This article may ruffle some feathers in the golf and sports world, but we can't shy away from innovation and science when they reveal uncomfortable truths. It's time to confront the reality that fixing your mobility alone will not automatically fix your golf swing. Why? Because this premise is built on a flawed model that assumes all humans are the same—like robots—ignoring that each body expresses movement in its unique way. After all, we move identically and share the same morphology, do we?
Let’s examine the concept of the perfect kinematic sequence. In golf, this refers to the ideal order in which body segments should move during the downswing to optimize power, accuracy, and efficiency. This sequence focuses on how energy is transferred from the ground up through the body and into the club, ensuring each part of the body contributes to the swing. The traditional order is hips first (lower body initiation), followed by the torso/shoulders (upper body), then the arms and hands, and finally the club.
This model assumes that every golfer should fire their hips first during the downswing. But as we'll explore in this article, that's not true for every golfer. This hip-first initiation is typical of Terrestrial golfers (see my previous article for an in-depth explanation of Terrestrial golfers), especially those who naturally separate their lower body from their upper body—the well-known X-factor. Enter the famous "Pelvic Rotation Test," often regarded as a key benchmark for assessing mobility for golfers. The premise is simple: if you pass the test, you're deemed to have sufficient pelvic mobility, and you're "good to go." But if you fail, it can leave you feeling like you're not up to standard, potentially leading to frustration or discouragement.
The problem with this approach is the binary nature of the test itself—pass or fail, with little room for nuance. It fails to consider individual motor preferences and structural differences. A failure doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in trouble or that something is fundamentally wrong with your body. Instead, it could simply indicate that your natural movement patterns, motricity, or preferences differ from the standard being tested.
No judgment here! In our program, we embrace each golfer's unique profile. If you're a Terrestrial golfer with a preference for disassociation rotation (X-Factor), this could be your ideal sequence. This profile allows you to initiate movement by engaging the hips first, creating optimal separation between the lower and upper body.
But what about everyone else?
Some golfers might be able to adopt this sequence through hard work, but they'll never feel truly comfortable doing so. They might experience discomfort in their bodies, feeling tense rather than relaxed. But if the "perfect" sequence is the golden standard, they must follow it, right? Some might even think they’re just bad at golf because they struggle to conform to this standard.
Now, let’s revisit this "hips first" idea. Is it truly the only way? For Aerial golfers (again, refer to the previous article for more on this type), the downswing often starts with the shoulders, like a gentle drop, followed by a rapid clearing of the hips later in the sequence. It's a completely different system. Forcing Aerial golfers to prioritize their hips in the downswing could lead them to play against their natural strengths.
And we’re just getting started. Did you know we have pivot points in our spines that give us natural rotation, enhance our coordination, and reduce the risk of back injury? The major pivot, or gravity points, are located in the thoracic spine (T4 to T9) and the lumbar spine (L3 to L5), and they're used differently depending on whether you're Terrestrial or Aerial. This means some golfers naturally separate their hips and shoulders, while others associate these movements more closely. Don't get me wrong, there is always some degree of separation, but the sensation and intention differ greatly between the two types—and it’s not necessarily linked to any mobility problem. What we’re dealing with here is motor preferences.
Understanding your motor preferences significantly impacts how you approach every phase of your swing, from the takeaway to the backswing, and how your body coordinates through the downswing. These preferences determine whether your body works more as a unified whole—like a block—or with more separation between different parts. This insight shapes not only your technique but also your sensations and intentions throughout the swing.
Your motor preferences affect how your hands, arms, shoulders, hips and spine interact. Do they move in harmony, or do they function more independently?
The concept of the perfect kinematic sequence tends to look for what it expects to find. And while it's normal for different models to exist and for people to have their visions and sensations, we need to open our eyes to the diversity in human movement. We are not robots; there are multiple ways to swing a club successfully. The so-called perfect kinematic sequence is another model that claims to solve every golfer’s problems—but it doesn't. In fact, has the prevalence of lower back issues in golfers improved recently? Not really. So, is this model a one-size-fits-all solution? It might work for some, but definitely not for everyone—and it’s not solely about mobility.
Selling that we're all unique and should swing in our way, only to prescribe programs built around a rigid model of the perfect kinematic sequence, makes little sense to me—though I respect that some professionals believe in it. Human beings are far more complex. You need to understand a golfer’s motor preferences first and foremost.
Let me be clear: mobility is essential. It's particularly vital for Terrestrial golfers, who rely heavily on fluidity and flexibility, especially in their hips, to maintain their grounded and connected movements. For them, hip mobility can be the key to maximizing rotational power and creating smooth transitions throughout the swing. On the other hand, Aerial golfers benefit more from focusing on flexibility in their posterior chain. But here's the key takeaway: just as every golfer's movement is unique, so too should be their training. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Everything—whether it’s mobility work, strength training, or even flexibility routines—should be individualized based on the golfer's needs and motor preferences.
But here’s the kicker: if you set up your body at address in a way that goes against how your central nervous system naturally balances itself, no amount of mobility or flexibility work will fix your swing anyway. Most of the compensations you see in your swing are often due to your body’s primary struggle: the constant fight against gravity. Balance is key. Adapting your posture to your motor preferences provides the best balance, which leads to optimal coordination, maximum power, and overall efficiency.
Your central nervous system controls your body, and your body controls your swing. Focus on improving the aspects that matter most based on your body’s needs rather than fixating on isolated parts that others may label as dysfunctional. Everything in the body is connected; we cannot just divide it into separate segments. We are born asymmetrical, not symmetrical, but we are perfect in our ways. The challenge is to solve the puzzle of what works best for you based on your motor preferences and create the perfect intention around it.
With over 20 years of scientific research from Volodalen and hands-on experience, we are here to support and revolutionize the way coaches and athletes approach performance. Our goal is simple: to evolve outdated models and create methods that truly serve athletes in a more personalized and effective way. We offer a unique and comprehensive assessment that will not only reshape your understanding of the human body but also transform how you interact with the world around you. This isn’t just about improving performance—it’s about unlocking potential you never knew existed.
Every athlete deserves the chance to perform at their absolute best, and it’s time to move beyond the one-size-fits-all solutions of the past. By optimizing each golfer’s individual system, we’re empowering them to reach new levels of efficiency, power, and precision. This is the future of coaching, and we’re here to help you lead the way.
If you're ready to lead the way in motor preferences across the U.S., contact us. We offer clinics, consulting, and more—all designed to educate and empower you to become the best in your field. Together, let’s unlock the full potential of your athletes and push the boundaries of performance.
Take care, and let’s connect soon!