IMPROVE MY GAME
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When Mobility Disappears: An Elite Amateur’s Assessment Highlights How Restrictions Affect Performance
Padraig Dooley is a TPI Certified golf instructor from Cork, Ireland - and a competitive player who just turned 50 with a goal of qualifying for The Senior Open. He came to TPI for a full physical assessment, including 3D motion capture and force-plate testing, to answer a simple question: Where can I improve to keep up with elite senior competition?
The headline finding in his physical assessment was significant loss of mobility - especially through the thoracic spine (T-spine).
Below we’ll unpack why that matters, how it affects his mechanics and speed, and what we prioritized in training to restore range of motion.
How Mobility Limitations Affect Mechanics
Limited thoracic spine mobility, as identified by failing the Seated Trunk Test, can have a profound impact on a golfer's mechanics and have a strong association with several swing characteristics. When a golfer lacks adequate ability to rotate through the thoracic region, they often compensate by creating motion elsewhere. This can contribute to early extension, as the body thrusts toward the ball in an effort to generate rotation and maintain club speed. Similarly, restricted thoracic rotation can lead to excessive lateral movement, such as sway or slide, as the player seeks motion through lateral movement rather than rotation.
Perhaps most notably, poor thoracic mobility increases the likelihood of a reverse spine angle at the top of the swing, where the upper body tilts toward the target. This can not only disrupt sequencing, but places significant stress on the lumbar spine, reducing both efficiency and consistency in ball striking.
Why Mobility Loss Can Cost Power (via Limited Hand Path or “Ramp Time”)
A lack of thoracic spine or shoulder mobility can significantly shorten a golfer’s hand path which directly limits the potential to generate club head speed. During the backswing, adequate thoracic rotation and shoulder external rotation allow the hands to travel on a longer arc, creating more time to apply force during the downswing. We often refer to this as "ramp time." If these segments are restricted, the hands are often forced to take a shorter route, effectively reducing the distance over which acceleration can occur. In essence, mobility restrictions in the upper body don’t just affect movement quality - they cabn constrain the kinetic potential of the swing itself.
Speed is not only a product of how much force is applied to the club, it's a product of how long a golfer can apply that force. Think of the downswing as an on-ramp: the longer the on-ramp, the more time you have to develop speed.
What We Addressed Physically with Padraig
Unlike most of our TPI Experience videos that focus almost entirely on the assessment, the last 30 minutes of our video with Padraig highlights the prescription. Our primary goal with Padraig was to design a workout that would attack the structures of the thorax to increase range of motion so that he could increase his shoulder turn in the backswing and contribution of his oblique abdominals in the downswing.
We posted a few of those exercises in the past, including a favorite progression to develop thoracic spine mobility through a tecnique called "distraction."
At 50, Padraig doesn’t need a different game, he needs to enhance his physical capabilities so that he can maximize the potential - and longevity - of his game. For many players chasing consistency and power, movement may precede improvement. Unlock the thorax, earn a longer hand path, and the ball will let you know you’re on the right track.
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If you're a golfer interested in a physical assessment, you can connect with a TPI Certified expert via our Find an Expert page.