We're all well aware that the golf swing is not finished once contact is made. Hardly. Instead, we continue through to the finish position, which, from the physical standpoint, is where we completed delivering energy to the golf ball and the remaining energy is absorbed back into our system. When you look at TOUR players and talk to swing coaches, they always discuss a nice, fluid, balanced finish position.

We've talked in the past about working to improve our flexibility, balance, strength and power in relation to the golf swing but there is one physical component which is a part of every phase of the golf swing, including the finish position, we haven't discussed and that's muscular endurance.

In order to get into a balanced finish position every time -- or for that matter, perform every phase of golf swing correctly and consistently -- the body must have a certain level of muscular endurance developed within it. The reason for this is the golf swing is an athletic movement performed over and over again during a round of golf.

A repetitive movement, such as the golf swing, over time causes fatigue in the body. Once the body is fatigued, the ability to swing the club efficiently is compromised. One area you may see the swing compromised if the body lacks muscular endurance is the balanced finish position (other stages of the golf swing that are affected can be maintaining proper spine angle at transition or proper weight transfer in the downswing).

We obviously have to develop muscular endurance, which can be defined as the ability of the neuromuscular system of the body to perform a repetitive biomechanical movement without becoming fatigued. This is exactly what we're doing with the golf swing. In order to perform the biomechanical movement of the golf swing, we must have high levels of muscular endurance developed within body.

A high level of muscular endurance allows you to perform each phase of the golf swing over and over without getting fatigued. A great exercise to develop muscular endurance specific to the movement of the golf swing is the medicine ball diagonal chop.

This is a great muscular endurance exercise because you are training all the muscles within the body in a rotational pattern and if performed properly over time, it increases endurance of the muscles in the body involved in the golf swing.

To begin the exercise, stand with the feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, eyes looking forward, grasp a 4-6 pound medicine ball and place it next to the left hip. The torso and shoulder rotate slightly to place the hands and medicine ball in position. Simultaneously raise the medicine ball to a position above the right shoulder while straightening the legs. Rotation of the medicine ball occurs in a semicircle pattern while crossing in front of chest. The legs are completely straight by the time the medicine ball is above the right shoulder. Pause for one second in this position, return the medicine ball to the start position to the left of the hip with the knees bent. Perform the diagonal chopping movement for 10 to 15 repetitions, repeating the diagonal chopping movement on the opposite side of the body, starting on the right hip, moving above left shoulder.

A simple way to remember the proper technique is to imagine shoveling snow. Again, this is a great exercise to provide total body muscular endurance in a rotational pattern. In relation to golf, this helps develop a repeatable golf swing which concludes in a nice balanced finish position.