"The Golf Specific Functional Testing and Golf Drill System to Enhance Correct Swing Patterns in your Lesson Plan"

By Ramsay McMaster, and
Mark Holland Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport Golf Unit

Key Words:

Introduction

It is clear to see that after databasing over 4000 golfers and working closely with PGA Professionals specific patterns are common in golf swings. In assessing poor swing patterns in golfers and matching them up against their musculo-skeletal screenings, we have found that specific physiological breakdown can cause technical problems or inhibit technical improvement.

From this information we have produced a Functional Testing System which can be used to confirm diagnosis of these patterns.

Breakdowns within these functional tests would confirm that the golfer has physiological breakdowns in their body which can inhibit or restrict the ability to maintain good form when practicing or trying to improve technically.

The functional tests are graded from level 1-6. At each level a four point system is put into place to identify common breakdowns. Obviously, the less points accumulated, the less the breakdowns in that functional position.

Examples of the four breakdowns are seen in the paper on the A4 worksheets. If there is a consistent inability to reduce the point system, physiotherapy, massage and myotherapy intervention is recommended to ensure quality of movement and positioning in each test is achieved. This in turn should enable the golfer to achieve and maintain good technical positions by perfoming the test which then becomes a golf specific exercise.

The golfer can then move from a base level to a more difficult level of the same functional test and keep improving once they have good patterns of movement and have good associated physiological form within their diagnostic drills. This will, through their specificity, produce golf specific exercises moving golfers away from generic exercises which have minimal relevance to coaching and the golfer's swing.

Results have shown the following positive outcomes: