Sore back - pulling everything

[vmsea]

Hoping to seek some advice on how to 'fix' if possible..

I find that when i'm fresh, i stay down on my rotation, hit balls flush, drives go straight, irons go straight with a slight draw.

played this past weekend with a back ache.. can't seem to stop hitting pitches thin, straight pulling almost everything left.. (43% drives missed left, 1 drive missed right).

How do you 'fix' it, b/c even when i tell myself to stay aligned, my back naturally tenses and i pull up, arms come out, and PULL..

:(

Any ideas much appreciated!

[spentmiles]

Functional strength training and daily stretching.  Do that for twelve weeks and you'll feel much better.

[fersman4]

I can empathize. My back causes me trouble, though in my case it's because I'm overweight. Once it starts to hurt my swing stops working like normal and I tend to swing in order to protect myself from the pain. In my case I tend to hit over-the-top even more than usual. I'm about ready to go to a chiropractor so that I can function while I continue my weight loss program.

[BugDude]

It sounds like your lower body is stopping and your upper body is rotating around causing a dead pull left.  When my lower back gives me trouble, I "pill up" with ibuprofen before and mid way through the round.

Practicing putting makes my lower back hurt more than anything.  When I do a little too much of that it causes my back to flare up for a week or two.

[Mr. Desmond]

Your back is telling you not to play.

When I get a lower back strain, I limit myself to pitching practice.

If your back is going into a spasm, a trip to the doc for a week's worth of muscle relaxants, aleve, icy hot, and a shiatsu massager.

[Righty to Lefty]

Yup there is no easy cure, but like others have said your body is trying to tell you that it isn't happy with you !! I got tired of all the nagging injuries that golf gave me. No sport has injured me more than golf and I am a former wrestler, baseball, basketball, and football player.

I finally got fed up and started doing CrossFit and sticking to a strict stretching routine. CrossFit has given me stability, range of motion, and endurance in all of the big muscle groups and allowed me to hit golf balls into my net for about 15 hours a week out here in Afghanistan with not much problem. After my "range session" I then stretch out for a minimum of 45 mins up 90 mins depending on how much I need. I use Flexxbands for shoulder and hip mobility and to give extra resistance to my stretches. I really drill on my hamstrings because they will wreck a golf swing if they get tight. I also use a rumble roller or a piece of pvc pipe to roll out all of the big muscle groups. I really focus on the lowerback, buttocks, hamstrings, quads, inner thighs,and lats. I then take a lacrosse ball and roll out the small muscle groups like my forearms and any spots that the rumble roller or pvc pipe didn't get to. I'm not going to lie, it is painful at first to roll out the knots and such but I assure you that your body will thank you in a few months.

I have been completely pain free from all my previous injuries for 5 months now and lost 47 lbs. Just because I'm doing all this work doesn't mean that I'm going to play my best golf every time I tee it up but I feel like it is giving me the best chance to play well. In my opinion no one can play their best golf if they can't get out of their own way. Hitting a golf ball is an athletic movement and takes a toll on the body regardless of what anyone says.

Everyone is willing to go to the range and beat balls but most ignore the behind the scenes maintenance that is required to play good golf. I was telling my CrossFit coach just last night that it feels like a full time job taking care of my stretching and such to make sure that I can hit golf balls and not get hurt during workouts.

[Mr. Desmond]

Great post above I also use a soft roller and need to get a lacrosse ball I don't have 9o min to stretch but I suggest a workout that Strengthens the abdominals.- rowing, walking, kettle bells, etc. I know nothing About cross fit but it sounds good. I also know people who have had success with PX 90. Good luck

[boogielicious]

Originally Posted by vmsea

Hoping to seek some advice on how to 'fix' if possible..

I find that when i'm fresh, i stay down on my rotation, hit balls flush, drives go straight, irons go straight with a slight draw.

played this past weekend with a back ache.. can't seem to stop hitting pitches thin, straight pulling almost everything left.. (43% drives missed left, 1 drive missed right).

How do you 'fix' it, b/c even when i tell myself to stay aligned, my back naturally tenses and i pull up, arms come out, and PULL..

:(

Any ideas much appreciated!

During the round, shorten your back swing and follow through and club up.  Doing stretching between shots if there is time.  Don't be afraid to get on the ground and do stretches.

The other advise above is sound as well.  I do a specific set of stretches after exercise, including golf.  I do most of the Roger Fredericks stretching from his book and also exercises from the Joey D, Fix Your Body, Fix Your Swing, book.  They are very similar to exercises my physical therapist gave me.  The stretches take about 15 minutes, but are well worth it.

[TJBam]

Stretching and vicodin

[Righty to Lefty]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

Great post above

I also use a soft roller and need to get a lacrosse ball

I don't have 9o min to stretch but I suggest a workout that Strengthens the abdominals.- rowing, walking, kettle bells, etc. I know nothing About cross fit but it sounds good. I also know people who have had success with PX 90. Good luck

I'm in Afghan so I have a lil extra downtime to stretch as long as I need too!!

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by Righty to Lefty

I'm in Afghan so I have a lil extra downtime to stretch as long as I need too!!

I'm stuck in a home office for 10 hr/day - but I can get in 45-90 minutes between exercise, stretching, and range time as long as I don't see a client.