Archived articles below!
How To Prevent “Spinning Out” in the Golf Swing
Spinning out in the golf swing is often marked by staying stuck on the trail side, an out-to-in club path, and an inability to effectively shift weight to the lead side. This pattern can lead to decreased clubhead speed, reduced distance, and increased stress on the body—raising the risk of injury. But what causes this inefficient movement pattern in the first place? And more importantly, what can we do to correct it and unlock a more powerful, efficient swing?
Mastering The Single Leg Swing Drill
Once you’ve established full hip mobility—ideally with at least 30 degrees of internal rotation on the lead side—developed strength and motor control through slow rotational movement, and built the ability to control hip and pelvic rotation at high speeds, it’s time to bring it all together. The single-leg swing drill does exactly that.
What’s often overlooked in golf instruction is breaking down and training the essential components that make up the full swing. By mastering this drill, you’ll not only enhance your ability to generate speed and power, but also build a foundation for greater durability and longevity in your game.
The Best Exercise for Neck and Upper Back Pain In Golfers
Neck, upper back, and shoulder pain are some of the most common complaints among golfers—whether you're dealing with a lingering chronic issue or a more recent acute injury. While the underlying causes can vary widely from one player to another, there’s one foundational exercise that I recommend across the board: the DNS 3-Month Prone Position.
Why? Because this single position targets multiple key elements often lacking in golfers today: stability of the shoulder complex, optimal centration of the glenohumeral joint, extension of the cervico-thoracic junction (a crucial but often underutilized movement), and activation of the deep neck flexors. These components are essential for both performance and long-term pain resolution.
Let’s break down why these elements are so critical in the context of golf rehab and how they can help you move and feel better on and off the course.
Changing the Way You Hinge Helps Hip and Knee Pain
The way we hinge at the hips is more than just a technical cue—it’s a foundational movement pattern that influences the health and longevity of our hips, knees, and lower back. By retraining the hinge, particularly through drills like the kickstand hinge, we not only improve mobility and strength but also address the root causes of common pain patterns. This approach allows us to offload stressed joints, lengthen tight and compressed tissues, and create a more balanced and efficient movement strategy. Whether you're an elite athlete or someone managing chronic discomfort, refining your hip hinge could be the key to unlocking long-term relief, improved performance, and resilience in daily activities.
The Power of the Vertical Forces in the Golf Swing
Integrating mobility, strength, and swing-specific power work—especially focused on the lead leg—can significantly enhance your ability to generate and transfer vertical force in the golf swing. While these drills are a great start, every golfer presents unique movement patterns and limitations that may require personalized attention. If vertical force or ground connection feels like a limiting factor in your swing, a customized assessment and treatment plan could be the most effective path to improvement.
Do You Think There is Hope, Part 1: Hip Pain
I often hear this question from patients: "Do you think there’s hope for me?"
What they’re really asking is whether there’s a realistic path to achieving the pain relief and functional improvements they desperately need and want. Before answering that question, there are important factors we need to assess. However, one critical point stands out: many golfers spend months — even years — silently wondering if change is possible, without ever seeking expert help in rehab and performance. This delay can mean years lost, reduced longevity in the game, and missed opportunities to fully recover. The right guidance can help golfers reclaim their ability to play without the pain and limitations that have held them back.
Why the Abduct and Shift Drill Is So Helpful for Golfers
Golf demands coordinated rotation from multiple joints, ideally without compensation. Where things often break down—both in performance and injury risk—is when we lose true mobility at key joints and unknowingly substitute with compensatory movements. A common example among amateur golfers is the loss of internal rotation and adduction at the hips. Equally important is the ability to control pelvic rotation through the glute max—often referred to as the “king” of the golf swing. That’s what makes the Abduct and Shift Drill so valuable: it targets both of these movement patterns simultaneously, just like they’re required in the swing itself.
Shoulder Pain in Golfers
Shoulder pain is one of the top three most common complaints among both amateur and professional golfers. It often shows up in the lead shoulder, especially during the top of the backswing—right when that shoulder is forced to move across the body under load. But what's really causing this discomfort? And what about the trail shoulder—how does that one end up in trouble too? Let’s break down the “why” behind shoulder pain in golf and explore how we can prevent and address it.
How To Use Your Core in the Golf Swing
The core is far more than just a set of muscles to be braced during your swing — it’s your foundation for long-term, efficient, and pain-free golf. By building true core stability through intra-abdominal pressure, training elasticity for power and sequencing, and developing endurance to maintain these qualities under fatigue, you give yourself the best chance to swing consistently, generate speed, and protect your low back. Don’t just chase strength or aesthetics — train the core with purpose. Prioritize these three pillars in your programming, and you’ll see results not just in your swing, but in how your body feels round after round.
3 Things Medical Doctors, Physical Therapist, and Chiropractors Get Wrong with Nashville Golfers
Where do things go wrong for Nashville golfers struggling with chronic or recurring pain? The problem isn’t just the pain itself—it’s the system designed for volume, not quality care. Golf, like any sport, comes with its share of injuries, affecting professionals, amateurs, and weekend players alike. Yet, all too often, the standard approach relies on pain medications, steroid injections, cookie-cutter treatment plans, and the same seven chiropractic adjustments ("the flying seven"). While this may offer temporary relief for some, many find it ineffective—or worse, a revolving door of short-term fixes. The truth is, golfers deserve better.
Every Golfer Should Have This in Their Warmup
The golf swing is a powerful, high-speed movement that places significant demands on the body. While it may not involve tackling or sprinting, the forces generated can be intense, making physical preparation essential for both performance and injury prevention. More than ever, golfers recognize that training their bodies plays a crucial role in their game. A proper warm-up is key—not just to loosen up, but to optimize mobility, stability, and motor control through rotation. To elevate your pre-round routine and ensure you're primed for peak performance, incorporate this movement into your warm-up…
3 Key Test’s for All Nashville Golfers
When comparing yourself to the best golfers in the world, you might look at handicap, driving distance, greens in regulation, or strokes gained. But what about your body?
Does your swing generate a kinematic sequence like the elite ball strikers? If we put you on force plates, would your power, direction, and timing match the best? How do your raw physical attributes—like vertical jump height or strength—measure up?
At the end of the day, your body is the engine behind your swing. So before diving into high-tech data, let’s ask a simpler question: Is your body even capable of producing a swing that can compete at the highest level?
Here are three simple tests—no equipment needed—to find out.
The Top 3 Most Common Spring Golf Injuries
Spring is an exciting time for golfers returning to the course, but it's also the season when overuse injuries are most common. Low back pain, elbow and wrist pain, and shoulder injuries can all develop due to sudden increases in swing volume, poor mechanics, and insufficient strength or mobility. The key to avoiding these setbacks is a strategic approach:
Gradual Ramp-Up – Ease back into playing and practice rather than going all-in too soon.
Strength & Mobility Training – Focus on building resilience in key joints and muscle groups.
Swing Mechanics – Work on efficiency to reduce unnecessary strain and excessive forces.
Proactive Care – Chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and structured rehab exercises can help prevent minor discomfort from turning into long-term injuries.
By prioritizing these elements, you can enjoy a pain-free and performance-driven golf season. If you're already experiencing discomfort, take the necessary steps to modify volume, address movement restrictions, and restore function—so you can keep playing your best game.
Where Do Medicine Balls Fit in Golf Rehab Treatment Plans?
The kinematic sequence depends on generating power from the ground up. Without strong, controlled leg drive, we lose the ability to maintain posture, separate the pelvis from the trunk, and execute an efficient, repeatable swing. This not only hinders performance but also increases the risk of pain and injury in the lower back, knees, hips, and shoulders.
Medicine ball drills help bridge this gap by training lower-body power while refining upper-body coordination and mechanics—offering a key solution to lower-extremity weakness and poor motor control.
The Real Cause of Chronic Low Back Pain in Golfers
Low back pain is a common and persistent issue among golfers, often resulting from repeated stress and overuse rather than sudden injury. Addressing this effectively requires going beyond simple symptom relief techniques like cupping, dry needling, scraping, taping, and adjustments. While these methods can help manage discomfort, the true key to long-term relief lies in improving the mobility, strength, and endurance of the hips, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine. By analyzing the forces at play in your unique golf swing, we can develop a personalized, progressive plan that moves seamlessly from rehabilitation to peak performance—ensuring you stay pain-free and on the course for the long haul.
Why You Need To Be Strong To Be Flexible
True movement freedom isn’t about just being flexible—it’s about being mobile. Mobility isn’t simply stretching further; it’s about having access to a full range of motion and, more importantly, having the strength to control it. The goal isn’t to passively lengthen muscles indefinitely but to build stability and strength within our available movement. So how do we develop the mobility we need, rather than just chasing flexibility? The answer lies in strength!
The Kinetic Sequence in the Golf Swing: Part 2
Distance in the golf swing directly correlates with higher payouts on the PGA Tour, making speed a crucial factor for success. To maximize these forces efficiently, we must refine the kinetic sequence, ensuring a clear and strategic approach to improving force production. By doing so, we can seamlessly integrate newfound speed, strength, and power into the golf swing—enhancing performance while minimizing compensations.
The Kinetic Sequence in the Golf Swing: Part 1
This week, let's take a closer look at the kinetic sequence in the golf swing—the powerhouse behind the kinematic sequence you’ve been reading about. The kinetic sequence outlines the forces driving the fluid motion of the swing. But how do these forces come together to create an efficient and powerful kinematic sequence? Let’s break it down below.
How the Foot Creates Power In the Golf Swing
This week, I want to dive deeper into the critical role the foot plays in the golf swing. We'll explore how forces generated during the swing move through the foot, the specific capabilities your foot needs to create and transfer these forces effectively, and practical strategies to enhance your foot's ability to support your performance. By understanding and improving this foundational element, we can help you build a more efficient and powerful swing, setting the stage for better balance, control, and overall consistency in your game.
The Key To Power in the Golf Swing
Generating power is the cornerstone of a successful golf swing. Increased power translates to higher clubhead speed, which leads to greater ball speed and more distance off the tee. In today’s game, elite-level pros are prioritizing distance like never before, recognizing its critical role in lowering scores. Data consistently shows that gaining distance can be one of the most effective ways to reduce strokes. But how do we make this a reality? It all begins with mastering the kinematic sequence, then applying higher forces through the kinetic sequence.