Golf Mobility Made Simple
The number of complex "mobility" exercises I see on social media daily is puke worthy.
They use 7 different tools, the coach doesn't explain anything, and just posts it to look cool and get some likes.
But here's the thing... gaining mobility should not be complex.
At all.
Let's break it down.
WHAT IS MOBILITY?
In my opinion, mobility is the ability to utilize and control a large range of motion within a joint or collection of joints.
Basically, how expansive your movement ability is.
Can you move your body in the manner your life and golf swing demands?
The more important question... HOW do we grow mobility?
First and foremost, strength train through a full range of motion.
When an athlete comes to me asking for assistance with mobility, the first place I point them to is one of our strength training programs.
Research has shown that strength training ALONE can be just as effective as stretching when it comes to improving ranges of motion. AND, you get all of the strength and power adaptations that come with it.
Only once you are following a strength training plan should we look to add additional mobility work.
And this extra mobility work, isn't going to be anything fancy, because gaining mobility is simple.
To gain mobility... We need to move joints through a large range of motion, often.
For example, if more hip mobility is the goal, start moving your hips through a large range of motion more often - such as THIS EXERCISE.
Do it twice a day for a month and watch your hip mobility sky rocket.
You don't need some complex exercise the social media influencer is showing you.
You just need to MOVE THE JOINT through a full range of motion MORE OFTEN.
WHAT JOINTS SHOULD GOLFERS TARGET TO EXPAND MOBILITY?
There are three central ones...
[1.] Spine
[2.] Shoulders
[3.] Hips
These joints represent the most important areas for mobility that a golfer must maintain.
3 SIMPLE GOLF MOBILITY EXERCISES
SPINAL MOBILITY
With this exercise, your goal is to laterally bend and touch the wall. After every reach, you should take a small step away from the wall to challenge your range of motion.
SHOULDER MOBILITY
This prone shoulder CAR takes the shoulder joint through a relatively full range of CONTROLLED motion.
If you are limited on shoulder mobility, do it daily. Then, watch you shoulder mobility improve.
HIP MOBILITY
90-90 hip flips move our hips through a full range of rotational mobility.
Slow, controlled, FULL movement.
CONCLUSION
If you are lacking mobility, don't overthink it.
Move the joint through a large range of motion more often - as in DAILY.
Make sure you are strength training as well.
Use these exercises above to help guide that process and be sure to join the SCRATCH Golf Training Crew if you haven't already.
Carter Schmitz
Founder and Head Coach SCRATCHGolfTraining.com - And Part-Time Looper
CSCS, TPI
Carter is a strength and conditioning coach out of the Milwaukee area working with athletes, in-person and virtually. Having helped hundreds of athletes, ranging from the middle school to the professional level and beyond, Carter brings a breadth of experience and knowledge to every athlete he works with. He launched SCRATCHGolfTraining.com in the summer of 2021 to help empower golfers to greater performance and longevity.
Carter believes ALL golfers are athletes, and they should be training accordingly.
Become a SCRATCH Athlete today, and start training like the ATHLETE you are!
