Tag: golf body warmup

Elbow Plane Line

Bryan Pate

Let’s talk about the Elbow Plane Line (Click for YouTube Video).  This line is not the fix all line but is a good reference point.  If you are looking for exact you will need to line up your camera in the correct spot where the camera is hand height and perpendicular to the target line.  I use it as a good enough line because my preference is to film at chest high just in front of the toe line.

Let’s take a look how I add the line.  You can see in the above photo how I take the swing to impact then draw a line up form the hosel and out the back of the shaft.  The reason for impact shaft line is the shaft rises from setup and the dynamic movements of the swing.  When taken back to setup the line roughly goes through the right elbow (7iron pictured).  I tend to have low hands at setup and always working on getting them higher and when focusing on it feel like they are on this line.  Looks like I need to work on some setup pieces.

Screen Shot 2019-01-15 at 6.48.27 PM.pngThis is a general reference line that we can use to see if the club from the top is working towards the line or away form the line.  Below photo I added a dot to where the club head was at the top of the swing then where it went to in transition.  The left photo moved towards the line and down where the right moved away and across the ball. screen shot 2019-01-15 at 6.29.22 pm

Here they are at at P6 or shaft parallel.  Left going down the line and right staying above.Screen Shot 2019-01-15 at 6.44.30 PM.png

Here is just after impact you can see the club stay on the line on the left and the right where it came from above it went left and under the line.Screen Shot 2019-01-15 at 6.46.08 PM.png

A club that is traveling more along the line will usually have a stronger impact than one that is working too much form under or above.  Those clubs will be producing more of a glancing blow.

For the direct link to the YouTube channel click below:

Rotate to Balance

Bryan Pate

Balance is key in golf.  Turn on the tv and you will not see players moving all over the place, falling forward, back, and around at the finish.  The reason for this is it keeps the swing direction and impact more predictable.  If you are falling back that can move the swing direction more left and land the club too far behind the ball.  Click Here for the YouTube clip on this blog.

Here is a good drill I learned from Martin Chuck at the TourStriker Academy located at the Raven in Phoenix, AZ.  Place your club across your thigh and put some pressure into both legs.  Keep this pressure constant into the finish.  See the above photo for the start and finish.

In the below are to finishes for comparison.  The left photo we see often with the golfer finishing with too much pressure on their trail foot.  This keeps the center over the ball and the low point back too far.  What we want to see if on the right.  The golfer is standing on their left foot, 95% of their pressure is on the target side of the ball line, and there is just enough pressure on the back foot so they don’t fall over.  Can also see that the back of the rear is on the ball line.  This is a good check point to hold and assess where you are, how it feels, and how it looks.

screen shot 2019-01-15 at 7.06.29 pm

Start small and grow your swing.  For the YouTube video direct link click below:

Pre-Round Body Warmup

Bryan Pate

How often do you see players arrive to the course, check in, and head straight to the driving range to begin taking full swings with their mid iron or driver?  Maybe you are one of those individuals.  Players that play for a living warm up their body before warming up their swing for the round.  This could be anywhere form a few minutes in the hotel or at the course all the way to a full hour workout.  In 2018 Brooks Koepka warmed up for his final round at the PGA Championship with a full length 1 hour consisting of cardio and back & triceps and treated it like any other day.  That is not for everyone but a lot of high level golfers will use bands, light weights, and some cardio to get their body ready to preform for the day.

Now let’s get real, we do not have time to spend that long to warm up before we start to hit balls before our round.  Due to life, kids, and obligations some days it is lucky we are at the course at all and have 30-60 minutes to warm up.  For most the week consisted of sitting in a car driving 5-60+ minutes to work, doing the 9-5+ behind a computer at a desk, driving back home, sitting down for dinner, then some tv, and finally call it a day.  That is a lot of siting and stationary positions throughout the day let alone the week.  Now were are asking our bodies to move in different directions, do it quick, and at the expense of not losing our balance so we can find the middle of the club and preform to our high expectations.

What can we do to play better in that limited time without trying to carve out more time in a busy life?  Go to the course with a game plan.  When you get there have a routine you can do to get everything done in the amount of time you have.  Heck, have a few options for when you only have 15 minutes, 30-45 minutes, and a full hour or more.  Now let’s look at the body prep or warmup for the day and the areas that should be targeted.  Starting from the head down the joints that need to be loosened up are the neck, wrists, shoulders, t-spine or upper back, hips, and ankles.  When starting out begin with single plane movements before they become complex.  An example would be warming up the hips and before going into full swing motions start with reaching down towards your toes then up to the sky.  This will get the hips moving, back moving, neck moving, and you’r balance going.

Before coming up with what you need, since everyone is different and have their own limitations, take a look at my latest YouTube video going through some movements CLICK HERE. Come up with a little routine you like, hits all the areas, and can spend a little extra time here or there where you feel the tightest.  Time yourself and see if it is in-between 5-10 minutes so you know how long it will take.  Once you get a little routine that takes a few minutes do it once a day so your body get moving not only on game day but every day.  This way you will not be shocking the system by only doing it just before the round.

As you start to feel better do that 5-10 minute routine in the morning and afternoon.  Not asking you to become a Yoga freak but a little time here and there will add up over time.  10 minutes a day adds up to 70 minutes a week.  If you have the time I would highly recommend doing a Yoga class once or twice a week.  They can walk you through different positions, teach you about breathing, and find stretches to add into your routine.  This is not a fix over night for a body that has been stationary for so long but it is a start to moving better.  Do 5-10 minutes a day or every other day for a few months and see how you feel.  Your body will thank you and don’t stop there… keep going.

YouTube link for the full length video: https://youtu.be/UceXiLO7sHo or  CLICK HERE

YouTube link to the 5 minute follow along clip: https://youtu.be/6UUT4XmcXwM or CLICK HERE

YouTube link to an extended 9 minute follow along video clip: https://youtu.be/-UZskYBa0-U or CLICK HERE