TPI Golf Fitness Assessment Jauary 2011
After a few nervous days wondering If I would ever get to fly to Charlotte for my 10 day trip, it finally all worked out well. The snow storms that hit the east coast of the USA did not effect me too much. Just a 2.5 hour drive from Raleigh Durham as opposed to 20 minutes from Charlotte Douglas airport to my accommodation. My 10 day visit and 8 working days was an amazing experience and one I will remember for a long time to come.
Prior to arriving at Pine Lake Country Club I had 30 players of varying levels booked in for TPI golf Fitness assessments. I have to comment on the fine work by Head professional and his staff Brian and Laura for filling out my days so well with enthusiastic players.The members at Pine Lake CC, who even though thoroughly depressed at not being able to play golf, where a joy to be around and help.I think it will be a long time til I visit a club where the members have such passion and desire to support a club in its entirety.
From the outset the members really did take on the TPI golf fitness assessments and concept very well, but it was a big surprise to me to hear how many of the players had very little or no idea of what TPI was about. I hope that in the future TPI and Titleist can make the awareness of the brand further reaching.
I had set up the member accounts 2 weeks before arriving in Charlotte. This allowed the players the opportunity to browse around the
www.mytpi.com website. I think this really helped the players establish an idea of what they had signed up to.A few players who had not visited the site had pre conceived ideas that the assessments would be all about cardio fitness and a few thought it would all be weight machine and strength training. Wow where they wrong and pleasantly surprised.
The process of establishing a players golf fitness is though a series of assessments based around functional movement patterns and specific screen tests.I explained to each and every player that the screens would look at their Stability, Mobility, Balance and movement patterns. Through the assessments we could get to understand if issues the players where having in their techniques where based around physical limitations or purely about motor learning.As a full time golf coach I feel the TPI qualifications I have gained have given me the tools to offer a more efficient golf lesson. No longer will I ask a player to change a part of their technique without establishing if they are physically capable of making that change.
Throughout my time at Pine Lake I was keen to find out about the programmes that the members were already using if they were regular gym users. Many of the players who complete TPI assessments where so much happier that they now had programmes that would make their time at the gym more golf specific.
I quickly became aware that the members of Pine Lake where unlike a lot of players I had tested before. Their general levels of golf fitness where far and above what I had previously tested. There really was a stark difference in range of mobility and general stability between this group of American players and the Spanish and British I was used too. The majority of players where already undertaking some form of fitness work, and it really showed.At the end of each assessment the TPI system offers up a golf fitness handicap. 0 being your ultimate golf athlete and 36 being the worst. I have never seen so many players come out with handicaps within the 12 to 18 bracket. This was a great testament to the players.
Two area's that really stood out for me on a negative note firstly the poor glute stability of the players and secondly the numbers of players in 'S' posture.
Glute StabilityIt got me thinking “ Why are these players so good in all other areas but poor in glute stability?”. I discussed the playing habits of all the players, were they riders or walkers? Did they walk the golf course or ride the carts? A big majority spent the majority of their golfing lives sat down in a cart. In Britain the numbers of courses that allow buggies are tiny in comparison to the USA. The way the modern courses are built in the USA with long walks between green and tee make riding important for getting players around the course in a good time, plus as I found out the carts bring in huge revenue streams to the clubs. Don't get me wrong this is much needed income for any facility. But all this riding in the carts must have a detrimental effect on the body and its efficiency for golf. 'The Glutes are the Kings' If the glutes are not strong enough to stabilise through out the golf swing many postural issues and swing faults can be seen. In Britain walking around the course is a common practice in the majority of clubs. Maybe the golfers in Britain walking the course and the Americans riding a cart is where the difference in glute strength comes from.
'S' postureFor those that don't know TPI's description of S posture is an excessive curve of the lower back caused by weak or inactive abdominals and an overly tilted pelvis at address. Now this position in the posture I have seen many times before, but mainly in young golfers and ladies.I saw more 's' posture positions than 'c' and neutral put together. In my experience the 's' posture mainly comes from 2 areas. As I said above above weak or non firing abs and maybe poor information from a coach. I will hold my hands up on many occasions in the past I have asked players to try and feel think they are sticking their butt's out to improve posture inclination and spinal neutrality. This can sometimes be mis understood by the payers and they end up tilting their pelvis too much at set up causing 's' posture. From this 's' posture set position the common trend was then to lose posture inclination in the backswing or early extend in the downswing. I think it is vital that all players when getting into the posture position begin by firing or switching on their core. This will help maintain a good neutral lower back position at address.
I would be really interested to find out from TPI if they have found patterns similar to mine through the data they receive from around the world.
At the end of the week I had completed 35 TPI golf fitness assessments. This was about 10% of the playing membership. I cannot thank the members for supporting me in my time at their club. Having the opportunity to assess so many players over a period like this and see the changes I have been able to make has really emphasized to me the benefit of the TPI system. If you don't have access to a professional who is certified with TPI. Investigate and find a highly qualified fitness professional who is knowledgeable or works with golf professionals on a regular basis. If you are reading this and have a gym programme that is not golf specific. I would ask, are you helping or hindering your golf progress? I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Pine Lake CC in Charlotte. I am already planning my trip back in December to see the progress of the players I hope I have helped.
If you have any questions about my work or TPI then please post up in the comments section
Yours golfingly Andy
