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Golf Swing Mechanics

There are an infinite number of swing styles, but there is one efficient way for every player to swing and it is based on what the player can physically do. Understand how your body’s limitations can influence your golf swing and how to address those limitations through the proper channels; whether it’s through swing instruction, physical rehabilitation or strength and conditioning exercise.

Why we get hurt golfing

The most efficient swing is not the same for every golfer, because efficiency is unique to their body.

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Understand how your body’s limitations can influence your golf swing and how to address those limitations through the proper channels; whether it’s through swing instruction, physical rehabilitation or strength and conditioning exercise. We will spend time teaching you why your swing may be inefficient and how to optimize it with less effort with specialized methods from level 2 medical professional certification through Titleist Performance Institute (TPI).

Learn more about TPI at https://www.mytpi.com/experts/damisiura

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Back Pain

Back pain is the most common symptom from the amateur golfer. It is typically caused by early extension during the downswing and poorly sequenced swing mechanics, a right handed golfer usually hurts the lower right side of their back.

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Neck Pain

Neck pain is one of the most common golf injuries that keep golfers out of the game for good. Although your head (should) stay still when you swing, your body rotates relative to your head, so proper cervical mobility is crucial for a smooth swing.

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Wrist Pain

Wrist pain along with neck pain is another leading injury that keeps golfers off the course. Learn how your swing style or mobility restrictions may be contributing to straining your wrist and what you can do to fix it!

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Golfer’s elbow

This condition describes an overuse golf injury that causes muscle inflammation inside the elbow. This injury runs from the bony point of your elbow and can stretch down your forearm, making it difficult to extend or lift your arm. Golfer’s elbow can make it difficult to perform gripping, throwing, or swinging motions. Yes you can also get tennis elbow from golfing (similar but the opposite side of your elbow). A lack of shoulder mobility is often seen in golfers with tennis elbow.

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Rotator cuff

 Rotator cuff strains and tears can occur from either acute/traumatic or overuse causes. For example, partaking in repetitive dysfunctional swinging motions, can result in rotator cuff tears. A proper powerful golf swing actually uses very little energy from your shoulders - so if your shoulders hurt when you golf you are likely swinging inefficiently.

A few tips to reduce injury likelihood

Film yourself swinging

Oftentimes a golfer does something during his/her swing unintentionally and just needs someone to point it out to them. If you film yourself you may pick up on something that you’re unable to notice while swinging.

Dissociation of upper and lower body

If you are unable to dissociate movements between your hips and shoulders you will be unable to swing smoothly. Try to rotate your hips left and right without allowing your upper body to twist, and vice versa.

Swinging too frequently

I’ve met golfers that go to the range and hit a ball about every ten seconds for an hour, that's way too many swings even for a pro. Learn to take your time and take less swings.

Swinging with too much effort

A common mistake is to swing with as much effort as you can - with the wrong parts of your body. It’s not really the effort that is the issue but rather where the effort originates from, your lower body is responsible for the majority of power during your downswing and should rotate towards the target before your upper body. If you try swinging without any effort from your arms you’ll be surprised how far the ball will go!

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When a golf injury occurs, it typically develops due to one of the following causes:

  • Lack of mobility

  • Poor Mechanics

  • Inability to separate upper and lower body motions

  • Poor kinematic sequencing and motor control

  • Poor segmental stabilization

  • Inadequate stability

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By improving your mobility, stability, coordination, and sequencing, you will be swinging smoother than ever. We will do this through:

  • TPI Performance Screen

  • Identifying swing faults

  • Improving your mobility

  • Scoring your golf fitness strengths and weaknesses

  • Measuring strength, flexibility, balance, rotation, etc

  • Assessing your body’s response to treatments

  • Teaching the proper swing mechanics for your body

  • Make your swing more efficient and more powerful with less effort

  • Improve your coordination and sequencing

Understanding why golf injuries occur.

There is always a reason for a golf injury to occur. If your swing doesn't feel smooth, you're putting yourself at increased risk with each shot.

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We've learned it's easier and more effective to teach golfers how to move their bodies differently while they swing rather than to tell them how to swing differently.

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