I wanted to get some members feedback on "feels" for posture to help fight back pain. Yesterday, I played my first round in about a month. Around hole 11 my back started getting really tight. I played the next hole and had trouble getting my trail shoulder through the ball (extension). On hole 13, I made the conscious effort to tighten my core and round my shoulders more, and by the time I made it to the green. My back had loosened up. Something to keep in mind when going through Tom's setup videos I failed to see the first time is that the shoulders need to be rounded when you bend from the hips. If you have your shoulders pushed back, you will bend over too far. Aside from back issues, this can also cause fat shots, over the top, and heel shots to say the least.
This makes a ton of sense to me. Rounded shoulders put your thoracic spine in flexion, which is great because we need to extend on the back swing. If your already extended at setup, all the extension you're adding in the backswing will happen in the lower back (OUCH!).
What are your thoughts? Is this correct thinking?
If you are having pain, then something is off in your set up. This is absolutely the most body friendly swing I’ve ever done. I have had chronic back problems for years, had back surgery a few years ago. I used to eat Advil and Aleve like candy to get through a round. So much pain in my back, hips, and knees during and for several hours afterwards. Since changing to Tom’s method I have had zero pain. It is very simple and doesn’t put your body in unnatural positions. Went on a 4 day trip to Myrtle Beach late last fall and played 27 one day, 36 one day and 18 the other two days. Felt great and no pain at all….. other than the headache one morning from drinking too much the night before…but that is a story for another time, lol.
I still do the stretches my physical therapist gave me after my surgery, but this swing has been a game changer!