It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting warmer, it’s lighter longer and the grass is getting greener. Off in the distance you hear the call of the golf course reminding you it is time to get on the course. Before you answer the call and hit the links again this year, let’s look at the golf swing.
The golf swing is one of the most complex athletic movements in sports. As complex, challenging and difficult as it can be to hit the ball long and straight, there is no perfect swing. Look no further than the PGA tour. Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are the best players in the world, yet all have their own swing. If you watch closely, every professional has a unique swing which is based on what their body can do. The Titleist Performance Institute has done years of studying professional golfers and their swing patterns. They have found there is an infinite number of swing patterns based on what your body can do, but the most efficient swings follow the same sequence in their swing pattern.
The golf swing consists of a movement pattern starting with your pelvis and transferring up to torso, arms and the club. In the downswing, the pattern remains the same; the pelvis needs to move first and then torso, arms and contact the club on the ball. The entire body is involved in the golf swing; however, three important joints are the hips/pelvis, torso, and arms.
Pelvis: The first to move on the backswing and the downswing. Depending on which hand you swing the club with, does your hip allow you enough internal or external rotation (mobility problem)? If you stand in a stance position, can you tilt your pelvis up and down or side to side without moving any other part of your body (stability problem)?
Torso: Once the pelvis has completed its movement pattern, it’s time for the torso to continue. Deficits in this area can look like a lack of ability to rotate your upper back independently of the lower back. Do you have the movement to flex and extend your middle back in a full range of motion?
Arms: Can you reach over your head and touch your spine as far down as possible similarly between sides? Tightness or lack of mobility in the back of the shoulders can limit the mobility of arms to have full range for the backswing or downswing. Is there a difference in the range of motion between your wrists? This can impact contact right before you hit the ball.
Limitations at any joint will create less movement or require more stability. If either deficit is present, it can throw off the efficiency of your golf swing or even create pain. A local certified Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) practitioner that can complete a golf screen and identify any potential faults in your joints that can effect your golf swing. Depending on your individual results, provide some follow-up exercises to work on to address these or even recommend physical therapy if limitations are more severe/painful. Being aware of how your body moves can make 2026 your best ever year of golf.
