Have you ever noticed how the guy standing in line ahead of you has his head tipped to one side or one of his shoulders is tilted up a little bit higher than the other one? Looking more closely you might even notice that one of his hips is also raised up above the level of the other one and maybe even one foot is flared out.
Some people might notice these things and just say "So what... or who cares?..."
What is significant about your posture is that it is something of a window into your performance.
If you’re a golfer and one takes it at least somewhat seriously you’ll want to keep reading this -
When you’re playing golf (or many other sports for that matter), your form is all-important. In golf for example, it is of utmost importance that when you bring the golf club behind you preparing to swing at the ball, that you be able to rotate your shoulders a full 90 degrees to the right and then as you swing at the ball you must be able to swing fully through 180 degrees to the left.
That said, if your left hip and / or left shoulder is elevated above the level of the right one - you can’t bring your shoulder or the club fully to the right as you prepare to swing at the ball.
Can’t be done.
Sure - you can force it but you won’t do it properly. If it doesn’t actually hurt you it will, at the very least, be hindering and throwing off your swing.
And when you then bring your hand (and club) down as you swing - you are forced to twist your arms and hands and... you slice
If your left shoulder is elevated above the right one - that means that your neck is most likely inclining (maybe only slightly), to the left.
That means that when you swing the club to hit the ball and also rotate your head while you swing...you’re at risk of injuring your neck because your neck is leaning to the side while you’re attempting to rotate it.
Yes - you might be able to do it (and you probably do it every Saturday), but it will likely be hindering and, at the very least, throwing off your swing.
How's your swing? Is it so good and consistent that you can afford to have anything at all wrong with it?
And these are just a few of many different postural imbalances that are possible -
How do you think imbalances like these will affect your game? ...your back ?
How is it affecting the speed, power and consistency of your swing?
Also - If you cannot (mechanically) swing as far as you want to, but you try and go for it anyway - do you think there’s a chance you’ll pull something and hurt yourself?
You betcha - this is where a majority of golf related back injuries come from.
Imbalances first - poor scores and injuries later
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