THE MOST OVERLOOKED joint

ANKLE STRENGTH AND MOBILITY can put your game on firmer footing.

By Katherine Kershisnik-Sieg and Baylor Sieg

Admit it. If you’re a golfer who hits the gym, you’re probably focusing on your shoulders, hips and core. Yes, those body segments promote strength and mobility during the golf swing, but what about your ankle joint?

The ankle can just as easily impact a golfer’s swing—just ask Masters champion Jon Rahm (see page 44). A too-stiff ankle joint can result in scooping or dipping during the downswing, which applies to 55 percent of amateur golfers. Whereas, if the ankle is unstable—otherwise known as a collapsed arch or flat feet—it results in swaying or sliding throughout the golf swing among 45 percent of amateur golfers.

How do you know if your ankles have the proper mobility and arch stability that are ideal for golf?

LET’S DO TWO BASIC TESTS.

TEST 1

KNEES OVER TOES:

Use a ruler or tape measure to mark 4.5 inches from your big toe to the wall (you can also use your driver head, as the average one is roughly 4.5 inches wide). Then without letting your heel pop up, reach your knee over your middle toe to see if you can touch the wall.

TEST 2

KNEES OVER TOES + TOWEL UNDER THE ARCH

Stick a rolled-up golf towel under you arch to support it and perform the same test as above.

WHAT WERE YOUR RESULTS?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE IT?

RESULT ONE: I COULDN’T REACH THE WALL ON EITHER TEST

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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

You have reduced ankle joint mobility. This could be due to joint restrictions and/ or calf tightness and Achilles tendon issues.