Developing the Correct Muscle Memory For Golf

Much is written about muscle memory for golf and much of it is probably true. Interestingly, one does not hear about muscle memory from the top professionals. The reason is that for them, their muscle memory is already developed and they started developing it at early ages. Tiger Woods was seen on national television at age two with a swing that was already well developed. Arnold Palmer started playing at age four, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, and Jack Nicklaus at age 10. Marlene Bauer Hagge started at age three. Many of the new young golfers like Sean O'Hair, Zach Johnson, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, all started at age 10 or younger.

Some physiologists say that it takes over 10,000 repetitions of the desired movement to be memorized by one's muscles. They also say that proper feedback is required for the muscles to memorize that desired movement. Young golfers gain such feedback from their instructors or even better, on the course or practice range. The feedback is given in the form of well struck shots. So the golfers try to continue to do what they did to achieve that perfect shot.

With maybe 50 to 60 shots per round (30 or so for putting) it would take 200 rounds of golf to achieve 10,000 repetitions. And these would not even be repetitions of the same shot. Fourteen of the 50 would be with the driver; five or so with fairway clubs; maybe 30 with irons; and different irons at that. Even more to consider is that the only positive feedback gained during a round is when the golfer hit the perfect shot. No other verbal or tactile feedback is given, unless the golfer was playing the round with his professional instructor.

Wow! Is there any hope for the golfer who started playing at age 25 or later? Yes, and that is why numerous training aids were invented, several of which focused on developing muscle memory for a specific aspect of the swing. One of the most successful is a hinged iron or driver that has a break designed in its shaft. The shaft collapses if either the golfer's take away or follow through are not properly executed. Another aid is a jacket that restrains the golfer's torso from performing unwanted moves. Still another is a plane guide which helps the golfer to develop muscles that enable a repeatable and proper plane for the full swing. All such aids work by providing feedback so that the golfer will swing correctly, eliminate their swing flaws and ultimately, repeat the desired swings.

I have tried these three as well as many other aids for the grip, the wrist, the left arm, the triangle, and more, all with varying successes. My biggest flaw and perhaps the biggest flaw of most high handicap golfers, was that of coming up and out of my shot. I could not keep my head behind the ball through impact. I could not maintain my spine angle.

Wanting to improve my game, I did considerable research on the golf swing and found much of it to be contradictory and arguable. Two aspects of the swing however emerged as being irrefutable. And they were pertinent to my flaws. Every pro will agree to: keep your head behind the ball through impact and maintain your spine angle. In fact it is difficult to do one without the other. By focusing on developing muscle memory with these two aspects of my swing, I was finally able to break 80 (shot a 78) for the first time in my life at age 65. I have shot in the 70's several times since.

Correct muscle memory for golf can be developed at any age with tactile feedback and repetition.

Bob Doyle is the founder and president of Forever Better Golf Inc. a golf equipment and training aid company dedicated to helping all golfers improve their swings and lower their scores. Their flagship product is the PRO-HEAD Trainer, a full swing training aid that helps golfers maintain their spine angles and keep their heads back and behind the ball through impact. To see the PRO-HEAD Trainer in use and take the 60 second challenge, visit http://www.foreverbettergolf.com.

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