Evaluation Findings

Step 3 : Client Evaluation Findings

General Information

For Client: Golfer X
By Golf Pro: Roger Yamanaka
Pro Email Address: roger@rehab2fitness.com
My Golf Fitness Handicap™: 20.8

Mobility

• It is hard for you to increase the arch in your lower back from golf posture.  This is usually a sign that you already have too much arch in your lower back at set up.  We call this an S-posture.  Causes can be weakness in the abdominals and glutes and tightness in the hip flexors and lower back.
• You have difficulty rotating your lower body independent of your upper body. This can prevent you from initiating the downswing with a proper sequence and limit the coil (x-factor stretch) between your upper and lower body.
• It is hard for you to rotate your lower body independently from your upper body.  You tend to shift your pelvis laterally instead of rotating around your spine.  We need to work on the coordination of this movement since it may cause sequencing problems on the downswing.
• You are having a hard time rotating your upper body around your lower body in both directions due to mobility limitations.  This can lead to excessive lateral sway during the backswing, loss of trunk posture during the backswing, and faulty swing planes.  Plus, it can cause your hips to outrace your trunk during the downswing and cause you to come out of your posture.
• It is tough for you to perform a full deep squat while keeping your heels on the ground.  Because of this limitation, maintaining a flexed, stable posture during the downswing becomes close to impossible.
• You have good flexibility in both calves. If there is any limitation in your squat mechanics it is probably due to your core muscles not stabilizing your pelvis properly during the squat. To maintain or develop a better squat, focus on core stabilization exercises while trying to perform a good deep squat.
• You do a great job of evenly distributing your weight between your right and left side during routine movements, like performing a squat.
• You have great flexibility in your forward bend mechanics. In other words, you can bend forward and touch your toes with your knees locked. Believe it or not, this is a big plus in golf since it allows you to get into a good set up posture by bending from the hips and not modifying your spine posture at the same time.
• You have 161-170 degrees of flexion in your lat muscle on the right.  Normal range of motion on the PGA Tour is over 180 degrees.  Any limitation in the right lat can limit your ability to rotate your trunk around your lower body past impact and it can cause your right arm to be restricted through your finish.
• You have 161-170 degrees of flexion in your lat muscle on the left.  Normal range of motion on the PGA Tour is over 180 degrees.  Tightness in this muscle can lead to loss of spinal posture as the arms are elevated during the backswing.  Plus, this can restrict your overall shoulder turn during the backswing.
• You have less than 60 degrees of internal rotation (rotating your leg inwards) on the right.  Normal internal rotation on the PGA Tour is over 60 degrees.  Any reduction in internal rotation on the right can lead to an inability to rotate around your hip on the backswing (sway).
• You have less than 60 degrees of external rotation (rotating your leg outwards) on the right.  Normal external rotation on the PGA Tour is over 60 degrees.  Any reduction in external rotation on the right can lead to an inability to rotate your pelvis open on the downswing.
• You have less than 60 degrees of internal rotation (rotating your leg inwards) on the left.  Normal internal rotation on the PGA Tour is over 60 degrees.  Any reduction in internal rotation on the left can lead to an inability to rotate your pelvis open on the downswing.
• You have less than 60 degrees of external rotation (rotating your leg outwards) on the left.  Normal external rotation on the PGA Tour is over 60 degrees.  Any reduction in external rotation on the left can lead to an inability to rotate your pelvis on the backswing.
• You still have good mobility rotating you thoracic spine to the right when your shoulder blades are stabilized.  Normal right rotation is over 45 degrees on the PGA Tour and you had more than 45 degrees.  This will help you get a full shoulder turn and maintain a good stable posture during your backswing.
• You still have good mobility rotating you thoracic spine to the left when your shoulder blades are stabilized. Normal left rotation is over 45 degrees on the PGA Tour and you had over 45 degrees.  This should help you get a full shoulder turn through impact and maintain a good stable posture during your swing.
• The total external rotation in your left shoulder is over 90 degrees while standing tall. The average range of motion for players on the PGA Tour is over 90 degrees.  You have good external rotation in your left shoulder, which should allow you to rotate your left arm properly through impact and the follow through.
• You maintain the degree of external rotation in your right shoulder when getting into your golf posture.  Some people tend to lose their total range of motion in their shoulder due to lack of stability in their shoulder blades when bending from the waist.

Stability

• You tend to lose the ability to fully externally rotate your left shoulder when getting into your golf posture.  This is usually due to lack of stability in the shoulder blade on the left when bending from the waist.  In other words, your left shoulder blade tends to move or shift excessively when you get into golf posture and this directly limits the total range of motion in the shoulder joint itself.
• We tested your right gluteal strength in what is called a bridge position.  It was very difficult for you to stabilize your pelvis in this position, which indicates a weakness in the right glute max.  Right glute weakness can cause instability in your right leg during the backswing and limited power on the downswing.
• We tested your left gluteal strength in what is called a bridge position.  It was very difficult for you to stabilize your pelvis in this position, which indicates a weakness in the left glute max.  Left glute weakness can cause instability in your left leg during the downswing.
• The total external rotation in your right shoulder is over 90 degrees while standing tall. The average range of motion for players on the PGA Tour is over 90 degrees.  You have good external rotation in your right shoulder, which should allow you to set the club and rotate your right arm into any position that you want during the backswing.
• When testing your ability to tilt your pelvis back and forth we noticed some vibration and shaky movement in your abdominals.  This usually means that those muscles are not used to activating in this fashion and may be slightly weak.

Balance

• We tested your ability to stand on your right leg only with your eyes closed.  This is testing a trait called proprioception or your “feel balance” on the right side of your body.  You could only stand for less than 5 seconds before having to open your eyes.  25 seconds is considered good balance for the elite golfer.   This limited balance on your right side can limit your ability to load into your right side or cause you to lose stability during the backswing.
• We tested your ability to stand on your left leg only with your eyes closed.  This is testing a trait called proprioception or your “feel balance” on the left side of your body.  You could only stand for less than 5 seconds before having to open your eyes.  25 seconds is considered good balance for the elite golfer.   This limited balance on your left side can limit your ability to post into your left side or cause you to avoid your left side during the downswing.

Posture

• You don’t have enough arch in your lower back at set up. This can put excessive stress on your lower back and limit the flexibility of your spine during the swing.