How Tiger’s swing has changed

Here’s a video of Tiger describing how he has to move to avoid “crashing in to his low back.”

When you think about back injuries in golf you can’t help but think of Tiger Woods. He’s had several microdiscectomy procedures starting from 2014, before a back fusion in 2017. Compounded to that, he had a car accident, shattering bones in his right leg and ankle.

With his back fusion and injury to the right leg and ankle, hip mobility is essential. The only area from the lower body that he's able to get rotation from is at the right hip. In the back swing the hip is sent back and into internal rotation. If the hip is not properly doing that the low back will take over leading to an excessive stress on that area. 

Often overlooked is the mobility below the knee with the tibial rotation and ankle mobility. Generally people aren’t that limited in that area, however in Tiger’s case, the car accident left a lasting deficit and resulted in a recent ankle fusion surgery (subtalar fusion) procedure to address arthritis caused by his previous talus (ankle) fracture. This leaves the ankle limited, putting the mobility responsibility solely on the hip.

Another individual that has ankle limitations is Jon Rahm. He was born with a clubfoot which required surgery resulting in a fused ankle. He has a shorter backswing and relies on his hip mobility to get range of motion and power. Even if someone has a limitation, you can work around it. You have to have a swing that fits your current physical limitations. Don’t try and match a PGA player’s swing if your body cant physically get into those positions…. Something will break!!