It’s one of the biggest components of any successful golf swing and that’s why over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll discuss flexibility in the golf swing. We’ll talk about the ins and the outs, the whys and hows of flexibility, the golf swing and the benefit flexibility has on the golf swing. We’ll address parameters and guidelines to follow and, as always, offer up specific types of flexibility exercises for golf.

But to begin this process, we need to understand some simple concepts in regard to biomechanics of golf swing, flexibility and the relationship between them. Let’s start with a brief definition of golf swing mechanics -- a series of biomechanical movements performed by the body in a proper sequence with the correct timing in order to allow for an efficient delivery of the clubhead to the golf ball. Knowing this definition, we realize the body is required to move through a series of positions with very little room for error. Any mistake in either body position or timing will result in mis-hits and a poor outcome on the course.

At this point we have an understanding of biomechanics of the golf swing and its connection with the body. Now we can present flexibility into the equation. Flexibility can be defined as the optimal extensibility of all soft tissues of the body. Relative to golf, this definition says every muscle, ligament and tendon in the body must allow for optimal joint range of motion to move the golf club through the biomechanics of the swing. Remember, muscle tissue, ligament tissue and tendons surround each joint. All of these tissues can become shortened and create tightness in the joints. Often times a golfer will have joint restrictions which prevent them from taking the club through a full backswing or follow through. This alters the biomechanics of the swing, changes swing path of club and decreases clubhead speed.

This shows, simply, that optimal flexibility is required for the execution of golf swing. Additionally, the joint restrictions within your body that occur during the swing often overstress certain parts of the body. Over time, as you consistently stress these parts of the body, they will become fatigued and eventually injured. The lower back is a commonly overstressed area of the body that is injured as a result of poor flexibility.

The bottom line is that until joint restrictions are alleviated and proper flexibility is developed, the golf swing can easily be hampered by injuries and compensations. Flexibility is of such great importance to the golf swing because it allows you to form the biomechanics of the golf swing efficiently, effectively and without compensations over an extended period of time.

All of this makes it crystal clear how important flexibility exercises are in developing your golf game. For us to get on the right path toward implementing flexibility exercises in a program designed to improve your golf swing, let’s refer back to simple flexibility exercise we discussed before that’s called "Cats up and down."

It’s an exercise that focuses on the muscles of the lower back, which are commonly tight and cause joint restriction and compensations in the golf swing. It’s an easy exercise to perform and done on a daily basis, can get you going in right direction to create the required flexibility in your body to improve your golf swing.