Foot Power for GolfAccording to the article written by William H. Breland, Golfers like many others tend to neglect the strengthening of the ankle, the most injured body part of an athlete. Actually, golfers need to strengthen the stabilizing muscles that prevent rolling in and out. Strengthening of ankle muscles is very significant to them in maintaining positions that establish balance, and to create a powerful and efficient golf swing.When golfer allows body weight to move outside during a backswing, the neutral position of his ankle that was established at address, a power leak is created, which becomes a challenge to transfer weight in the forward swing with any consistency. This side dislocation of weight may occur as a compensatory move due to hip inflexibility, or even caused by weakness of the muscles that slope your ankle up on the little toe side. Your ankle position of the forward foot (closest to your target) could be a major factor in successful delivery of power at impact. When a great force is created from your feet upward, your ankle should hold fast to its neutral position. At this moment, strength of the ankle evertors becomes a major factor as your body mass quickly rotates and moves toward the target. When your ankles are strong and better trained, you can deliver at impact, more power and better your ability to maintain proper spine angles. You are also more effectively to resist compensatory moves in the swing. You may perform this as an exercise and hitting drill, in order to gain strength, improve footwork, establish better golf resorts balance and increase swing power as you move from the backswing, into your forward swing, to impact and to the finish position. The Exercise: While taking your normal position, strive to maintain a “flared up” position with each foot as you hit a golf ball with a shortened half swing.As you move toward impact the back foot, naturally move out of the starting position as the heel leaves the ground to establish the normal follow through position. Just beyond impact the forward foot will flatten, but your weight should not be transferred to the outside of the foot. This exercise has to be repeated with 10 to 20 swings or until your leg muscles fatigue to the point of not being able to adequately hold your feet in the proper flared positions. Keep proper spine angles during your swing and maintain a good solid position of the back knee; and during backswing rotate your center of gravity within the balance zone, and accelerate through impact just as you would in a normal swing. |