I recently had the chance to talk with Cory Puyear, PT, CSCS. He is the founder of the Athletico Golf Performance Center , which is the premier hands on golf conditioning facility in the Chicagoland area.

Jason: You are the head golf-conditioning specialist at the AthletiCo Golf Performance Center in Oak Brook, IL. What is your background and how did you get into golf conditioning?

I am a licensed physical therapist (11 yrs), a certified C.H.E.K. golf biomechanic, CSCS, and Master Golf Fitness Instructor through the Titleist Performance Institute. I am also the founder of the Athletico Golf Performance Center.

I got into golf fitness and conditioning after becoming a physical therapist and taking up the sport. I wrote a research paper on the biomechanics of the golf swing as PT student.

The paper was a review of what each joint of the body is doing during the full golf swing. (ie. backswing for R handed golfer = R hip joint internal rotation, L hip external rotation, R subtalar joint pronation, R talocrural joint dorsiflexion, etc.) Consequently, I was able to appreciate quickly how complex the movement patterns were during the swing.

Jason: What are the most common physical limitations you see in the golfers you work with?

Each individual brings with them a unique set of physical characteristics. Generally however, people are either lacking at least one of the following:

• Poor rotational mobility (ankles, hips, thoracic spine/neck, or shoulders)
  
• Inadequate stability to resist movements that the golf swing does not desire (forward bending or back bending/side bending)
  
• Limited motor coordination to sequence an efficient movement pattern for maximum energy transfer from one body segment to the next

Jason: How can physical limitations affect a golfers technical proficiency?

If a golfer is lacking in rotational mobility they will attempt to gain mobility in non rotational patterns (forward bending, backward bending or side bending) which leads to inconsistency and inefficient energy transfer throughout the kinetic chain.

This inconsistency is one main reasons why the full swing in golf becomes hard to reproduce.

The body only operates in movement, most of the time it doesn't care how the movement gets accomplished. So sometimes you will get turned behind the ball by over moving your hip, sometimes by allowing the weight to get too lateral to the outside of the foot, etc.

This will lead to inaccurate shots with varied results. Some will be well struck and fly at the intended target with good distance and some will be struck poorly and fly well away from the intended target.

Jason: How important is physical conditioning in improving your power and improving swing technique?

Without a base of physical conditioning you are setting yourself up for injury and inconsistent motor patterns due to compensatorily learned movement.

Through physical conditioning you have the ability to be more pliable in your implementation of new motor patterns. If the new motor pattern requires more strength or more flexibility in one area your body will be more able to adapt and facilitate the repetition needed to change the movement.

Jason: In your opinion, what is the most immediate thing a golfer can do to improve their swing and overall rotational power? Does this vary by age group?

Get assessed for your body's specific deficiencies and then get on a program to overcome those. Depending on the age and physical characteristics as well as the person's understanding of the golf swing the program may include physical conditioning, swing tecnhnique instruction and/or motor coordination work.

Jason: I have had the opportunity to visit your golf performance center and found my visit very helpful and informative. You pointed out a number of areas that I could focus on with my swing to improve my power. What can Chicagoland golfers expect when they come in for their first visit?

Our facility is a year round training facility that offers a fitness center and golf practice membership. We have indoor hitting bays, short game greens, a full service health club and access to physical therapists and golf instruction. Our golf performance services start with our 3D swing analysis and biomechanical evaluation.

A 3D swing analysis captures every nuance of human movement in three dimensions including all of the rotational speeds of your body. With small wireless sensors, we can quickly, easily and in real time record and display exactly what you are doing with your swing.

We can then match your swing technique with your physical attributes to help you build a more repeatable and efficient golf swing. The biomechanical evaluation includes a comprehensive physical diagnostic process to quantify faulty movement patterns that occur during the full golf swing.

We will isolate any physical limitations and movement pattern deficits, correlate these findings to your swing technique, and prescribe a custom golf specific-conditioning program.

Your analysis will include:

• A CD-ROM burnt for you with voice over analysis of your swing using 2D video with multiple camera angles and an analysis of your 3D motion data.
  
• A biomechanical report of your physical findings with normative and PGA Tour values attached.
  
• A customized golf specific home exercise routine complete with digital pictures and written instructions.

Jason: Atheltico is going to be hosting CHICAGOLAND'S FIRST ANNUAL GOLF FITNESS SUMMIT. What is this and what can attendees expect from this event?

We are excited to be host to two of the most recognized golf fitness professionals in the industry, Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, co-founders of the Titleist Performance Institute. Dr. Rose and Dave have appeared on the Golf Channel in their series the "Golf Channel Fitness Academy".

They bring with them a vast array of knowledge from working closely with some of the PGA, LPGA, Senior PGA and Nationwide PGA tour players in the world.

They have physically evaluated these players and are able to correlate their physical attributes to their swing technique and style to provide recommendations on how to make their golf swings and bodies as efficient as possible for tour proven success.

Dr. Rose and Dave will be present for two separate speaking sessions on Sunday October 29th.

From 9-11:30 am they will address golf enthusiasts on the topics of:

• How the best players in the world use golf fitness to hit it more consistently and farther.
  
• How the technology of 3D motion analysis can enhance customized golf specific fitness and instruction program for your game.
  
• Why a consistent routine of stretching and strengthening can help you play the best golf of your life.

From 1-3:30 pm they will address junior and high school golfers on the topics of:

• Common physical weaknesses and how to prevent them.
  
• How to start a golf fitness program.
  
• Safe golf exercises progressions.
  
• How some of the top AJGA players prepare for college and competition.

Jason: Where can readers get more information on this event?

They can contact us at AthletiCo's Golf Performance Center in Oak Brook by calling 630-572-9700 or visiting www.athletico.com/services/golf.htm

Cory, thank you very much for your time. I look forward to attending this event and meeting some of the best golf fitness instructors in the world. If you are a Chicagoland golfer I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. You will experience Athletico's excellent facilities and will also learn a thing or two on improving your golf game.

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