The cornerstone to a good golf swing is the establishment of the ideal posture at address position.  Ideally, a golfer should strive to attain a neutral alignment of the spine where the neck, mid back and lower back align properly without excessive arching or curvature. A poor set-up forces you to make compensations in your swing, so it is important to find the correct set-up for your swing and learn to repeat it. Most high-handicappers and even some low-handicappers and professionals make common mistakes in their set-ups which cause them to hit bad shots, develop bad habits and wreak havoc on their bodies.

Most golf professionals will tell you that common swing faults such as poor posture and lack of rotation are from physical limitations and until you address those limitations you may never improve.

Are your physical limitations holding you back from playing your best golf?  Take the Cardiogolf 30-Day Challenge to find the best exercises for you.

You understand and identify your  swing faults (if you have any) and the physical limitations that may cause them. Swing faults, which are technical flaws in your golf swing, can be can be caused from physical limitations and or from improper swing mechanics such as lack strength and inflexibility in critical areas of the body.

Your flexibility, strength, coordination, balance and stability, which is your body’s ability to maintain certain positions for a length of time, in your golf specific muscles are imperative to making a good golf swing and playing your best. If you have any physical limitations or weaknesses, they will affect the way you swing a golf club. For example, if you have tight hamstring muscles, it will be difficult for you to maintain the correct amount of spine angle during the swing.  You may “come out of the shot” or “stand up” through impact, which can cause topped or weak shots.  If you lack strength or flexibility in your hips or buttocks, you may not be able to shift your weight properly and as a result lose power and consistency.   Identifying your swing faults and physical limitations are absolutely necessary to building a fundamentally sound golf swing. Identifying and correcting your swing faults and physical limitations should be a focal point in your golf specific fitness program. Playing golf with physical limitations or common swing flaws can cause serious injury to the most vulnerable parts of your body such as the low back, neck, elbows and wrists. Identifying and correcting swing flaws will not only improve your golf game, but also help you prevent the most common golf injuries.

(Excerpt from Golf Fitness by Karen Palacios-Jansen and Golf Fitness Magazine Contributors).

To read more about golf fitness check out my book available at Amazon.com.

Karen Palacios-Jansen is an LPGA Teaching Professional and Certified Personal Trainer.  She developed Cardiogolf, a golf-specific fitness system available at KPJgolf.com.