There has been a growing interest in the world of golf in relation to fitness and performance. The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) founded by Dr. Greg Rose and PGA of America Teaching Professional Dave Phillips, was developed to examine the relationship between how the golfer moves their body and the effect that has on their golf swing.
To assist golfers with maximizing this movement relationship, TPI created a program to educate and certify healthcare practitioners. Physiotherapist Carter Piercey is one of these certified TPI practitioners. Carter is an avid golfer and works at the Dartmouth location of the ACCEL Physiotherapy and Sport Performance Centre. He has been using the TPI knowledge regularly with clients.
To assess and understand how a golfer moves, Carter utilizes the TPI functional movement screen. The screen is very effective in analyzing potential performance and injury risk factors and involves 16 tests. These tests evaluate a golfer’s movement pattern, stability, mobility and golf-specific strength.
Specifically, the screen focuses on five major aspects of the golfer’s movement and swing:
- Core control
- Upper body rotation
- Lower body rotation
- Posture
- Setting and releasing the club
If a golfer fails a certain screen, there is a high likelihood it will impact their golf swing. For example, during the set-up position if the golfer displays characteristics of an “S-posture” (an excessive curve in the lumbar spine), they can be affected in three major ways:
- Improper ball strikes: The S curve causes decreased stability and inconsistent angling of the spine with each swing of the club resulting in incorrect strikes of the ball.
- Loss of power: When the pelvis is tilted forward and lower back arched excessively, the range of motion of the lumbar spine is impaired. The golfer is unable to transfer power from the lower body to the torso and ultimately the club head.
- Increased risk of injury: S-posture typically correlates with a reversed spinal angle at impact. This angle is a major reason why many golfers have back pain.
Unfortunately, correcting a golfer’s S-posture isn’t as easy as just reminding them to “tuck in your pelvis”. The only way to properly address this is for the TPI-trained Physiotherapist and golfer to work together to address the muscle imbalances and body mechanics that led to the curve.
Getting a TPI screen completed can therefore have multiple benefits, most importantly, being improvements in golf performance. By working with a TPI-trained Physiotherapist, a personalized training program can be completed to address limitations. The TPI Physiotherapist can also address the imbalances that lead to pain and injury.
While working with golfers of all levels, from weekend warriors to the more committed, Carter has found that completing a TPI movement screen has helped improve swing, performance and reduce the risk of injury. The TPI movement assessment also assists with the rehabilitation of an existing injury.
So, with golf season just around the corner, golfers can book an appointment at the ACCEL Physiotherapy and Sports Performance Centre in Dartmouth with Physiotherapist Carter Piercey to get a TPI screening completed and start a journey to a better golf game.
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