Recent research into the muscle mechanics of the golf swing has yielded some interesting results.

Dr. Scott Lephart, director of the Neuromuscular Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for Sports Medicine, has discovered that the hip abductors are the main muscles that produce power in the golf swing.

Lephart tested more than 700 golfers and found the golf swing to be the most difficult athletic motion to analyze of all the motions that he has tested.

Lephart's research showed that shoulder and torso flexibility are important in producing a good golf swing, but the “hip abductors, which engage when you move your legs apart,” are what separate elite players, who are 30 percent stronger in these muscles, from the rest of the field.

In fact, golfers with weak hips are more predisposed to swing errors than those with stronger hips.

“Immediately before impact, stress equal to two to three times the golfer's body weight is placed on the hips. The twisting action of the golf swing is like ringing out a wet towel,” concludes Lephart.

To strengthen your abductor muscles, stand on one foot with your hands on your hips and slowly move your elevated leg from side to side in front of you. Do this 10 times then switch to the other leg.

While giving a lesson the other day, a student asked when Vijay Singh was going to publish a book about all the different swing devices he has devised over the years of his untiring practice.

Singh is known as one of the most consistent players on Tour, and uses his shoulder turn and rhythm as the two swing keys that determine how he plays on any given day.

According to Vijay “your swing doesn't change much from day to day, but your timing does. Groove good rhythm in your warm up then stick to it on the golf course. A slower turn produces a longer turn which means more power. I try to make a slow turn at the top.”

Another key is to keep the club in front of you during your entire swing.

You read about this phrase and hear about it on all the golf telecasts. It simply means to hit the ball in front of you instead of delivering the club from the old inside angle and from behind you.

You can find much untapped power and directional control by turning your torso and your arms and hands and golf club at the same relative speed. Power golf is obviously on every golfer's mind these days. Huge headed drivers with technologically advanced shafts are the weapons of choice for hitting the long ball.

If you own a new driver and are not comfortable with it, try getting the head reshafted. After all, the shaft is the engine that moves the driver head, and the engine has to be right for your swing.

With new fast set epoxies, it is easier than ever for any competent club repair person to change shafts and find the one that will help you maximize your distance and direction. In fact, you can probably swing a new shafted club within an hour or two if the job is done the right way and you do not have to spend an arm and a leg to find the shaft to fit you.

There are many quality shafts available with many different swing properties at reasonable prices.

We are close to September and to the great golfing weather that autumn brings with it. If this fall is anything like the summer, we should have A1 conditions well into the future.

Greens are traditionally fast and smooth in the fall, and there are still tournaments to play so keep it going. You never know when you will hit upon a swing key that will sustain your game for years to come.

See you on the links!