During our Totally Driven Distance Improvement Assessments we often see players trying to create a longer swing than their body is capable of. This often results in an out to in swing path that actually reduces their distance. This long swing usually results in the player coming out of posture, incorrect sequencing and many other swing flaws.
Why do so many golfers overswing? Read any golf magazine and you will find tips on increasing shoulder turn to create more distance. Golfers are just doing what they are told. This is not a problem if the player is flexible enough to swing to parallel without coming out of posture and over- rotating the hips.
Here are some keys we have found to determine if you have limitations that would prohibit you from getting to parallel in your backswing (effectively).
1. What is the flexiblity in your thumbs? Can you do this?
Can you bend to 90 degrees or more?
If your thumb bends to less than 90 degrees you have limited flexibility in your thumb. If you reach 90 degrees you have good flexibility and over 90 degrees is great. If you can’t bend your thumb in this manner to 90 degrees or more this will limit the amount of backswing you are capable of. Thumb flexibility is also a big advantage when trying to create lag in the golf swing. Here are some exercises to improve thumb flexibility: http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/8114450/hand-stretches-hand-exercises-physioadvisor.htm
2. Wrist flexibility. If you can’t bend in this direction close to 90 degrees you have limited wrist flexibility. 
This is the direction the the wrist needs to cock during the golf swing and if you are limited you won’t be able to effectively get to parallel in the backswing. Here are some exercises to help increase this flexibility. http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/8113750/wrist-stretches-wrist-flexibility-exercises-ph.htm
Sergio Garcia- Flexible thumb and wrist= lots of lag!
3. Hip flexibility. Many players have limited hip flexibility thus making getting to parallel impossible unless you over-rotate your shoulders and take your hips along for the ride. The problem here is that often the player is now out of position to make a good downswing.
So if you have limited flexibility in these areas you have choices. You can learn to shorten your swing (you will probably not lose distance as JB Holmes has shown us) or you can increase your flexibility through some hard work. Or you can continue overswinging which creates inconsistency, poor mechanics and usually undesirable results.
As always, we’re here to help.
Andy Thompson
Tags: Totally Driven, gain distance, distance/power evaluations, proper sequencing, golf magazines, sergio garcia, swing flaws
