Today I am going to be teaching you 4 simple at home assessments to identify what may be holding you back from shooting lower scores this season. As a golfer myself, I have watched many different player’s swings. One of the most common problems I see is limited body rotation. When your rotation is limited, you might compensate in many different ways to make ball contact. The following 4 tests will help identify where your limitations are so you can address them and become a more consistent golfer!
1) Seated trunk rotation
Sit on a chair so that your hips and knees are at the same level. Squeeze a pillow between your knees to keep your hips steady, and place a broomstick behind your neck. Rotate left and right to see if your degree of rotation is the same on each side. You should be able to rotate > 45 degrees in each direction. This particular movement is an absolute must for any golfer whose goal is consistency. Without this movement, you will be forced to slide or extend up during your golf swing causing you to rely on timing up the swing.
2) Toe touch
Keep your knees straight, bend at the waist, and touch your toes. This ensures adequate mobility of your hips, legs, and trunk to avoid swing faults such as standing up during the backswing, early extension in the downswing, and having too much weight on your heels or toes.
3) Standing shoulder rotation
Make sure you’re standing upright, and avoid arching your back to compensate. Lift your arm and shoulder to 90 degrees (as shown in the first picture). Rotate your hand up and backwards towards the sky. You should be able to match your arm to your spine angle without compensating (picture 3). This movement is the biggest factor in getting the club on plane, and not coming over the top. If you cannot successfully pass this test, you will have a very hard time delivering the club from the inside without compensating during the swing.
4) Chin to collarbone
Standing upright, keep your teeth together and try and touch your chin to the midpoint of your collarbone. This is probably the most underrated test out of the 4. If you cannot touch your chin to your collarbone with your teeth together, then you will absolutely not be able to make a complete backswing without lifting your head. The same problem will occur on the downswing, as the head will want to go with the shoulders instead of staying down through impact.
If you are interested in addressing your limitations or would like a further, in-depth assessment, please call the clinic at (226) 780-2529, send an email to info@defysportsperformance.com, or book online under physiotherapist Brandon Bates. To find out more information about the TPI Golfer assessment, please book a no-charge virtual consultation with Brandon Bates.
