| Copyright (c) 2009 Scott Cole | | | | that even Charles Barkley, while working with Hank |
| Recently, I had the opportunity to receive hands-on | | | | Haney to solve his full swing yip, has focused his |
| instruction from golf teaching guru, Hank Haney. Now, | | | | attention on stretching. At the same time, he has lost |
| this was obviously a special opportunity since Hank | | | | 30 pounds as well. It is no secret now that fitness is |
| basically only teaches Tiger Woods, and the junior | | | | one of the big keys to improving your golf game! |
| players at his academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina. | | | | Therefore, I will increase my attention on stretching |
| Hank has a specific golf swing theory that he is | | | | the upper body as I look to improve my golf swing. |
| confident will allow the golfer to hit the nine main golf | | | | Below are descriptions of the primary stretching |
| shots with consistency, at will. This includes the | | | | exercises I will utilize in improving my flexibility. If you |
| straight shot, with low, medium or high trajectory, a | | | | want to improve your golf game, I suggest you |
| draw with these three trajectories, and a fade with | | | | work on these simple exercises as well! |
| these three trajectories. If a golfer can swing the | | | | Back Stretch - Twist |
| golf club efficiently, he or she should feel comfortable | | | | Lay flat on your back, arms out to sides and palms |
| hitting any one of these shots when the situation | | | | down, with your knees bent and feet flat to the |
| calls for it. | | | | floor. Shift onto your left hip, keeping your back flat |
| Hank's theory is that the club shaft should maintain | | | | to the floor. Lower your knees to the left side, so |
| the same angle throughout the golf swing as its | | | | that the left knee and thigh lay on the floor. Place |
| starting position at address. This is not the so-called | | | | your left hand on your right knee, and pull the right |
| one-plane golf swing. Hank dismisses that idea. | | | | knee down to floor...at the same time your head |
| However, his theory is that the club shaft should | | | | should be turned to the right, facing your right hand. |
| swing on the same plane "angle" on different planes, | | | | Hold for 30 seconds, then slowly switch positions to |
| throughout the golf swing. | | | | the other side. |
| Now, although I always felt I had a pretty good | | | | Lying Down Shoulder Stretch |
| shoulder turn, my lesson with Hank indicated that I | | | | While sitting on the floor, legs stretched out front, |
| was not getting the full shoulder turn I need to | | | | and back straight, interlock your hands on the floor |
| maintain this one plane angle with a full golf swing. | | | | behind your back. Slide your feet forward as far as |
| Instead, my left shoulder would drop slightly, and my | | | | they will go, feeling the stretch in the front of the |
| head would also drop, during the back swing. As a | | | | shoulders. Hold that position for 30 seconds. |
| result, I was not making the full shoulder turn that | | | | Trunk Rotations |
| would allow me to swing the club on the consistent | | | | Hold a staff or a broomstick behind your neck, with |
| shaft angle that Hank indicates will lead to more | | | | your arms outstretched along the staff. At the golf |
| consistent ball striking. Instead, the angle of my club | | | | course, you can do a version of this with your driver, |
| shaft would at times be too flat or too steep, and | | | | with on hand on the grip, and the other down near |
| ultimately I would need to have exceptional timing to | | | | the clubhead. |
| hit the ball straighter. | | | | Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, slowly |
| I've stated in a previous article that flexibility is more | | | | turn your body as far to the left as possible, hold for |
| important than strength for initially trying to add | | | | a second, then slowly twist to the right, as far as |
| distance to your golf game. In trying to make the | | | | possible. Repeat 10 times to each side, and each time |
| fuller shoulder turn that Hank was making me do | | | | try to turn a little further. |
| during my lesson, I realized that I probably need to | | | | Elbow Pull Shoulder Stretch |
| work on stretching my upper body some more. I will | | | | Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, or |
| note that I also have a bit of a neck issue related to | | | | sitting in an upright position with your back straight, |
| a skiing wreck when I was a teenager. As such, this | | | | extend your left arm forward, reach under and |
| may limit how much of a turn I can ultimately make. | | | | slightly behind your left elbow with your right hand, |
| The swing can still be effective if I must make only a | | | | then draw the left arm in toward your body and |
| three-quarter swing, and I can still generate power in | | | | across to the right. You should feel this stretch in the |
| other ways, but I will make a go out of trying to | | | | back and side of your left deltoid muscle of the |
| generate a full swing by increasing my flexibility. | | | | shoulder. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds, then |
| Flexibility is such a key to improving the golf swing, | | | | perform this same stretch with the right shoulder. |