• Are you losing flexibility and power during the swing?
• Do you have back pain when putting or with your swing?
• Have you lost distance off the tee?
• Has your handicap increased over the past 2 years?
• Do you get stiff in the back, shoulders, or hips if you play 2 days in a row?

   If you answered yes to any of these questions, BACKtoGOLF can help you develop a smooth, consistent, more powerful swing.

Nearly 80 percent of all golfers suffer from one type of injury or another and most injuries involve the back. The majority of injuries are due to faulty swing mechanics, poor conditioning, and loss of flexibility and strength.

Although not generally considered a strenuous physical activity, research shows that during the golf swing, the spine can experience loads up to 7 times body weight, more notably with amateur golfers. Many swing faults are due to tight tissues and joints, causing the golfer to swing off plane and off balance. A tight muscle is often beyond the golfer’s control

Properly stretching these muscles and joints can correct many swing problems. Golfers frequently continue to reinjure themselves or to rehabilitate incorrectly from back pain, due to poor swing mechanics. Many golfers use swings that produce incredible stress to their backs and they are unaware of what they are doing or how to correct their motion.

What is BACKtoGOLF?

BACKtoGOLF is a unique, advanced, biomechanically based golf rehabilitation and performance program that was developed for golfers who want to return to golf after an injury or increase their fitness level and golf performance. It is nationally recognized in GOLF Magazine as one of the leading fitness programs for all levels of golfers that can dramatically improve your golf swing motion by increasing flexibility and strength. The program is a result of years of clinical research and testing with hundreds of golfers including amateurs and professionals such as Brad Faxon, Justin Leonard, Tom Watson, Stuart Cink, and the director of the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, Laird Small. The results are amazing – more distance, accuracy, and a better, healthier golf game with little or no pain.

Why is BACKtoGOLF a better golf fitness program?

The BACKtoGOLF program is based on a “biomechanical approach” to the golf swing. We examine how the body moves in space 3 dimensionally to support the golf club. The BACKtoGOLF physical therapist evaluates the body’s ability to perform the golf swing motion: flexibility, strength, balance and coordination.
The PGA/LPGA golf teaching professional instructs the golfer in the proper set up position, grip and movement of the club. The BACKtoGOLF physical therapist and the golf teaching professional work closely together as a team to provide the golfer with a complete program to improve their golf performance. First, the body must be able to move properly to positions and through motions to support the golf club and only then can the golfer achieve a more powerful and consistent golf swing.

More power, distance, and consistency is as simple as … ONE, TWO, THREE

1) Flexibility:

Power, distance, and consistency are dependent upon moving the body to position the club during the backswing, through impact and into the follow through position.

BACKtoGOLF has developed the most effective, long lasting and powerful methods for improving your swing movements quickly. You will see dramatic increases after your first session. The BACKtoGOLF approach to improving your flexibility is the same highly specific stretches and techniques used with the PGA Touring Pros during tournaments to help them stay flexible. These techniques are now available to you. You will be amazed at the new feel and sense of freedom during your swing.

2) Strength:

Increased strength actually helps you swing easier! Power is controlled more accurately, and the body’s reaction to the ball and the terrain is more responsive. Special

BACKtoGOLF exercises are designed to improve muscle balance during all phases of the swing. Our clients gain 15-20 yards consistently off the tee. The ease of the swing coupled with improved flexibility will give you a better sense of what your body is doing during the golf swing. The result is better control during tee shots, fairway irons and around the green. Your short game touch around the green is improved, giving you more control of your muscles and a better sense of feel.

3) Balance and Coordination:

Balance and the ability to shift weight at the proper time is essential for consistent shots from tee to green. Our special balance drills have helped hundreds of golfers develop more distance and accuracy.

Coordination and timing are essential to developing leverage on the shaft to hit long, consistent shots. Our special drills will quickly help you develop the correct sequencing of the body movement to deliver the power to the ball that is necessary for distance and accuracy. Our golfer clients consistently increase their distance 15-20 yards and hit straighter shots.

Train with the therapists who train the PGA Touring Pros.

BACKtoGOLF provides the official physical therapists for the amateur players during the Pebble Beach AT&T ProAm Tournament and the Callaway Golf Invitational Tournament. We also provide physical therapists at selected Buy.com and Futures Tour Tournaments around the country. BACKtoGOLF is also the fitness consultant to the Pebble Beach Golf Academy and the North American Long drive Championships.

(Editor’s Note: John Carlson, PT is one of the partners in Kitsap Physical Therapy and the exclusive BACKtoGOLF therapist in western Puget Sound. He may be reached at (360) 895-9090 or kptjohn@telebyte.com.)