As a golf lover, you know there is no better feeling than getting out on the course in the Floridian sunshine and teeing off with friends or solo!
But could your back be why you’re not achieving the perfect swing and handicap you’ve always dreamed of?
In this blog we’ll take a look at the reasons your back could be stopping you from getting the perfect golf swing, and what you can do to improve it and boost your performance so you can feel confident and injury free on the course.
Exploring Swing Mechanics To Get The Perfect Golf Swing
As any seasoned golfer knows, achieving the perfect golf swing is crucial to playing consistent and effective rounds.
You can unlock greater swinging power and accuracy by focusing on key techniques such as grip, spinal alignment, and weight transfer.
However, if you have back pain or stiffness, it can be difficult to successfully navigate these techniques and put them into practice as you must be able to have flexibility, a wide range of movement, and core strength.
If your body isn’t on par in one of these areas or is beginning to compensate due to pain, it could be the reason you’re not achieving the perfect swing every golfer dreams about!
Improving Flexibility And Mobility
As mentioned above, flexibility and mobility are the keys to success!
I’ve seen firsthand from our patients how a lack of flexibility and mobility can hinder a golfer’s performance on the course and it can mean the difference between enjoying a round and getting frustrated at your swing.
By incorporating movements such as hip rotations and hamstring stretches into your routine, you can increase your range of movement and decrease joint stiffness giving you more power on your swing.
Of course, it’s not just about swinging harder or faster but finding the right angles and movements to allow for a natural and fluid swing and you definitely can’t achieve a fluid movement with janky joints and a sore lower back!
Understanding The Perfect Posture For The Perfect Golf Swing
Proper posture will always play a vital role in helping you achieve the perfect golf swing.
Good posture starts with a solid stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Keep your back straight, but relaxed, and make sure your arms are fully extended to allow for smoothness in your swing.
With this stance, you can be assured you will achieve fluidity in your stroke and even prevent injuries to your lower back, neck, and shoulders.
Although on-course posture is essential, you should also monitor your posture when you’re not teeing off. If you feel yourself slouching, try to stand up straight and roll your shoulders back.
This is an excellent way to develop a habit of maintaining proper posture!
Thoracic Rotation
The thoracic rotation might sound scary and scientific, but it’s easy to get the hang of it!
Your thoracic region is your upper back and not being able to rotate this area freely or twist your shoulders properly decreases the speed you can swing.
In golfers, this area can become painful or stiff because, in our daily lives, we don’t tend to use this type of rotation which can negatively affect the fluidity of movement in your upper back and shoulders.
In order to use this body function and get the perfect golf swing, it’s essential that you warm up before you tee off and get this area of your back moving freely and minimizing your risk of injury.
Understanding How Manual Therapy Can Help
You Achieve The Perfect Golf Swing
Manual therapy techniques can help you achieve your best golf performance yet, and even Tiger Woods says so!
In a recent edition of The Golf Almanac, Tiger Woods detailed his workout and how important manual therapy is to what he does and it enables him to rarely encounter an injury!
He uses stretching techniques (just as we do here at Manual Physical Therapy!) to completely relax his body, minimize any risk of injury, and maintain mobility and flexibility in the body.
Here at Manual Physical Therapy, we practice methods like full-body stretching and correcting compensations people’s bodies make when they are injured.
We believe these are the best holistic methods to give you the best chance of becoming pain-free and achieving your perfect golf swing whether you play golf for fun or competitively.
Why Not Try A Golf Readiness Assessment?
If you’ve been experiencing lower back pain after golf for a long time and you feel as though it’s only getting worse, it’s time to do something about it and give your body the care it needs to get you back out onto the golf course and performing at your very best!
Here at Manual Physical Therapy, we’re currently offering you the opportunity to come in for a golf readiness assessment.
During your 1-1 assessment you will be able to talk to one of our chronic pain specialist PTs about your lower back pain, ask any questions you have and find out what the best treatment options are for you to move forward.
Then you can finally get to the bottom of the cause of your lower back pain after golf and be able to enjoy your games carefree without the dread of back pain when you get home!
You can arrange your golf readiness assessment by filling in our simple web form, or if you prefer to talk over the telephone you can call us at (941) 226-2605 and we will be happy to arrange your visit!
Other Helpful Links For People Who Want To Improve Their Golf Game
Alternatively, if you feel you aren’t ready to come into our clinic just yet, here’s some more free information to help you manage your lower back pain at home.
Grab your copy of our free downloadable back pain report – free back pain report
Read our other chronic pain blogs – How To Sleep With Lower Back Pain and 6 Reasons Why Your Previous Physical Therapy Didn’t Work
Follow us on social media – Manual Physical Therapy and Concierge Services Facebook Page or Manual Concierge PT Instagram
