Titleist Performance Institute

Common Golf Swing Faults

  • 64.3% of players Lose Their Posture
  • 64.3% of players Early Extend
  • 55.9% of players Cast or Early Release
  • 45.2% of players have a Flat Shoulder Plane
  • 43.5% of players are Over the Top
  • 38.5% of players have a Reverse Spine

  • 37.2% of players Sway
  • 35.6% of players have a Chicken Wing
  • 33.1% of players have C-Postures
  • 32.3% of players Hang Back
  • 31.4% of players Slide
  • 25.3% of players have S-Postures

Common Swing Characteristics

According to the Titleist Performance Institute, these are the most common swing characteristics that can lead to mechanical inefficiencies in your golf swing, and put you at greater risk for injury.1

  • S-Posture This is a common style of set-up posture that can put excessive stress on your lower back and limit rotation in the golf swing.
  • C-Posture This is a common style of set-up posture that can limit your spinal rotation and make it extremely difficult to maintain your posture in your golf swing.
  • Loss of Posture This swing characteristic is defined as any significant alteration from your body's original set up angles during your golf swing.
  • Flat Shoulder Plane The swing style is characterized by a standing up in the backswing and a flattening of the shoulder plance.
  • Flying Elbow The is characterized by an extremely elevated trail elbow during the backswing.
  • Early Extension This swing characteristic involves any movement towards the golf ball during the swing.
  • Over the Top This swing characteristic is one of the leading causes of slicing the ball and causes a major steepening of the downsing plane.
  • Sway This is characterized by any excessive lower body lateral movement away from the target during your backswing.
  • Slide This is characterized by any excessive lower body lateral movement towards the target during your downswing.
  • Late Buckle The is almost the same as a slide but it happens after impact.
  • Reverse Spine Angle This swing characteristic is the number one cause of lower back pain in golf.
  • Forward Lunge The is characterized by an aggressive lunge towards the target with the upper body during transition.
  • Hanging Back This describes a complete absence of forward weight shift in the downswing.
  • Casting This is named after a fisherman casting a rod and is characterized by an early release of the club.
  • Scooping This characteristic usually coincides with casting and may be due to the player trying to lift the ball or add loft to the club.
  • Chicken Winging This characteristic involves a breakdown of the lead arm through impact and can limit the player's ability to develop speed or power.

Learn more about Common Golf Swing Characteristics

Why Get a Titleist Performance Institute Golf Physical Evaluation?

Do you want to know why you can't seem to make the swing changes your Golf pro wants? Are you tired of trying out the latest swing and not being able to do it without pain?

Do you want to know why it hurts you to golf when your friends don't seem to have a problem?

Based on research of the top PGA pros compared to amateur golfers, specific musculoskeletal limitations prevent golfers from reaching their full potential.

Certain physical limitations lead to chronic injuries that will take you out of the game and lessons.

Golf Statistics based on research by the Titleist Performance Institute

Benefits of a Titleist Performance Institute Golf Physical Evaluation

  1. Streamline your lessons: By knowing what physical limitations you have, your golf pro can concentrate your time on the swing pattern that you are actually able to do.
  2. Prevent quitting the game due to injury: By not placing your body in positions and motions that you are not physically able to do repeatedly without injury, you can continue to golf pain-free.
  3. Recover quickly from an injury: By knowing what physical limitations you have, I can come up with a treatment plan as well as work with your golf pro to get you back to golf as quickly as possible.
  4. Progress more quickly and safely: By identifying which limitations are changeable and concentrating on improving those limitations through treatment or exercise, you will be more able to achieve the golf swing that you want without spending hours at the gym.
  5. Happier Golfer: Since you will be making more progress safely and quickly, you will play the game longer, pain-free and better than ever before. Also, you will know what it feels like to get the tour-level treatment that all the top Titleist golf pros receive.
  6. Private access to your evaluation and videos of your personalized exercise program on the Titleist website.
  7. Find your Golf Fitness Handicap and how it compares to the PGA professionals.

Resources

  1. Titleist Performance Institute SWING CHARACTERISTICS