Your Golf Swing: How To Avoid Being An 'Elevator Man'

When I was "very" young, there was no such thing as an elevator that anybody who stepped into could operate. There was always a uniformed man politely asking for a floor number that he could take you to.

To my young mind, this 'elevator man' was instantly transformed into 'rocket man'. He became my spaceship captain and I was his newest recruit as I stepped into the elevator, willing to "boldly go where no man has gone before".

Youthful fantasizing about space travel has now given way to hopeful fantasizing about a golf swing that can launch a golf ball into the stratosphere.

The fact is, rather than being 'rocket men' most golfers become 'elevator men' unable to hold their posture consistently through their golf swing. In other words, at the top of the back swing there is more elevation of the spine than rotation of the spine.

This creates any number of additional swing plane faults. The greatest danger from my perspective as a physical therapist is that increased forces are transferred into the lower back and shoulders as a result of a lack of thoracic spine mobility.

It therefore is not a question of if there is an injury but when and where. No wonder than that the results of a TPI survey of 7000 amateur golfers reveal that 28.1% of them reported low back pain; 12. 24% reported left shoulder pain and 12.21% reported right shoulder pain.

You can recognize an elevator man if you look at his golf swing from a 'down-the-line' view (looking from the players trailing side down the line toward the target). Draw a line from the golfer's ear to his waist as he is set in the address position.

Then mark where that line is at the top of his backswing. If it moves more than an inch, it is a positive finding for loss of posture. This is a huge problem. Out of 412 amateurs interviewed, 64.3% reported a loss of body angles.

So, what can be done? First, talk to your doctor about your lack of flexibility. Second, learn the fundamentals of the golf swing from a golf pro.

Third, get some help from a fitness professional and whenever possible someone who is certified as a golf fitness instructor.

Fourth, commit to strengthening your core muscles and stretching to increase your flexibility.

Fifth, Enjoy your new, pain free golf swing, lower scores and

Have a Great Game!