Primal Movements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 7 movements, known as primal movements, that are recognised as integral parts of human development. This can be within our first infantile explorations of physical motion but also as a concept of continued adult physical progression and improvement. These are:

 

Push     Pull     Squat     Lunge     Hinge (bend)     Rotate     Gait (walking)

 

Including these 7 fundamental movements in motion training, programming and corrections as well strength and conditioning ensures we cover all 3 dimensional full body actions. As they all represent real life movement and activity this type of exercise effectively includes all the requirements of soft tissues to generate, absorb, dissipate, transfer and use energy and force. However the principle benefit of these 7 exercises is that they involve integrated and combined movements of the entire bodily systems and networks. At any time within any of these movements all the tissues will be loaded and required to perform a variety of roles that change from moment to moment as the dynamic full body motion is executed. 

 

The golf swing is an accurate description of the requirements and purpose of using these primal movements at differing times for differing needs throughout the full spectrum of the stroke. This is enabled by including all body parts and regions and optimising their communication and interconnectivity quality for movement efficiency. 

 

Some examples of how these movements are active within the swing are:

 

Push:

During the backswing the rotation of the body pushes the trail side away from the ball, alongside the lead side towards the body to pre-coil soft tissue and generate energy.

 

Pull:

From the backswing into the downswing the player pulls the body and club towards the ball, enhancing the force production and increasing the speed. Both feet push and pull during the transition from backswing to downswing working with the ground force reaction.

 

Squat:

The movement that incorporates optimal and prime integration of the full body unit, used simultaneously within complete joint series to execute and control movement for swing efficacy and economy. 

 

Lunge:

Asymmetrical full body movement between the opposing right and left sides of the human body. This enables efficient use of the two sides working independently and counter to each other in order to perform functional, necessary opposite motion.

 

Hinge:

Accompanying the pull, the hinge movement is the effective flexion of the trunk, pelvis and upper limbs on the lower limbs during the powerful downswing and controlled decelerating follow through, completing the swing.

 

Rotate:    

Throughout the swing, the rotating segments of the bodies joints are pivotal in creating, stabilising and conducting potential energy and kinetic forces that are transferred to the ball.

 

Gait:

All of the above in one fluid motion