Whether you’re a beginner at the game of golf or you’ve been
playing for years, chances are you would like to hit the ball
farther and straighter, lower your scores, beat your friends more
often and avoid injuring yourself in the process. Certainly, there
is no shortage of tips from the Internet, magazines, your
instructor or a sharp-tongued caddy, but if you really want to
improve your game -- with almost no effort -- you might want to
look to the East. I’m talking about applying a little ancient
Chinese wisdom to your golf.
Jeffrey Zimmerman is a doctor of Oriental medicine, licensed
acupuncturist and founder of Body/Motion/Energy Harmonetics, LLC,
in Westport, Connecticut. After treating numerous patients who gave
up golf because of shoulder, knee and neck problems, Zimmerman
began to look closely into what was happening.
What golfers are doing
wrong: Zimmerman listed for me a litany of bad
practices. "Golfers are taught to put their weight on their heels
or their toes -- neither is good. They overrotate, trying too hard
to hit the ball. They’re told to 'grip the club harder' when that
might not be their problem. They’re taught that the more taut your
body is, the more power you have to hit the ball. What golfers are
not taught is the one thing that will help them to both improve
their golf game and protect their joints -- and that is to
find effortlessness." In other words, most golfer’s
bodies and movements are simply out of harmony as they swing their
clubs.
EFFORTLESS GOLF?
Zimmerman drew on his own expertise as a professional
musician, martial arts practitioner and acupuncturist to come up
with the principles to achieve effortlessness, which is the basis
for the coaching techniques he uses in Body Harmonetics...
- Balance. This
is the foundation upon which everything else flows. Before you can
do anything, your balance must be firmly established. Think of the
slow, careful movements of tai chi, which emanate from a completely
centered stance.
- Harmony and
rhythm. Just as musicians in an orchestra synchronize
their playing to create a beautiful symphony, the body moves best
when all its joints and muscles are aligned and moving in harmony
with each other in a smooth, repeatable and rhythmic
sequence.
- Energy. The
essence of Chinese medicine is to recognize where the energy in the
body is blocked and then to free it.
When golfers apply all three elements to their golf swings,
they then can perform, in Zimmerman’s words, "effortlessly and
excellently."
FIRST, FIND YOUR PLUMB LINE
To start establishing proper balance, you must first find your
"plumb line" -- this is the imaginary line extending from the top
of your head to the bottom of your feet around which you are
completely centered -- not leaning with your weight on your toes or
heels but on the balls of your feet, and not leaning to either
side. When you have found your plumb line, you will know it --
there will be no tension in your body.
When you address the ball before a swing, the plumb line
establishes the path of least resistance. (For more on how to find
your plumb line, see
Daily Health News, "Feel-Great
Posture,"
April 26,
2010.)
SIX HARMONY CHECKPOINTS FOR YOUR BEST GOLF GAME
Now that you’ve found how to position your body so that it is
totally relaxed, you’re ready to begin to play better golf. These
six positions help you establish the proper form, sequence and
timing to maximize your game while minimizing your effort...
1. Relax into your joints: Address the ball by
maintaining your plumb line as you relax your ankles, knees and
hips to gently sink down so your club is aligned with the golf
ball.
2. Transfer weight: Maintaining this position of
effortlessness, transfer your weight to your back foot. Find your
balance point on this foot (just below the ball of the foot) -- as
the club moves with the body and you transfer your weight. This
actually is the first part of the two-part backswing.
3. Rotate: Once you have found the proper
balance on your back foot, your body can rotate with very little
effort. Allow your club to flow with you as you transfer your
balance to the back foot and begin the second part of your
backswing by rotating your waist approximately 45 degrees. With
practice, this rotation will raise your arms to the point where
they are approximately level with your
heart. Note: If you feel tension in any part of
your body, you’ve lifted your club too high. Also, if you are not
in the proper place on your back foot, you’ll feel tension as you
rotate. If you notice this, start again and practice finding the
tension-free position until you get it right nearly every
time.
4. Strike: Now, hit the ball! As your club makes
contact with the ball, you will want to be right back in the
"address" position for that brief moment just before your follow
through. In other words, you will want your weight to be balanced
in your center once again as you move your club through the
ball.
5. Shift forward: After contact, let your weight
transfer to your front foot, finding the same balance point as you
did on your back foot -- ideally, this looks like the mirror image
of position 2.
6. Follow through: Rotate your body as you
follow through your golf swing while maintaining your balance
points, essentially creating a mirror image of your backswing,
making sure it is easy and effortlessness throughout.
Once you’ve achieved complete effortlessness by applying these
checkpoints, you’ll free up your natural energy from any
constriction. This will allow you to hit the ball farther and
straighter... you will feel the difference and your golf game will
improve. As soon as you are comfortable with the feel of the
checkpoints, just play.