Many of us we would love to swing the club like our favorite tour player. Most of us physically cannot. This is due to either a lack of strength, knowledge, flexibility or mobility. This was a big topic in early October at the Kapalua PGA teaching conference. One of the speakers was Damon Goddard, Jordan Spieths strength and performance coach. He works with many top players and great athletes. He discussed the challenges many of us and tour players have with our bodies trying to make a consistent, powerful golf swing. 
Just because you have limitations doesn’t mean you can’t play well. I have poor mobility in my ankles, knees, hips, spine, neck and shoulders. I still play well because I understand my limitations and have the help of Accelerate physical Therapy. Dr. Van Leuven and Dr. Mead work much like the great performance coach Dammon Goddard in helping improve and educate their athletes.
Most of us have some body issues and can either work on those or at least work around them. This is not always flexibility but sometime mobility. The most basic example is in the back swing. A majority of amatuers backswings gets messy when their hands get above shoulder height. This is when we start to test our mobility. When this happens the right hand starts to move off the club, left elbow starts to fly, posture starts to fall apart, weight moves to outside of right foot and more. These “errors” obviously cause a problem with consistancy and power.
If you want to swing your best and hit if far you should probably understand how your body functions. If your in the greater Dallas area I suggest contacting Mr. Goddard at AMPD Golf Fitness. If your near the Newport Beach, CA area I suggest contacting Accelerate Physical Therapy (949) 502-3388 and get an evaluation. For around $100 you can learn what your body can physically do or what you need to work on.
Often times this evaluation is more important than a golf lesson. If we as golf instructors try to get you to make a swing you can’t repeat due to limitations this would be a waste of time and money. Many players on tour value their performance coach as much or more than their swing coach.
You may have a great golf swing but have been working on the wrong fundamentals……
Jim Hartnett, PGA
