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Post by monkutare on Dec 5, 2010 20:19:18 GMT -5
Jeff, What is the actual motion of the cervical vertebrae in the golf swing?
I am wondering how, biomechanically, the head can stay fairly still and have the orbits facing the ball as we make a full turn.
Also I am wondering how we can position our head and neck at address to maximize our turn/pivot?
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Post by imperfectgolfer on Dec 5, 2010 20:39:25 GMT -5
Mk, The cervical spine is very flexible and it is the only part of the spine outside the torso, so the neck can move totally independent of the body. Therefore, one can move the head and neck indepdently of torso movements. Here are the top two cervical vertebra. The atlas vertebra sits on top of the axis vertebra. The articular facet joints are very flat, so the atlas vertebra can rotate 180 degrees from side-to-side over the axis vertebra. That allows one's head to swivel 180 degrees from side-to-side (with the atlas vertebra) relative to the axis vertebra and the rest of the cervical spine. The occipital condyle part of the skull articulates with the atlas vertebra, and that allows the head to nod up-and-down in the sagittal plane. So, the head and neck can move freely in many directions - independent of the torso. Jeff.
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Post by monkutare on Dec 6, 2010 0:41:57 GMT -5
Jeff
Thanks for a great reply What is your view regarding the direct line of sight to the ball during the swing especially from address to impact. Should the head be oriented so that the line of sight to the ball be perpendiclar to the line defined by the pupils?
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Post by imperfectgolfer on Dec 6, 2010 10:15:19 GMT -5
Monkutare
It is irrelevant how one orients one's head and eye orbits when performing a swing. The human brain is amazingly capable of adjusting to varying input from the eyes as a result of the orbits moving in space.
I have a local golf instructor who can hit the ball flush blindfolded, or even when turning his head in the opposite direction away from the target - as long as he can first see where the ball is located at address. Once one has an ideal address setup, and once one has memorised where the ball is located, I think that the swing can be pre-programmed to always get the clubhead to the same low point. That's how blind golfers can hit the ball flush without hitting fat shots. They swing towards their low point, which is a mental image they carry in their brains, and some sighted person has to place the ball in the correct location for them (relative to low point).
I play golf with my bifocals. At address, I tilt my head downwards so that I can clearly see the ball through the top half of the lenses (which is designed for distance). Then, when I start the swing, I reorient my head to a normal non-flexed position. Because I am then looking at the ball through the lower half (which is designed for reading), the ball is merely a blurred object during my swing. It doesn't affect my ability to hit the ball well.
Jeff.
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Post by monkutare on Dec 7, 2010 11:28:25 GMT -5
Jeff, I feel that I must position my head at a certain location in space so that I can find the ball. If my eyeline moves up on the downswing (as you have described for yourself, looking through the lower half of your bifocal), I lose the feeling of where my swing path is going.
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Post by imperfectgolfer on Dec 7, 2010 17:42:02 GMT -5
Mk,
I don't know why you need to position your head in a certain way. I think that the brain should be able adjust to any slight variation of head position.
Basketball players can succesfully shoot hoops while falling backwards or even when twisting their body/head sideways during their throw action.
Jeff.
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