Matt Palazzolo is a Golf Performance Specialist based in Nashville, Tennessee.
My clientele is comprised of golfers whose skills we’re improving through golf-specific fitness that focuses on proper rotation and desired positions within the golf swing. I’ll ask clients to send me a video of their swing, which is something they often have in their library since they’re usually already working with a PGA Professional coach. I use these swing videos to determine what primary areas to address first.
Regardless of what they’re working on with their PGA Professional, our first four hours together are spread over multiple sessions, and serve as an introduction to movement and pivot. We cover the fundamentals of how to rotate, trying to instill the feeling of the left side pulling, the right side pushing and how to use the ground to get loaded in the legs and drive the golf swing. During this time, I get a sense of their kinesthetic awareness and movement patterns, then I tailor a program specific to their needs.
I like to use the driving range to observe my clients’ practice, and then work on specific movements and exercises immediately afterward in the gym. If time allows, we will head back to the range for some additional swings, comparing the before and after. If we are short on time together, the clients still return to the range, and will often send me updated swing videos.
My philosophy is to engage with members as much as possible. I am a huge proponent of communication via text or email so my clients know I am available as a resource, even outside of scheduled lessons. This virtual engagement is an important aspect of our relationships.
Working with a simulator is a great tool when weather prohibits us from being out on the range. I also like to use an impact wall for ball throws, as this allows us to continue focusing on rotation with an outcome that enables my clients to feel a specific position while throwing the ball. It is also effective in working on the pivot, getting the arms, shoulders and hips involved. We still find ways to incorporate the rhythm and tempo, which is a factor I feel is left out of performance training programs far too often.
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