By Ramsay McMaster Golf Physiotherapist

1. RUSHING TO THE GOLF COURSE

 

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Disruption of golf rhythm
• High anxiety levels, in turn leading to tension
• Poor control of breathing

Common injuries possible:

• Wrist - to tendons, cartilage or bones
• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles
• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems

 

2. DRAGGING GOLF BAG AND CLUBS

 

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Poor alignment in address position
• Poor posture at setup
• Excessive strain through particular muscles e.g. wrist & neck
• Increased gripping

Common injuries possible:

• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles
• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears

 

3. BOUNCING IN FORWARD FLEXION

 

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Bad flexion postures
• Reduced activity of flexor muscles
• Stiffens back, leading to poor sequencing of golf swing

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Hamstring strainsww.golfmed.net

 

 

 

 

 

4. POOR ROTATION SEQUENCING

 

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Compensatory sway in swing
• Poor weight transference
• Poor balance
• Poor shoulder position on backswing and follow through

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles

 

 

5. WARMING UP WITH MULTIPLE CLUBS

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Compensation movements in arms
• Altered proprioception
• Altered weight control
• Overswinging
• Reversed C positions & reversed pivot

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Left hip strains
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears

6. HITTING WOODS TO START WARM UP

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Alters feel due to practicing power before feel
• Over swinging
• Incorrect sequencing
• Use of incorrect muscles

Common injuries possible:

• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears

7. HITTING BALLS INTO NETS OFF HARD SURFACES

Common technical breakdowns caused:

• Jarring of body
• Altered co-ordination

Common injuries possible:

• Neck - to joints, discs, ligaments or muscles
• Shoulder & rotator cuff - muscle strains, tendon injury/tears
• Low back - muscle strains, disc injuries, joint problems

 

Ramsay McMaster is an industry leading golf specific physiotherapist who has worked with thousands of average golfers, with leading tour pros and coaches, with major golf organisations in Australia and around the world and is the founder of the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic.

For further information, individual assessment or advice on programs email Ramsay at golfphysio@golfmed.net or visit golfmed.net

Ramsay McMaster and the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic: Related Articles

Ramsay McMaster Golf Fitness

Your 5 Minute Golf Warm-up

By Ramsay McMaster Golf Physiotherapist

Sequencing Your Golf Warm Up to build up the correct `feel’ in your golf swing

 

1. The golf exercise drills will gradually build up the correct “feel” for golf performed in the correct sequence.

2. Maintain good breathing and tempo control throughout each golf exercise drill.

3. Maintain good upright posture throughout each exercise drill.

4. Use pistol grip on both hands with each exercise drill.

5. Repeat each exercise for between15-30 seconds 2-3 times depending on time and ability to maintain form.

• Stop if you experience sharp pain, dizziness or have an acute condition. Always consult your health professional.

### Ramsay explains all the moves in the new video attached below ### 

1.BUILDING UP YOUR `GOLF FEEL’ 

Using the Flexibility & Mobility Warm-up Drill

Combined Hip Trunk & Shoulder Stretch 

Get into the lunge position, feel stretch at right hip. Maintain an upright posture and tuck in your lower abdomen. Hold golf club above head with pistol grip. Bend trunk to left side, keeping head aligned on shoulders 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. BUILDING UP YOUR `GOLF FEEL’

Using the Balance & Static Posture Warm-up drill

Standing upright in the `angel wings position’ against the wall, place a golf ball between the balls of your feet. Keep your nose and belly button in line with the ball. Tuck in your chin and look at the bottom of your lower eyelids. Keeping your arms by your side and forming a pistol grip in both hands, slowly lift the ball

up with your feet. Feel yourself getting taller as you pump up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. BUILDING UP YOUR `GOLF FEEL’

Using the Core Stability Golf Drill

Push

Slowly extend your arms and thrust the body in a slow pushing movement against an imaginary truck. Feel your shoulders, neck, abdominals, gluteals and legs all work together as if you are simulating an hydraulic pump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. BUILDING UP YOUR `GOLF FEEL’

Using Core Stability & Rotation

X-Factor Check

Keep yourself in an upright and stable posture. Place your elbows in by the side of our ribcage. Slowly rotate your trunk to the right maintaining your hips in a stable position to the front. Keep your elbows into your ribcage, feel the tension between your inside thigh and lower abdominals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. BUILDING UP YOUR `GOLF FEEL’

Using Core Stability, Rotation & Dynamic Posture

The Cross Over Golf Exercise Drill

Stand in an upright position and maintaining good spinal posture at all times, cross your right elbow to the top of your left knee. Then cross your left elbow on to your right knee. The movements should be smooth and the speed of the exercise gradually increased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramsay McMaster is an industry leading golf specific physiotherapist who has worked with thousands of average golfers, with leading tour pros and coaches, with major golf organisations in Australia and around the world and is the founder of the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic.

For further information, individual assessment or advice on programs email Ramsay at golfphysio@golfmed.net or visit golfmed.net

 

 

Ramsay McMaster and the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic: Related Articles

Ramsay McMaster Golf Fitness

The 7 Deadly Sins of Warming-up

Australian Senior Golfer is teaming with Ramsay McMaster, one of the world’s leading authorities on golf and the body to publish a series of articles on golf fitness, particularly relating to older golfers.

Ramsay is a groundbreaking golf specific physiotherapist and has worked with thousands of average golfers, with leading tour pros and coaches, with major golf organisations in Australia and elsewhere and is the founder of the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic.

Ramsay’s vast experience working not just with professional players on all world tours but with more than 5000 average weekend players of all ages makes his insights on the game and on golf and the body invaluable.

Ramsay has some simple advice and exercises that can not only help prevent injury and prolong golfing longevity but can also improve overall mobility, stability and posture and give you a better basis for a consistent golf swing and of continued game improvement.

Just by effectively warming up, staying ‘warm’ throughout your round and warming down correctly afterwards you stand a good chance of preventing injury and playing better, more consistent golf. 

For those who do have injuries or chronic conditions affecting their golf, there are also pointers to effective treatments, programs and individual assessments.

Just by effectively warming up, staying ‘warm’ throughout your round and warming down correctly afterwards you stand a good chance of preventing injury and playing better, more consistent golf

Ramsay, an A Grade golfer himself, was the first therapist to realise the need to develop a practice specifically to service and treat golfers.

He established the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic in 1992 and has continued to build a talented multi-disciplinary team dedicated to the treatment and wellbeing of golfers of all ages and abilities.

The clinic provides a range of services including physiotherapists specifically trained to work with golfers, golf specific myotherapists, remedial massage therapists, orthotists “working with golf orthotics”, 3D swing analysis, golf specific exercise programs, Fitball classes for golfers, “Get fit for golf” lectures for golf teams and clubs, and a number of others.

There are also new and unique programs including the “Train like a Tour Player” program and “GUR: Golfers Under Repair”.

For individual advice and assessment visit http://www.golfmed.net/ or email Ramsey at golfphysio@golfmed.net

Ramsay consults to a number of organisations including The Australian Institute of Sport Golf Unit,  the PGA of Australia and the PGA ‘s of Britain, US, Ireland and New Zealand amongst others. 

 

Golf Fitness Articles: Ramsay McMaster and the Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic.

 

Your 5 Minute Golf Warm-Up 

The 7 Deadly Sins of Warming-up