Lower Body Mechanics: The Foundation of an Effective Golf Swing
Chris Welch, Welch-e Technologies
Just like a house, a solid golf swing must be built on a solid foundation. That foundation is lower body mechanics. The movement of the lower body is composed of both linear and rotational components. It is the proper interaction between the two that creates a stable basis for the rest of the swing.
Definition of Terms
Your feet generate forces when they push against the ground. These forces act to propel
your body and create motion. There are two kinds of forces that are important to the golf swing: Normal and Shear.
Linear
Normal force is applied by the feet downward or perpendicular to the ground. Weight is transferred to the back foot during the backswing and the front foot during the downswing. When weight is shifted to one foot, the amount of normal force applied by that foot increases, while the normal force applied by the other foot decreases. This action defines the linear component of movement. The linear movement of the lower body during the golf swing is very important, because it is from this movement that the body develops momentum that is in turn transformed into torque and rotation speed.
Rotational
Shear force is applied by the feet along the surface or parallel to the ground. Throughout the swing, shear forces are being applied by both feet. These shear forces create torque that turns the hips around the axis of the trunk and creates rotational speed at the pelvis. This defines the rotational component of lower body movement. The rotational component provides the basis for power during the swing and can be most directly related to generation of club head speed.
Webinar with Chris Welch to be Posted this Thursday, April 3.
Chris will explore both linear and rotational components of lower body mechanics in the golf swing, and the proper interaction between the two that creates a stable basis for the rest of the swing this Thursday evening April 3, right here on the Better Golf With Fitness blog.
Tune in this Thursday.
Chris Welch
President/CEO
Welch-e Technologies
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