What I will attempt to do here is help you learn how to analyze your own golf swing so that you can become aware of what you are doing wrong. Proprioception is your ability to sense where your body parts are in space at any given time. Basically what you have to learn to do is link your mind and muscle connection so you feel where you ARE, not were you THINK YOU ARE. The only way to solve a problem is to know what the problem is your trying to solve! So lets take a closer look at the different aspects of the game and the cause and effect relationships associated. Pay attention, you might shoot lower scores.
The first thing you need to recognize is that the swing is performed around the axis of the spine. The muscles of the back, abdominals, shoulders, hips, arms, and neck all rotate around a center point, the spine. The more steady and stable you can keep your spine from address till impact, the better off you are going to be. There are a couple of ways to address the art of keeping a constant spine angle.
1.) Strengthen the muscles that support the spine which mainly include the back and abdominals. Make sure not to neglect the muscles of the lower back, which take the brunt of the stress during the swing. The best exercise for strengthening the abdominal muscles close to the spine is a twisting motion, whether it be throwing a medicine ball or standing barbell twists. Strong lower abdominals is crucial to stability as well. These muscles are difficult to isolate but the lying hip raise is perfect.
2.) Work on your flexibility. The more flexible your muscles are, the easier it is to get into the proper positions during the swing. It is difficult if not impossible to maintain a stable spine angle with poor flexibility in the back, abdominals and hips. Get in a routine of stretching every morning and after every workout. Check out the "Let Me Demonstrate" Tab for an index of good stretches.
3.) Work in a mirror or with an instructor on staying stable throughout the golf swing. I like to think of my spine extending all the way into the ground and when I swing I try to rotate directly around it instead of swaying or shifting. The Stack & Tilt method of swinging is become ever popular on the PGA Tour. The most notable student of this concept is Aaron Baddeley. The concept is to stay centered over the ball and rotate, instead of turning slightly behind the ball. What does this mean for you? It means there is another way to play this crazy game for those of us who are not as flexible.
The concept of the game is very simple....put the ball in the hole in a few of strokes as possible. The brutal truth is that humans have to to this...and well...we are by no means perfect. It's funny to think that a motion that takes place in only about 3 seconds can be so mechanically complicated and complex. While it is important for your success on the course and your sanity to have one swing thought in your head while playing, it is vital that you understand how all parts of the body work together to produce a golf swing. It is also vital to you improvement that you actually PRACTICE. Yeah, sorry to burst your bubble but practice makes perfect. That beautiful and effective golf swing is not going to magically appear by watching Tiger Woods....yes even if you watch in HD.
With that being said you do not have to spend half the day on the driving range beating bucket after bucket of golf balls. In fact, you can ingrain good swing mechanics without even hitting a golf ball. The wicked witch of the west was on to something when she put her trust in a mirror. Make golf swings standing in front of a mirror. Practice getting into the proper positions. Try getting there with your eyes closed in enhance your proprioception.
