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