The advent of three dimensional kinematic measurement has assisted the golfer and the PGA Professional to isolate the physical characteristics that quality ball strikers possess. Optimal sequencing of body segments are essential for elite level players. In addition, the speeds of the hips (pelvis), shoulders (upper torso) and hands with optimal sequencing will maximise club head speed and consistency. 

 

One very important movement that characterises Tour Players is good lateral pelvic tilt at impact.

 

So what is good lateral pelvic tilt? Lateral pelvic tilt as displayed in Image One, is, for the right handed golfer, the ability to get the right hip lower than the left at impact.

 

Jim McLean, one of the leading Teaching Professionals in the USA, coined the idea of “ideal corridors” for the movement of the club and shaft while being swung by the golfer. Instead of being prescriptive to a certain number of degrees – McLean suggested that there are corridors of ideal that narrow approaching impact for the path of the golf club. This notion has now been endorsed by most good PGA Professionals around the world, who agree that it is possible to swing the club like elite players by staying in or close to these ideal corridors.

 

Dr Rob Neal (Director of Golf Biodynamics & The Golf Athlete) and I have extrapolated this idea to ideal corridors of how body segments move and interact to achieve optimal corridors for the golf club. Lateral pelvic tilt is but one of the many body segment characteristics that can be examined. 

How much lateral pelvic tilt is desirable? For all players the corridor is between 10 and 15 degrees. Why is it so important? Many coaches talk about effectively “trapping” or “squeezing” the ball at impact – this is achieved when the ball is hit prior to taking a divot. By doing this the player maximising the launch angle and spin rate characteristics of the golf club – when his or her equipment is tailored to optimally for the individual player. 

Let’s consider it another way. When a player does not get good lateral pelvic tilt the technique fault is commonly referred to as the “hips spinning out” or that the hips (or the belt line) are “very flat” during impact. This specific characteristic is very difficult to see with the naked eye. However it is important to measure this characteristic as differences of just 3 to 5 degrees can make a marked difference in the ball striking.  

 

To emphasise again, you cannot measure it with the naked eye or video, so the only accurate method of measurement is with a true 6 degrees of freedom electromagnetic system or university based research equipment (eg Vicon). To find your nearest Golf Biodynamics licensee, direct your browser to www.golfbiodynamics.com website or for more information go to the About Us – Biomechanics Section of the www.thegolfathlete.com website.

 

Good luck and good golfing!

 

Michael Dalgleish

APA Sports Physiotherapist & Sports Scientist

Director – The Golf Athlete

Licensee – Golf Biodynamics for Queensland

Work: +61 7 3354 8666

Mobile: +61 438 678467

Email Michael

International Speakers and Presenters – for The Golf Athlete Level I, II and Coaching Seminars - see the website for outlines and the calendar of events around the World. Consultant to numerous Australian Touring Professionals, Golf Australia Elite Players, Queensland State Amateur Teams, the Queensland Academy of Sport Squad, Schools of Excellence in Golf (Kelvin Grove & Hills International School) and the PGAs of Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and the UK

 

 

Sugaya H, Tsuchiya A, Moriya H, Morgan DA and Banks SA (1998): Low back Injury in Elite and Professional Golfers: an epidemiologic and radiographic study. Cochran AJ and Farrally MR (eds.) - Science and Golf III: The proceedings of the 1998 World Scientific Congress of Golf.