Muscle Memory...39
Muscles have no memory
Almost every golf training aid proclaims that it creates “muscle memory” of an improved swing. Using the training aid will never result in your muscles remembering that new swing. Put a muscle under a microscope and all you will see are muscle cells. Muscles do not contain a single memory cell. There is no such thing as muscle memory.
When we use a pen to write the word “fairway” the pen is not moving as the result of muscle memory. It is moving because as we are writing we are remembering what the word looks like. In response to that memory, the body moves the pen accordingly. It works the same way with a golf club. Your training aid or range balls should create an idea in your mind of what you want to do during the swing.
Memory exists in our brain, not our muscles. Training aids or time on the range can be helpful only if it results in you arriving at a clear mental understanding of exactly what change you made to produce improved ball flight.
Muscle memory—not really.
Each Thursday we’ll bring you a helpful insight.
Swing to the target,
Ed
Have a golf buddy who would enjoy our tips?