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John Steinbreder, GolfersMD News
Apr 05, 2010
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According to GolfersMD expert Bob Donatelli, hip muscles play a couple of key roles in the golf swing, and if properly conditioned can help players be square at impact – and be longer and more accurate.
“During the takeaway, right-handed golfers will find that control of the left hip external rotators will help them avoid sway or over-rotation,” he says. “And the best way to ensure that, and to keep that hip from collapsing, is to strengthen the muscles there. The left leg should be a pillar, a stable base, and that can also help ease stress on the knee and the lower back.”
As for the right hip, Donatelli point to the posterior muscles as being important for controlling the amount of torque in a golfer’s trunk, and the amount of power he is able to generate in his swing. “These are the muscles that help generate club head speed, which is directly related to driving distance,” he explains.
Donatelli recommends a pair of exercises to build up strength in the hip. (See video.) The first enhances external mobility of the hip as it also lengthens the muscles by doing a form of leg lifts, with a weight attached to the anchor leg. As for the second exercise, Donatelli focuses on the abductor muscles.
“The idea is to improve control on one side and power on the other,” he concludes. “And if you can do both, you can certainly build up your distance and accuracy.”
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