It’s an exciting day here at Tulsa Spine and Rehab. I got to sit and talk with Michael Boyd, Director of Golf at The Club at Indian Springs. Michael is a household name here in the area. He played golf at the University of Tulsa, and you could say that he also dabbled a bit professionally. He’s done a great job here in Tulsa at Indian Springs when it comes to working with many different types of players. He’s really passionate about teaching, and I’m glad to have him as a guest for this post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVDy4vLc0LQ
We often talk about SwingFit and how Ryan, Bree, and I determine where a player might have some physical deficiencies. We also look at how those deficiencies may translate to the golf swing. Micheal is the technical guy that focuses primarily on swing mechanics. Let’s see what he has to say about the relationship we have and the importance of our teamwork.
I work with Sean and Ryan a lot in what I do with clients. I’m lucky enough to play on the PGA tour. Everybody out there has their own team. You heard from Jordan Spieth as he won the FedEx cup talk about how his team is a big part of what he does. They’re trying to improve together, and I think we need to act that way in all aspects of golf.
I’m able to work with many college players, top amateurs, and professional players on several different tours across the globe. They have their fitness experts, personal trainers, and chiropractors that they work with. These golfers might be able to see their experts more often depending on their funds, but we all have to work together to ensure that they’re able to perform the mechanics necessary for a good swing.
If I want the golfer’s body to pivot in a certain way, I need to know that they’re physically capable of performing the motion. That’s where the guys at SwingFit come into play. We all get together and discuss how they can be the best golfer they can be. They might be trying to win tournaments or make a living playing golf. I also see many regular amateurs, retired people, or working people who just want to get better.
If a golfer is really committed to improving their game, their body has to be up to the task. I’ll send them to people that can evaluate them and create a plan that’s tailored towards their unique needs. Then I’ll explain how the golfer’s body will need to pivot and see if they’re having trouble performing that motion. If so, we can figure out what we need to work and focus on to get them on the right track.
It’s very important to get your body balanced, but it’s even more important to get the golfer to be able to move his right hip, or left shoulder, or flex as he turns, for instance. We’l be able to add some dimension to what the club can do and what the ball can do. We do this by talking with each other and sharing helpful information.
Absolutely. It’s all about that open line of communication and that’s why we really enjoy working with Michael. He works with golfers technically and then sends them over to us so we can check them physically.
Michael, you mentioned that you worked with serious golfers who try to make a living playing golf and collegiate players. Probably one of the main demographics you see is someone in his late 50s and early 60s. Golf is one of the sports that people can even play well into our 70s if our bodies allow us. We unfortunately see a lot of injuries here at Tulsa Spine and Rehab. Tell us about some of the things you might typically see from the teaching side when your players experience an injury.
The most common injuries I see affect the low back. People with a low back injury will have trouble rotating through impact, extending at the right time, and flexing at the right time. In many cases we’ll get them in better shape so they are able to swing effectively.
Another injury I often see (which is the most difficult to deal with in my opinion) is some form of knee problem. When you’re talking about a left knee problem for a right-handed golfer, it’s going to be difficult to get them to apply pressure down on the left knee during impact. If we can’t improve the knee, it’ll result in major challenges. I also see hip injuries fairly often.
We really enjoy enhancing a golfer’s performance. Just like Michael, we often see people with injuries and so we need to focus on treatment. We’d ideally like to get ahead of the game by working on injury prevention.
There’s also a lot of new emerging science in this field. Michael uses a Trackman with many of his players, for example. The science of fitness is one of the fastest growing aspects of the game. People are paying more attention to their bodies when it comes to mobility, flexibility, and general core strength.
What’s neat about what we do, Michael, is that we can give specific exercises to a regular person who enjoys playing once or twice a week. Not only is it a good way to get some exercise, but it also makes you feel better.
I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today.
Thanks, Sean. I’m the only one in town using Trackman to give us a 3D view of what the golf club and ball are doing during the entire swing. We can use that data to figure how to get your body to move so you have total control of the club (and control of the ball as well).
If you need help, get in contact with me. I’m the Director of Golf and Lead Instructor at The Club at Indian Springs at Broken Arrow. I work closely with the guys at SwingFit to accomplish that common goal.
To learn more about Michael Boyd and the benefits of SwingFit, contact us online or give us a call at (918) 743-3737.
Podcast: Play in new window
