May 02, 2007
Welcome to May’s edition of The eZone. This month we will look at how the smallest changes to your preparation and movement can bring about quite amazing improvements to your performance. Whilst you may focus on correct technique there may be a number of things you are overlooking that could have a huge influence on the result. Oddly enough when we try harder we usually end up making more more mistakes because of these seemingly minor aspects of our game - read on.
Regards
Roy Palmer
You can also view this ezine online by clicking here
In this issue
1. Bunkers and Arrows
2. Jaws Too……
3. The World At Your Feet
4. Special May Offer
1. Bunkers And Arrows
Last month I gave a talk and demonstration at South Bedfordshire Golf Club in the UK. I always enjoy working with golfers because they really appreciate the importance of preparation and technique. The slightest tension in the wrong place can send the ball way off course and into the bunker. I often get asked how can a person who doesn’t play golf help a golfer improve their technique. Okay, I admit I know very little about golf but I do know quite a bit about balance, movement and posture. The players at the talk discovered that before they even think about playing their shot there are a number of ‘mental checks’ they can use to ensure they are in the best position for action – more on this later.
I had a practical experience of this at the weekend. I have just returned from a few days in Ireland with my in-laws and whilst there my nephews challenged me to a game of darts. Now it’s been over 20 years since I last played but I was fascinated just how much my aim improved when I practised what I preach and listen to my body and stopped trying.
Darts, like golf and many other sports that involve aiming at a target, require poise and precision to make the necessary adjustments for the shot, that is, you need to be able to judge appropriate power and direction for success. Even the slightest unnecessary tension we invariably add when we 'try to get it right' can ruin your shot. If you can’t feel what you are doing it makes it difficult to execute an accurate movement.
Just for the record I used my new found deadly aim to ‘miss’ in order to let my young nephews win the darts game. Well it wouldn’t be right to use such an unfair advantage to whoop them would it!
Even if you don’t play golf you will still find my article on this golfer relevant to your sport. Click here for an interesting story about why your game can suddenly go wrong.
2. Jaws Too……
You may ask what have jaws got to do with golf swings, tennis serves, penalty shots or even driving cars. Well quite a lot. Watch the top sprinters in the world and you will see their jaw will ‘bounce’ when they run. Sprinters recognise that inappropriate tension in the muscles of their face will have a braking effect on their action. The muscles that work the jaw are very strong. If you clench your jaw you will also tighten the neck muscles that in turn coordinate your movement.
Whatever your sport or fitness activity it is worth checking that you are not holding tension in your face and jaw muscles. Allow a slight gap between your teeth to let your muscles slacken a little.
When experimenting with my running I would often pull a face (a runner’s grimace) and note the impact. And guess what? It’s a lot easier to run, swim or tee off when you don’t pull a face.
The next time you train check what makes you pull a face or clench your teeth. Is it a habit associated with concentration? Do you grimace when tired or pushing yourself harder? Now try and stop making a face and see if it helps.
For a more detailed account of movement and muscle tension please see the chapter from my first book, Poise, Posture And Performance
3. The World At Your Feet
Another really useful trick is to be aware of the ground underneath your feet. We tend to take the floor for granted, after all, it’s been there since the day we were born. But are you aware of the ‘push’ you get back from it? Can you remember your physics lesson when you learnt ‘for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? When you are standing or sitting a force equal to your body weight is coming back from the surface beneath you - see if you can sense the push back from your chair right now.
A golfer can release the tension from their shoulders and neck by appreciating the support from the floor. You literally let go and let the floor do the work.
A runner can improve their technique quite dramatically by learning to use the floor. The force pushing back against a runner’s foot can be up to ten times their body weight! Learn to use the force correctly and it can make running a considerably amount easier.
To see how much difference this simple trick can make to your movement look at the photos of a runner I recently worked with on my page about my running technique program.
Whether you are running, chasing a ball around a court or measuring up your shot, allow your weight to pass through to the floor and use the springy feel to free up your movement. Think of pushing the floor away from under you and see how much more distance you can cover with one stride. Suddenly you will find you can reach that ball your opponent has just dropped over the net.
Note - the increased forces acting on your joints in sport make it essential to get the right footwear designed for your activity.
4. Special May Offer
The special offer I was hoping to have ready is not quite there. I haven’t been able to complete the video for what should be a very useful tool for anyone with an interest in their performance. Hopefully it will be ready next month.So in the meantime if you would like to download one of my programs I will refund you 30% of the purchase price.
This applies to my online programs only and excludes products bought from a third party, e.g. Amazon.
You can check out my online programs by clicking here.
Just make your purchase, download the program and then email me at roy@fitness-programs-for-life.com and put ‘ezone offer’ in the subject line. I will refund the discount but please allow a few hours to account for the time zones – remember I’m in the UK.
Posture Assessment
If you took part in the online posture assessment trial please be patient. I am about half way through so if I haven’t got back to you yet I will be shortly.
Have a good month and enjoy your spring/ autumn.
Regards
Roy