Tighten abs during swing?

[arturo28mx]

Question: are you supposed to tighten your abdominal muscles throughout the golf swing? (from start of backswing to after impact)

I did a search but did not find clear answers.

Thanks

[Golfingdad]

This is the kind of question you're supposed to ask your opponent, casually, right before your match. ;)

[rehmwa]

  Golfingdad said:

This is the kind of question you're supposed to ask your opponent, casually, right before your match. ;)

Do you exhale on your backswing, or on the downswing?

[RandallT]

I breathe in through my left nostril, thereby filling my right lung with air, causing the rotation of the shoulders to be correct. I also tighten my right abs on the downswing while releasing tension in my left abs, resulting in a more fluid rotation, due to the air exhausting from my right lung to my left lung and out my mouth. No nose breathing on the downswing.

Truthfully, I have no clue. But now I'm sure to duff my next shots thinking about what I should do.

[mvmac]

  arturo28mx said:

Question: are you supposed to tighten your abdominal muscles throughout the golf swing? (from start of backswing to after impact)

I did a search but did not find clear answers.

Thanks

The abs definitely play a role in the golf swing but I wouldn't say it something you purposely try to engage.  Just happens.  Want to know if your abs are suppose to be tight?  Make a 90 degree backswing keeping the head steady and hold it for 10 seconds

[saevel25]

The only time you ever really engage your abs consciously is either working out, or trying to with stand a punch to the stomach. Other than that, the abdominal muscles will activate, it is impossible for them not to. If you are holding a posture, or rotating around your spine, your abs are activating no matter what.

Its like saying, I am going to lift this remote control up, or pick this beer up to drink. Do you feel your bicep contract, like you might if you really concentrate on contracting it. Not really. But it doesn't mean its not contracting or activating.

[Otis32]

I thought the tighten the abs tip was more about getting the correct posture at address not so much about keeping them tight through the swing.  I would think any kind of concious tension during the swing would be counter productive to making a good swing.

[saevel25]

Once again you do not need to tighten your abs to have correct posture. Is it true that poor posture is do to inadequate ab strength, yes. But you can not correct it by contracting your abdominal muscles, you correct it by working out. But i am mostly talking about posture standing up, and sitting.

If you bend over, at the waist, your abs will engage. You might not feel them do so, but they are, if not you are going to damage your spine, and your body will not allow that. Everyone has some sort of minimal abdominal strength to move around and stand up. Golf posture i no different. You don't consciously contract your abs to stand up, or to sit down, why would you when your taking a golf posture?

[mvmac]

  Otis32 said:

I thought the tighten the abs tip was more about getting the correct posture at address not so much about keeping them tight through the swing.  I would think any kind of concious tension during the swing would be counter productive to making a good swing.

Like I said, hold the top of the backswing position, you're going to feel a decent amount of ab contraction.  But it's not something you consciously implement.