by Tim Vanderwilt, PT, ATC

Whether you are scoring above or below par, there are some important things to remember when heading out to the course. The great professional golfer Ben Hogan once said, “Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you are inclined to do, and you will probably come very close to having the perfect golf swing”. Golf requires the body to move in ways that we don’t typically move. The ability to move in these ways can make or break whether we enjoy the game that we love.

The importance of our ability to move, also known as mobility, can affect our golf swing. The golf analyst Peter Kostis said, “Too many golfers have tension in their necks, chest, and shoulders. They can’t turn. They can’t swing their arms”. The limitations of our body affect not only our ability to stay injury free, but also our ability to effectively hit the golf ball. The three most common areas golfers have difficulty mastering the golf swing include thoracic mobility, hip mobility, and body awareness. These areas are important for any golf swing allowing golfers to swing freely and hit the golf ball.

1. Thoracic rotation: This is the upper portion of our back. Inability to rotate and turn our shoulder affects our ability to generate higher clubhead speeds to hit longer drives on the tee box. The majority of our occupations or daily activities don’t require us to move in a rotational motion. When we get to the golf course we are stiff throughout thoracic spine. If we are not properly creating movement by warming up, we are more likely to cause injury and decrease our ability to create speed while hitting the ball.
2. Hip mobility: The golfers hips need to be able rotate to reduce stress on our lower spine. The lower back does not rotate well and relies on the hips to rotate. If that does not occur in the hips, the stress occurs in our lower back. Golfers can also generate power in the hip and pelvis while shifting weight during the backswing and follow through. The hips should be able to tolerate these loads and generate clubhead speed during this weight shift.
3. Body awareness: This includes balance and posture. Our posture when starting the golf swing can affect how we move throughout the swing. To be able to maintain our balance is key to being consistent with our swing.

These are just a few of the things that need to be covered when addressing mechanics of the golf swing. It is important to create habits that will effectively improve mobility and reduce the risk of injury. If you are having difficulty with these or other areas of the body while playing golf, please reach out online or call 866-588-0230. We would love to assist you to return to the course pain free and healthy. By doing this you should be able to enjoy the game of golf for a lifetime!

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