We’re one day away from the 2021 Masters Tournament. Over the past 5-10 years, the golf viewers are noticing a change in golf. The change is professional golfers are looking more ATHLETIC.
Present-day professional golfers are changing the narratives formerly given to the sport. In the past, we’ve seen many overweight players or players who refused to exercise or lift weights. Past players would just play golf and fine-tune that specific skill.
Nowadays, every amateur and professional has several COACHES. Players have both a swing coach and a mobility/strength coach.
6 THINGS TO WATCH FOR THIS MASTERS WEEKEND
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THORACIC SPINE MOBILITY/ROTATIONAL SPEED
No better player to watch than Dustin Johnson. His upper thoracic spine starts in a “rounded” or flexed position and transitions in his backswing to left lateral flexion & rotation as right rotates & extends to his slot position.
2. PELVIC MOBILITY & STABILITY
Here is Rory McIlroy demonstrating at address with his pelvis in a slight posterior tilt and not early extending his pelvis forward at impact. He drags his right pelvis back to load his right hip in backswing and rotates to load left hip through impact position.
3. HIP ROTATION
In the backswing, every single professional player internally rotates their trail hip to load their power and speed. In the transition, the trail hip transfers weight to their lead side hip which internally rotates for the “finish”.
4. SHOULDER ROTATION AND STRENGTH
Here are greats Ernie Els and Tiger Woods demonstrating lead shoulder internal rotation and trail shoulder in external rotation. Trail shoulder external rotation is one of the most important mechanical moves to get the club to shallow in transition and scoop the ball for distance.
ELBOW AND FOREARM STABILITY
Lead arm pronation of elbow is key to keep the club face square at takeaway and maintain through transition of the swing. This is Brooks Koepka showing lead arm elbow extension and pronation throughout his swing. Notice the logo always aimed at ball.
6. FOOT/ANKLE MOBILITY
Every single professional finishes their swing in lead ankle inversion. This is Justin Thomas who has one of the “prettier” finishes in all of golf. The lead ankle will load pressure to inside of ankle in eversion and will transition to inversion through impact of ball into finish. Trail ankle will load pressure into big toe and pivot as right hip extends in rotation.
To wrap up, these are the keys that I want all viewers to look for this Masters Weekend. Should be a blast to watch. If you are looking to level up your golf game and learn how to train and move like a pro schedule a call today for a TPI screen.