Recently, there has been a high demand for tips on improving your golf game, TAD-style. First and foremost, it's essential to clarify that I am neither a golf pro nor deeply knowledgeable about golf theory. Instead, I'm here to share ideas that have yielded positive results in addressing the concerns of golf enthusiasts as a massage therapist for 30 years.
Why can an amateur discuss ways to improve at golf? It's because issues that can't be resolved despite receiving professional golf lessons or avidly studying golf theory for decades often find a higher likelihood of improvement with a different approach, such as the TAD method, based on my experience.
The rationale lies in the fact that the inability to perform well despite possessing accurate technical knowledge stems not from technical issues but often from the physical condition that hinders movement.
Your golfing problems might find a shortcut to improvement by incorporating the TAD approach.
- Head-Up Issue
In golf swings, maintaining a consistent head position without deviation forms the basis for creating a clean rotation trajectory. Lifting the head can lead to unstable impact due to the fluctuation in the distance between the ball and the eyes. While it sounds simple not to move the head during the swing, beginners often struggle with this issue. Despite well-intentioned advice from others, the individual might resist, feeling that they understand the matter best.
In this case, the challenge lies in the fact that although the person intellectually comprehends the need not to lift the head, their body fails to execute it. Thus, repeatedly pointing out the head-up issue without addressing the underlying reasons is unlikely to lead to improvement.
The common cause in such instances is the tension in the back or hips, creating discomfort in maintaining the required forward-leaning posture during the swing. Head lifting becomes a defensive response to avoid this discomfort. Treating the tension in the lower back and hips can quickly resolve the urge to lift the head.
- Opening of the Right Armpit Issue
When the right armpit opens during a golf swing, it can result in an unstable swing trajectory or cause the golf club face to open, leading to ball deviations. Conventional methods, such as placing an object under the armpit to prevent it from opening, often yield limited success. In this scenario, the issue arises from the inability to twist the body during the initial movement to initiate the swing. Stiff muscles hindering hip rotation and conditioning around the shoulder blades impeding shoulder movement can be addressed for instant results.
The improvements from addressing these issues include extended driving distances with the driver and enhanced ball control around the green.
Efficient improvement in golf skills involves identifying whether the problem lies in technical aspects or physical conditions. If weeks of practice don't lead to improvement despite understanding the technique intellectually, there's a high chance that the issue stems from the body's condition.
Inability to move the body effectively, hindering progress no matter how much one practices, is a challenge not exclusive to golf but prevalent in various sports and dances.
For instance, a principal dancer at the Canadian National Ballet Company has struggled with a recurring pain in her right leg for about a decade, affecting the final movement of lifting the leg backward. Even with dedicated support from the company's therapists, the issue persisted. Understanding the body's limitations and working to eliminate discomfort has proven more effective than focusing solely on lifting the leg.
Considering the conditioning challenges faced by soccer players expected to shine in the World Cup Qatar 2022, it's intriguing why top-notch team trainers have difficulty addressing their physical imbalances.
In supporting professional soccer players and ballet dancers from the Canadian National Ballet Company, I've noticed that the conditioning methods I consistently use are not commonly employed. It's not that the therapy rooms of the ballet company or the approach of professional soccer team trainers are incorrect; rather, there are significant differences in the areas of concern and approach methods.
As my successful results supporting dancers and soccer players have gained recognition over the years, a collaborative system has emerged where therapists from the ballet company's treatment room directly refer individuals suited to my approach. I plan to share the key points of the TAD approach that have earned appreciation from professional therapists, accompanied by real stories.
I aim to provide help for improvement in all sports, dances, and beyond, not limited to golf.