Thoracic spine

Thoracic spine

Thoracic spine

A key to longer drives is making a bigger, more powerful rotation with your torso, first away from the target and then toward the target. To do that, you need to learn where that rotation should come from – the thoracic spine (the T-spine). The T-spine is made up of 12 vertebrae in the middle of your back. In the grand scheme of human anatomy, the spine can’t rotate very much. It can rotate enough, however, to help you properly load your swing and then unwind it as the club comes down. The more mobility you have in the T-spine, the better chance you have of making a powerful swing. And if you’re suffering from lower-back pain or want to avoid it in the future, the T-spine also plays a key role helping stabilize the lumbar spine.

Golfers with limited T-spine mobility often attempt to rotate their bodies with their lower-back. But because the lumbar spine has very limited rotational ability, any attempt to push it past that boundary often leads to back pain. To train and increase your T-spine rotation, first strengthen your core muscles in the abdomen. Having core stability is key to increasing rotation. Then, focus on turning your torso with the middle of your back.

You can get a feel for this by making turns to the left and right while sitting in a chair. The chair will help immobilize your lower back allowing you to turn with just your T-spine. If you’re a member of a gym ask the gym trainer for a few exercises to help with your core and mid back rotation. The internet is probably the easiest place to find a few simple drills you can try at home. Remember its better to find a few different ways of doing this then we don’t get bored and also our body will respond better.

Appointments with Paul for golf lessons in Wicklow can be booked via Powerscourt Golf Club Reception: Tel (01) 204 6033 or the Golf Shop Tel (01) 204 6031. Read more about lessons from Paul Thompson by visiting the Powerscourt Golf Club Website.

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