The science behind the golf swing

The golf swing begins in the positioning stage. This stage is the position that the golfer places their body in to begin the swing. According to Glenn Fleisig MD, the address position is a functional body position which includes the proper grip and body position. A balanced, "athletic" address position, which is consistent swing to swing, will provide the golfer with the correct starting position for the swing. Inconsistency in either how the body is set up or with the grip leads to inconsistency on shot to shot. The body in terms of muscle activity is fairly low at address. The muscles of the body are supporting the body in a specific anatomical position and preparing it to swing a club.

The back swing (take away) is when the body begins to move the club. The back swing is the portion of the swing that places the body in the correct position to begin the downswing. During the entire back swing the body begins the recruitment of energy that will be transitioned at the top of the back swing towards the ball. Key points from a biomechanical analysis of the back swing are: as the club moves backwards shear force is applied to anterior portion of the right foot, at the same time a posterior shear force is applied to the left foot (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). This is the beginning of torque development in the body that will be transitioned into the club head at impact. Rotation of the knees, hips, spine, and shoulders continues during the back swing creating additional torque to be translated into the club head in later stages of the swing. The important point to remember in the back swing is that the entire rotation of these body parts occurs around an imaginary axis of the body. EMG activity is moderate during this stage of the swing as a result that the body during this portion of the swing is essentially creating/storing energy that will be released towards the end of the swing.

The completion of the back swing is what is termed the "transition" stage of the swing. The transition point of the swing is where the body finishes its backward movement and begins the forward movement of the swing. The best reference point of when the transition stage of the swing begins is when weight shift onto the inside of the right foot (right-handed golfer) is completed and movement back towards the left foot begins. The transition in terms of a time frame is very short and is completed when weight transfer begins to move forward, and the club completes its movement backwards. Research states that the transition of the swing is where additional elastic energy is stored within the body. This is a result of the lower body moving forward and the upper body still "coiling" backward. Studies show that at the completion of the transition (top of the back swing) the hips are closed to approximately 45 degrees and the shoulders are closed to about 100 degrees (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf).

After completion of the transition, the down swing into impact begins. Weight shift continues during the down swing. The generation of torque is created in the lower body and then transitioned up through the body into the club and eventually the club head. According to Fleisig, the majority of torque in the swing is generated by the lower body muscle groups of the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and core region (low back, abdominals, obliques). The torque created in the lower body creates acceleration in the upper body as energy is transferred into the club head. EMG studies indicate that there is moderate activity of the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and rotator cuff muscles (Geisler, Kinesiology of the Full Golf Swing) during the downswing. The downswing is complete at the point in which impact occurs with the golf ball.

Impact with the ball occurs for approximately half a milli-second (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). The purpose of impact is to hit the ball in the correct direction with the chosen amount of force by the golfer. At impact the weight transfer is complete. Shear force from both feet are towards the intended target. Research indicates that at impact the left foot (right-handed golfer) is supporting 80% to 95% of the golfer's weight (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). Impact again occurs for a very short amount of time (.0005 seconds). Impact is the point at which the potential energy created by the body during the back swing, transition, and down swing is transferred into the club and club head. The potential energy created by the body is then transferred into kinetic energy as club head comes into contact with the ball.

After contact, the impact stage of the swing is complete and the follow through stage begins. The follow through is essentially the deceleration of the body after contact with the ball has been made. This is completed through the body rotating to a completion point where the club head is behind the golfer. Deceleration by the body occurs as a result of the absorption of energy back up through the kinetic chain of the body. Follow through is where the body slows itself back down and dissipates all the kinetic energy create by it, which was not delivered into the ball.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter's baseball career has been a fruitful one indeed, as he has managed, in only 15 years, to become one of the greatest baseball players alive. This is not the only article of this kind, as you can most probably find a Derek Jeter biography over the Internet, if you would simply write Derek Jeter on Google. Nonetheless, I am going to talk a bit about the key parts in his career so that you can see the evolution of Derek Jeter, both as a man and as a player.

Born on June 26, 1974, Derek Jeter, son of Charles and Dorothy, quickly developed his innate ability for sports. Since his father worked as a drug/alcohol abuse counselor, Derek's life was a healthy one, kept away from vice and unhealthy diets. In 1992 he joined the Minor Leagues and struggled for three years to advance until, in 1995, be caught a break and was given a spot in the Major Leagues. This is a special moment for Derek, as he in now playing with the big boys, training harder and better.

From 1995 to 1999 Derek went on a winning streak, as his batting average kept rising and he helped his team go through many hardships and gaining many victories. However, in 2000, he won the Derek Jeter World Series award and, later on, became one of the few players to ever own both an All Star Game MVP award and a World Series MVP award for the same season. In 2004 he suffered a shoulder injury and his game started to fade away easily, as his recovery went along quite slow. Even though Derek was injured, he kept on playing and helped the New York Yankees rack up several points in the championships they got to play and even secure a few titles.

His reputation grew stronger and endorsement deals came along, as he even helped release a baseball training machine to the market: the Derek Jeter batting trainer. The machine resembled his initial training apparatus and was designed to help children all around the country improve they swinging arm, while increasing both their batting average and strength.

Derek Jeter is, for the moment, considered to be one of the best players of his generation. He is the all-time hit leader among the position of shortstops and his.317 career batting average, for the 2009 season, ranks him as the fifth-highest among active players. He has been among the American League (AL) leaders in hit counts and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, passing the Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig, in the year of 2009

The Derek Jeter Attitude

All coaches should be happy if they have players that take the same mental approach to baseball as Jeter does. Here I take three Derek Jeter quotes that I feel reflect the proper mental attitude for any player at any level to have toward the game.

Quote #1 This quote reflects Jeter's thoughts about the importance of having fun and enjoying the game.

"You have got to have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we are playing a game. It is a business, it is our job, but I do not think you can do well unless you are having fun." Derek Jeter

It is refreshing to see a Major League Baseball All-Star like Jeter feels that having fun should be a priority. I feel that more players, coaches, and parents should share that same sentiment. Many coaches and players forget the fact that baseball is just a game and games are meant to be played for fun!

Quote #2 This quote shows that Jeter values defensive play and pitching as keys to winning.

"That is how you win - pitching and defense." Derek Jeter

This quote is coming from one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball History, yet he is makes it clear that he considers pitching and defense the keys to winning. Maybe some coaches and players should put more emphasis on the defensive aspects of the game.

Quote #3 This quote reflects how important Jeter thinks it is to keep working and improving. This quote shows the importance of staying focused and staying "hungry".

"We just want to win. That is the bottom line. I think a lot of times people may become content with one championship or a little bit of success, but we do not really reflect on what we have done in the past. We focus on the present."Derek Jeter

As you can see from Jeter's quotes, he does not put himself or his success above the game or his team. He shows a commitment to continue improving and working hard. His love for the game is obvious. He is an inspiration to anyone that watches him play

Derek Jeter

Born on June 26, 1974, Derek Jeter, son of Charles and Dorothy, quickly developed his innate ability for sports. Since his father worked as a drug/alcohol abuse counselor, Derek's life was a healthy one, kept away from vice and unhealthy diets. In 1992 he joined the Minor Leagues and struggled for three years to advance until, in 1995, be caught a break and was given a spot in the Major Leagues. This is a special moment for Derek, as he in now playing with the big boys, training harder and better.

From 1995 to 1999 Derek went on a winning streak, as his batting average kept rising and he helped his team go through many hardships and gaining many victories. However, in 2000, he won the Derek Jeter World Series award and, later on, became one of the few players to ever own both an All Star Game MVP award and a World Series MVP award for the same season. In 2004 he suffered a shoulder injury and his game started to fade away easily, as his recovery went along quite slow. Even though Derek was injured, he kept on playing and helped the New York Yankees rack up several points in the championships they got to play and even secure a few titles.

His reputation grew stronger and endorsement deals came along, as he even helped release a baseball training machine to the market: the Derek Jeter batting trainer. The machine resembled his initial training apparatus and was designed to help children all around the country improve they swinging arm, while increasing both their batting average and strength.

Derek Jeter is, for the moment, considered to be one of the best players of his generation. He is the all-time hit leader among the position of shortstops and his.317 career batting average, for the 2009 season, ranks him as the fifth-highest among active players. He has been among the American League (AL) leaders in hit counts and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, passing the Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig, in the year of 2009.

Tiger Woods discusses how he feels

— Tiger Woods was on the practice range just as the sun began to rise Tuesday over Firestone, his first time on a PGA Tour golf course in nearly three months.

Even as the season heads toward a conclusion, Woods can't wait to get started.

"I'm excited to compete, to play," Woods said. "And hopefully, to win the tournament." Championship (May): withdrew after nine holes
That part about

It's everything else in the world of golf he once ruled that is so much different. Woods showed up at this week's Bridgestone Invitational at No. 28, his lowest world ranking since the start of his first full season on the PGA Tour. He has a new caddie — at least temporarily — in Bryon Bell, a childhood friend who heads up a design business that is not getting much work these days with a downturn in the industry.

He no longer is the dominant force in golf, having gone 20 months since his last win at the Australian Masters.

For Woods, however, the biggest change is how he feels about his health.

"The great thing is I don't feel a thing," Woods said. "It feels solid. It feels stable. No pain. That's one of the reasons why I took as long as I did to come back, is that I want to get to this point where I can go ahead and start playing golf again like this. It's been a very long time, and it feels good to go out there today and hit balls like this, go practice and feel nothing and walk around and pretty much do anything I want on the golf course."

Asked how long it has been since he felt so good physically, Woods replied, "Years."