Diagnose your Golf Injuries; #1 Most Popular Golf Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[coalminer11984]

Shawn,

Check out ur forum for something pertaining to this......

Thanks

[gaiusdrusus]

get the body out of the way exercises? my wrist would be ever so grateful :-)

[Mayxssnce]

is that because its a new sensation i've never felt before, poor technique, vibration from hitting the ground before i hit the ball, or all of the above, please give me your insight on this matter it would be tremendous help to my game, thanks.

[Mayxssnce]

Hi Shawn, I just started playing golf, and I've been playing for 3 week so far. I've been to the range 2 or 3 times a week plus have already played 2 full rounds of golf so far and going on to my 3rd. I'm a right handed golfer, and what i've noticed since i started playing is that my left hand on the pink joint right underneath my pinky nuckle and on the outer side of the pinky joint hurts like crazy. It hurts to touch and sometimes sends shocks through the top of my hand up to my middle finger

[GolfDegenerate]

Hi Shawn, I'm a right-handed player and after hitting many balls, swinging hard, or especially when swinging with the driver my left shoulder blade and the muscles around it like the teres major, minor and upper lats on my left side get really stiff and sore. It could be because I use my left side to bring the club through even though I'm right hand dominant. Could you give me your analysis on what I might be doing wrong so I can stop that pain? Thanks, David

[ssgolf37]

actually none of andy and mikes players have never missed a tournament due to an injury

[clemshaw]

I have met both and have taught side by side with them; not a fan as it is still positional stuff; and if you want to get defensive, why are all your tour pros leaving?? Mr. King of S&T "Badds" is long gone and doing Leadbetter and Flick drills; you guys have a lot more tweaking to do!

[yusailo]

@clemshaw

Mike Wier recently has forsaken the S&T, too. There's a brief article about it along with swing sequence in a recent Golf Digest magazine.

[clemshaw]

Yes; saw that! Mike did very well in the matchplay today winning 8 and 6! I was Director at Taboo for 3 years when Mike and Mike were working together and was very impressed with the way he was hitting it then; I knew we were in for something very special in 2003 and I was right! :) That man can play! Shawn

[flowerdrop1]

is it true stack and tilt will hurt your back the most?

[clemshaw]

The thing about the "standing up" move they have in the follow through is in reaction to the "out of balance" downward move they get into on the downswing from the collapse in the left knee that bends forward in the backswing...they over tilt towards the target in the backswing and then have to tilt back away from the target in the downswing which when overdone will put pressure on the lower back...Thanks for the question! Shawn

[ssgolf37]

just so everyone is clear in the S&T swing we do not want the knees to remained flexed on the follow through and finish. the knees release their flex and the legs are straight which take all the stress off the lower lumbar. which puts less stress on the lower back

[clemshaw]

We know; and many non tour pro students who take positional instruction too literally have hurt themselves; tour pros have instinctive athleticism that the average desk jockey does not; Shawn

[ogringolf78130]

Makes perfect sense to me

[omelihu]

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for a great dvd and video series. You've given me a zest for understanding more about the human body in relation to golf. I noticed that my breathing during the backswing is irregular and hence I tend to tense up during the downswing. Do you have any advice about breathing tips during the swing?

[tsmith109]

Shawn, How about one more video for X-Mas!!!

[clemshaw]

Yes; that is also one of the oldest tricks in golf gamesmanship when your opponent asks you if you breathe in or out on the backswing...LOL! The answer is simple and worth integrating into your routine:

The Human breath in a relaxed state is 5 seconds; the golf swing is around 2 seconds or less; at address, focus on your target, then on the feel of how you will be swinging to it; then make a partial exhale to relax yourself and catch the next swing! See "golf pro lesson how to relax"...

[synckd]

Shawn,

Great vids & DVD's.

You mention that this basic swing has been around for at least the Bobby Jones era. In your opinion, what are the 1or 2 elements that current instructors are overlooking that prevent them from teaching this swing as successfully as you do?

[clemshaw]

Fantastic Question!!!

Element #1: No association to basic human Anatomy and the realization that the body was not meant to move the way they perceive that it should (Biggie!!)

Element #2: Little understanding of how the central nervous system is designed to work; ie positional teaching to multiple positions within a time frame designed for feel and rhythm (like trying to surf the net with a pocket calculator) Shawn

[Baliol]

I agree with this...I have gone the golf pro lesson route and was taught to swing in a way that strained my right hip and elbow...I think teaching pros need to foster swing patterns that will allow for a lifetime of pleasure from the game without strain and pain.

[clemshaw]

Great question and one that will help those who are being the butt end of those who enjoy playing with peoples minds on the golf course with questions like: "Do you breathe in or out on the backswing?" The human breath in a relaxed state is around 4 to 5 seconds and the golf swing is much less than that so here is what you do: at address, Partially exhale and feel how your ribcage lowers and let this relax you into the ground through your feet; then let the swing's momentum go to your target!

[honketyhank]

Happy holidays Shawn.

Profuse thanks for your videos and responses to comments.

[davidskerr]

Nice video Shawn.

I have been having lower back issues whilst practicing and certainly at the start was tending to push my body left on the downswing.

[yusailo]

great stuff as usual, shawn. i found the information on the dangers of thrusting with the lower body particularly insightful. i think a lot of golfers (myself included) get the wrong impression that we are supposed to drive the legs to generate power. aside from the physical problems that result from this swing flaw, what sort of ballstriking problems can be attributed to this move?

[clemshaw]

What you are doing is taking the pelvis out from under the rib cage and this puts a huge strain on the lower back and hip joints; ask Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson (who has fixed this issue) and Johnny Miller what it has done to their bodies; hip replacements and lower back surgeries for many! Shawn

[edthelad01]

Many thanks for your consistent and practical advice. You clearly have an understanding of the game that is second to none. PEOPLE - LISTEN TO THIS MAN - HE KNOWS HIS STUFF

[Massivo30]

Hi Shawn! Great video! Just wondering, what would u say is the best exercise for developing a powerful lower body (like urs) - squats? U look like ur in great shape! I'd appreciate ur thoughts on this Q and golf conditioning in general.

[clemshaw]

Thanks for the question!

Have a look at the "golf pro lesson Kinesis" part 1 and 2 video and you will get a nice Idea of some of the exercises that will not only get you a better feel for what you want to do in the golf swing, but also get your proper golf muscles conditioned; Shawn

[orrt2010]

What am I doing if after a round my Achilles tendons are stiff?

[clemshaw]

Do you carry, pull, push or ride? The swing should not affect this area; sounds to me like you play a hilly course and your legs are understandably stiff after walking up and down hills with golf clubs in tow...Give them a nice light stretch after you play and this will help! :) Shawn

[jkpassage]

Just another beautiful piece of work from Shawn. Simple, understandable, and practical. Thanks!

[andypatnou]

AWESOME VIDEEEEEO SHAWN!

Andy Patnou

[Gman6755]

You make the golf swing sound simple and I like that, thanks!

[scorpiossnakes]

top notch video, as always

thx shawn

[gregrutz]

Dr. Shawn, my right shoulder is sore, what am i doing wrong?

[clemshaw]

If you feel strain in the right rotator cuff, you are probably keeping your head down too long into the follow through; if you are a left handed golfer, you are providing too much resistance in the backswing with the lower body and or thrusting too much with the lower body in the downswing...Shawn

[gregrutz]

@clemshaw Thank you.

[1tontomato]

I thinking Gregrutz would benefit from the one legged drill or the feet together drill. It will take away the effort away from the right shoulder and focus it on the momentum of the swing.

I find it helpful in terms of feel, it's like a golf exercise that relaxes the upper body. It loosens up those tight muscles which can be prohibiting the swing from working properly.

Maybe you should do a golf exercise video for those who want to loose weight.

Call it, "Body by Clement." Might sell.

[1tontomato]

This should be a good eye opener for all those lower body, tight, compact golfers who are trying too hard to make the ball fly. Way too many of us make the ball the target.

BTW, letting momentum take control of the swing relaxes the muscles and makes them elastic which gives them a good needed stretch.

Once you get it, it is so simple and effortless that it is stupid silly.

Momentum makes perfect sense. Let gravity do most of the work, it's free. You can thank God for that.

Muy bueno amigo!

[itubeutude]

Good video again shawn...especially the end. I suffer the lower body thrust and get that back pain occasionally.

What do you think of tiger's swing in regards to long term injury to his body?

[clemshaw]

Tiger has gotten better at a few things over the years; where he needs to return to is the nice turn he had in his backswing as a kid; he really had a nice turn without resistance back then and all he had to work on was the planting against the left ankle at the top of his backswing to brace the downswing and not come off his heels through impact; he would have been even deadlier today...:)