Blog

The Golfer’s Human Spine

An adult human ‘Spinal Support Engine’ has 24 vertebral bones, referred to as the ‘Pre or Supra Sacral Vertebrae’. At birth, the human spine consists of 33 individual irregularly shaped bones called ‘Vertebrae’. 9 of these fuse as the infant develops. I will identify these facets below.

Each of the 24 adult vertebra has a hole in the middle through which the spinal cord runs. These vertebral segments might remind you of boney and intra-cushioned structural donuts? Perhaps not? There are multiple small passageways through which the spinally sourced and branching nerves pass. The nerve that advises the brain that you have a tingly sensation or injured finger actually passes through or is branched from the Cervical or Neck Vertebrae. Anywhere you can feel anything below the base of your skull requires a nerve that transmits electro-chemical sensory to and through the Spinal Cord and column.

The spinal cord can be divided into five different regions, from top to bottom.

These 5 major segments of the spine are

  1. Cervical: The 7 vertebrae in the neck form the cervical region of the spine.
  2. Thoracic: The 12 vertebrae in the chest region form the spine’s thoracic region.
  3. Lumbar: The 5 vertebrae in the lower back form the lumbar region of the spine.
  4. There are also 5 fused segments that make up the Sacrum.
  5. There are additionally 4 fused segments that comprise the Coccyx. (see ‘Tail Bone’)

There is a ‘Golf Point’ to be made here. Think about ‘Load Coiling’ your spine from the hips to the base of the skull. Let us consider the ‘24 Presacral Vertebrae’. If each vertebra can rotate about 1.25 degrees, the total Spinal Rotation will be 1.25 x 24 = 30 degrees. If an athlete is highly supple, that unit rotational range might reach 1.75 degrees for total range of 42 degrees. The Capital Vertebra (the one on which the cranium rests) has more range and thus we might accomplish as much as 45 or more degrees. Might this teacher suggest (to avoid Soft Tissue Injury – STI) that you do NOT strive to ‘Over Rotate’. It is much safer and cheaper to take an extra club than to injure your Spinal Column in any region or segment.

It is important to recognize that the ‘Lower Body Machine’ (LBM or Core Primary Articulating Joints … Ankles, Knees, Hips, Spinal Column and Neck) may accomplish 90 degrees or more total ‘Vertical Spinal Axis Range Of Shoulder Rotation’. The Hips down to the ground will achieve about 45 degrees of the 90. As explained above, the Shoulders do NOT actually rotate 90 degrees as it so commonly supposed!

Again, ‘Do NOT Over-Rotate’. Flair or open your Target Foot to invite ‘Hip Release’ and prevent very common ‘Golfer’s Lumbar or Lower Back Injury’! Discomfort means “STOP”! If you want or need more Range Of Motion (ROM), grow it gradually!

Are you a member of the 555 Club House? We’ve got over 1200 pages of golf resources for you.

golf schools Plano Texas
award winning golf academy Pilot Point, Texas

So Now What?

We just completed a really effective ‘Wind or Negative Weather Clinic’ … a real Texas working clinic! Why do I write “Real”? Because we started with...
award winning golf academy Pilot Point, Texas

So Now What?

We just completed a really effective ‘Wind or Negative Weather Clinic’ … a real Texas working clinic! Why do I write “Real”? Because we started with...
Award-winning golf academy provides private and group instruction for beginners, advanced, and PGA players.

Nuances Matter

There are definitely physical challenges on course. I heard a comment the other day that ‘There Are Very Few Perfect Shots Out there!” How often do...
award winning golf academy McKinney Texas

Why?

How many golfers have played tennis … another terrific game? If you have, you will be familiar with the term ‘No Man’s Land’? This is the portion of...
Award-winning golf academy provides private and group instruction for beginners, advanced, and PGA players.

Common Practice & Play Errors

‘555 Golf POWER TIPS’ are generally limited to one page … short & sweet … Good Luck! 1)     Practise With A Written...

Physiologically Incorrect?

Work Smart - Posture Trumps Ball Location Your ‘555 Team’ is always staying up with or ahead of golf physiology curve for YOU! This ‘Country...
Award-winning golf academy provides private and group instruction for beginners, advanced, and PGA players.

Different Jobs?

Golf is very much about an underlying balance between ‘Components & Procedures’. A bold example is the difference between the ‘Putter’ and the...
golf schools Plano Texas

Magnesium Deficiency

Here are just a few signs that you may be magnesium deficient: Anxiety Depression Muscle Cramps High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Hormone Problems...
award winning golf academy McKinney Texas

Chip Grip Options

There are a whole range of ‘Grip Choices’ from Putter To Driver! Underlying simplistic postulate is that a ‘Chip Is A Putt With A Hop’! If you can...
Award-winning golf academy provides private and group instruction for beginners, advanced, and PGA players.

“WHOLE”-istic GOLF PRACTICE

How many of us ‘Work Smart’ to a consciously improving practice and play result? Fewer than might be imagined? Here is a helpful and novel idea, if...

Complete Golf Myth Collection

BEST VALUE

Purchase the Complete Golf Myth Collection for $49.99 and receive the entire 19 volume set. That includes Books A, B, C, D, E, and F.
Instant download access.

Special Offer

A ‘GOLF MYTH COMPLETE COLLECTION – Proof Of Purchase’ will earn the customer a 30% discount off the ‘Published Bench Rate’ for one ‘Personal Lesson’ without any time restriction.
Makes the ‘Complete Collection’ FREE!
Offer is not transferable!