| Some of us may have an idea about what core | | | | external and internal obliques. In addition, you will find |
| training entails. Swing coaches and trainers talk about it | | | | other muscles within this region such as the serratus. |
| in relation to the swing, but what actually is the core? | | | | At this point you should have a good understanding of |
| When the question is asked, "What is the core?" The | | | | the core region, the muscles groups of the core, and |
| most common answer is, "Your abdominals." The core | | | | the specific muscles contained within this region. Now |
| can be defined as the region of the body that | | | | we move on to the functioning of the core in regards |
| incorporates the hips, abdominals, obliques, and lower | | | | to golf. |
| back. | | | | First question, why are these muscles so important to |
| The definition of the core indicates that it is an | | | | golf? Before we answer that question, let's look at this |
| anatomical region of the body. The top of your chest | | | | region of the body in a little more detail. |
| to your hips is the easiest way to think about the core | | | | A vast number of muscles comprise this region of the |
| region. This part of the body includes numerous | | | | body as we know at this point in time. Some of you |
| muscles in each of these defined regions. Think about | | | | probably have some first hand experience with the |
| all those little back muscles that your doctor speaks | | | | muscles of the core. If you have ever had a lower |
| about when you are injured. Those muscles are part | | | | back injury, you know what I am talking about. |
| of the core. When you see those infomercials for the | | | | What we need to understand at this point, before |
| "latest and greatest" abdominal machine, those | | | | entertaining the question of the core's involvement in |
| machines are supposedly going to give you that "six | | | | the golf swing, is the following: |
| pack." The muscles of the "six pack" are part of your | | | | Realize that all of the core muscles function as a unit, |
| core. These two regions of the body are the easy | | | | meaning they work together to essentially stabilize and |
| parts of the core to understand, but what about the | | | | move the body. The movements that this region of the |
| other parts? | | | | body is involved in are vast. Any movement other than |
| The general definition of the core indicates that it | | | | probably lying on your back utilizes the core the cores |
| encompasses ALL the muscles between your chest | | | | in some way, shape, or form. Let me explain this |
| and lower body. Keeping this definition in mind, what | | | | thought. We know that the core region is involved in |
| other muscles would be incorporated in the core | | | | stabilizing the spine, right? Well with that thought in mind, |
| region? Probably the easiest way to do this is to | | | | your spine needs to be stabilized in any upright posture |
| create a mental image of the body and then look at | | | | you place your body. For example, as I am writing this |
| what muscles are in this region of the body. | | | | article, I am sitting at my computer. For my body to |
| The hips are part of the core, and all the muscles in | | | | maintain this "seated, upright position" my spine must be |
| this region of the body are part of the core. The | | | | stabilized. The muscles of the core region perform this |
| muscles within the hips contain the hip flexors, hip | | | | activity. |
| extensors, adductor complex, abductor complex, | | | | When we begin to talk about the body moving is |
| gluteus maximus, gluteus minimus, gluteus medius, origin | | | | where we can really see the core becoming active. |
| of the hamstrings, and origin of the quads. Quite a few | | | | Just think of some simple activities like walking, bending |
| muscles, wouldn't you say? | | | | over to pick up a newspaper, etc. All of these activities |
| Currently, we have the muscles of the hips, low back, | | | | are utilizing the core to stabilize the spine, bend, turn, |
| and the "six pack," but there are more. We can | | | | rotate the body, and transfer energy from your feet to |
| essentially factor two more muscle groups into the | | | | the upper body. (Don't worry too much about this |
| core region. Probably the most under recognized | | | | thought; it is for another article.) The core is integrated |
| muscles in the core region are termed the "deep | | | | as a unit and involved in almost every movement that |
| stabilizing muscles" of the spine. | | | | you perform in your daily lives. I hope by this time you |
| The easiest way to think of these muscles is the | | | | can see the importance of the core when it comes to |
| following: Think about "peeling away the top layer of | | | | human movement. Now let us move on to a topic of |
| your abdominals (the "six pack") and the top layer of | | | | more interest to all of us, and that is the golf swing. |
| your lower back muscles. Underneath these muscles | | | | Looking at the golf swing, the core region of the body |
| would be another group of muscles that function to | | | | is considered "the engine of the body." It is responsible |
| stabilize the spine. The number of muscles in this region | | | | for the balance, stability, and rotation required to swing |
| of the body is numerous. The names of a few are: | | | | a golf club. From address to follow through, this section |
| transverse abdominus, erector spinae, and spinaleus. | | | | of the body plays a large part in the execution of the |
| Again, these are just a few of the muscles in this | | | | swing. |
| region. If we were to name all of them, it could easily fill | | | | If you have an understanding of what muscles |
| this whole page. | | | | comprise the core region and their importance when it |
| We have one final group of muscles that comprise the | | | | comes to human movement, then you will undoubtedly |
| core region, and they are on the sides of the body (the | | | | see the importance of the core as it pertains to the |
| place where we quite often develop those "love | | | | golf swing. This little discussion has probably provided |
| handles"). You now know where these muscles are, | | | | you with the understanding that there is more than |
| and we anatomically describe these muscles as your | | | | "meets the eye" when discussing the core region. |
| obliques. The two major muscles in this region are the | | | | |