do was hit a few balls. He then asked me questions about injuries and made observations of my flexability from my swing.

My issues were technical. Poor posturel. Taking the club behind my knees in the back swing. Throwing the club at the start of the down swing, poor hip turn into impact.

I've been working with my pro now for about 3 months. My backswing is massivley improved. I no loner throw the club at the top and my hips turn correctly through impact.

These are all technical things that I do right where I didn't before. I'm now carrying clubs, on average, 10 yards further with zero gym work, zero flexability work and 100% technically better swing.

While I fully understand and agree with the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, these are not a requirement to play good golf.
 
mjyounie said:
I have qualifications in sports nutrition, sports psychology and sports fitness specialising in golf.
I am also trained in lifestyle management for athletes and have qualifications in analysing what aspects create an elite performer.
Also a professional golfer on the Europro Tour
Click to expand...

You need to update your website. Unless, of course, you also have a sideline business advertising 'pretty girls from Asia'.
 
Is being strong, flexible, fit required to play a good standard of golf? No.

Does it help? Yes.

I don't understand why so many on here are so quick to put down any discussion of strength and conditioning and it's role in golf.
 
mjyounie said:
Everyone has a swing fault, some have many but where do they come from?
Its true that every golfer has their own ''Golf DNA'' and by that I mean, everyones swing and action is unique to them and is present right from the first time the player picks up the club.
Click to expand...

The term swing fault is a funny thing as it basically means that your swing doesn't compare to the generally accepted view of the perfect swing in some way. But as you say, everyone has faults. Freddie Couples takes the club away on the outside, Dustin Johnson has a bowed left wrist and as for Jim Furyk...

Most people when struggling head over to the pro shop and book in a couple of lessons.. No problem with that, getting help from a professional is very smart. But in order to improve there is another aspect that needs to be considered... Your BODY! A golf pro can only get you into the positions your body is either strong enough or flexible enough to get into. Meaning that if you only work on your swing, yes you will improve but you could improve so much more by training your body as well. If you are serious about playing better golf then do a quick search online and find your nearest 'TPI' instructor. These are people trained specifically in identifying faults in your body which lead to faults in your swing. After identifying areas of your body which need work the instructor will then come up with a programme consisting of exercises and stretching that will improve your swing.

So basically I am saying, if you are looking to improve then by all means go and see your local Pga professional but consider visiting your local TPI instructor as well because at the end of the day its your body that swings the club and by combining the both with help you improve more significantly and a lot faster.

If anyone has any questions about a technical fault of theirs and whether the root could be down to a body imbalance or weakness then please reply and Ill do my best to help and point you in the right direction.

Cheers
Click to expand...

A very valid point. I currently have this exact same issue in that my pro wants my to be able to rotate my shoulders further on the backswing without straightening my right leg or rotating my hips too far but I am not flexible enough to do it so I am using a shorter swing. I need to work on my flexibility in that area but am struggling to find the time. If you have any suggestions that don't take huge amounts of time and can be done at home I'm all ears.
 
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