Golf Anatomy [Paperback]

By my nature and by choice, I strive to be positive whenever possible. I begin this review with some positive points before changing direction. It might be helpful to know I hold multiple degrees in sports science ... biomechanics/kinesiology and motor learning. My personal library includes more than 1,000 golf related books and numerous graduate level textbooks. I coached a nationally ranked NCAA Division I golf team and have sold golf lessons to more than 10,000 paying clients over the last 30 years. BEFORE writing this critique, I took the time to read all of the other reviews.

In fairness to the authors, I purchased their book because of the pretty picture on the front cover as well as the organization of the table of contents. I completely agree with other reviewers who found this book to be an excellent fitness book. There is little doubt any person who engages in the contents will be more fit and able to play better golf ... stronger, more flexible, more stable, in better balance and less prone to injury!

The overall organization of the book is excellent. It logically and correctly flows through the necessary progress for improved strength and flexibility being precursors for improved balance, stability and injury resistance. The authors correctly write about how the golf swing and the teaching of the game have improved due to technology (high speed cameras and biomechanics labs). The largest change has been from a hand and arm dominated viewpoint to a "big muscle", body centered motion which sums forces in a kinetically linked chain. Moving from the ancient to the modern creates a need to better understand how the body, not the arms must function.

Having said these positive things, it is also necessary to point out some problems with the book. Ben Hogan's Five Fundamentals, the de facto bible of golf, is filled with both good and bad information. The effort to write a perfect text will probably never be accomplished. Knowing there are problems does not negate the value of the overall message.

The problems begin with the sometimes exclusive, imprecise language. In spite of the quality of the illustrations, there is also problems with what the pictures and their callouts say. Some technical jargon is not sufficiently explained for the common use of everyday golfers ... mobility v. flexibility. Exclusive language comes from changing commonly used terms such as backswing into their use of upswing. This is written one-upmanship and marketing to a target audience of "hip", fit golfers rather than ordinary golfers. Some of the things written are simply wrong. The identification of primary v. secondary muscle usage is not supported by commonly held views from electromyographical research.

While the golf swing may technically come from the ground up in a physics lab, the game is not played in a lab. Looking at the golf swing from a biomechanical view, you pay more attention to which muscles move first (sequence of that kinetic link system), which muscles are prime movers (antagonists), secondary movers, stabilizers (antagonists) and which muscles remain in a state of tonus (normal, semi-relaxed/activated state). I drew a conclusion that this book places more value to reflex responses than to learned motor programs.

There are two major problems with the illustrations. First, the views and callouts do NOT always matchup. For example, Fig 1.1 on p. 6 is completely bassackwards. The muscles shown on the back and left side of your body CANNOT cause you turn away from the ball. Close attention to technical detail would have rendered this image to be a back view, showing the muscles of the back and right shoulder as the prime movers of the rotary motion of the backswing. The identification of the trunk muscles are correct except for being on the wrong side of the body. A muscle can only create force when it shortens/contracts. Even a cursory look by an ordinary reader shows how the backswing must start on the back and right side of the body.

It is the turning, rotary movement of the upper torso and the shoulder that cause the arms to move in coordination with the body. Again, these muscles are on the back side of the body. Figure 1.3 on page 8 correctly identifies the muscles, but is equally wrong as to which side is causing the movement. There are to two phases to the forward swing (acceleration/downswing to impact and decelleration/followthrough). The muscles that do produce force, change their roles, switching from agonistic force producers to antagonistic counter force. Exercise alone will NOT properly train the swing. Exercise supports learned performance, it does not create it.

The second problem is with the identification of primary and secondary force producers. The author's fitness perspective confuses some important truth. They orrectly write of the kinematic linkage and of the proper use of the trunk/core muscles. However, electromyopraphical studies do not support the use of the legs as a power source. The primary role of both the arms and legs is to provide stability and control. Said differently, the golf motion is more of a "sling" than a swing. This implies they should be trained differently.

While Golf Anatomy us excellent for overall fitness, some if witch relates to golf, it violates critical principles from motor learning science ... specificity of training or "practice like you play"! These general fitness exercises are NOT the best way to improve you golf performance. There is a better way to train for skill!

I am a Pilates instructor who specializes in corrective exercise. I've been using this program with my golfing clients who suffer from chronic back pain, stiffness, restrictions in the hips, etc. and the results are amazing! They've seen improvements in all aspects of their game. I especially like the diagrams and the way each exercises targets specific aspects of the golf swing. This program will improve your overall strength and fitness which will not only affect your game but your quality of life as well!

"Golf Anatomy has seriously helped improve my swing. I have been struggling with getting enough air and power on my drive. After reading through this book my ball is going further and I have even improved my accuracy. With tips on proper technique and awesome 3D color images of muscles at work, I have been able to train my body to improve not only my drive, but my golf game too!"

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