Any golfer over 60 knows that movement isn’t as fluid as it used to be. Aching joints and tight muscles limit flexibility and range of motion – especially in the golf swing. One of the biggest complaints? Loss of shoulder turn during the backswing. “I just can’t get my back to the target anymore.”
Most senior golfers assume that losing shoulder turn is the primary reason they’re losing distance, and if they could only get their “back to the target,” they’d be able to gain more club head speed and distance. But that’s simply not true. There’s a lot more to it.
The Downward Spiral of Senior Golfers
When a senior golfer loses distance off the tee, the first instinct is to swing harder to get it back. But swinging harder often leads to a tighter, stiffer swing – exactly what you don’t want in golf. The harder you try, the worse the results. Every golfer who’s played for at least a year should know this. Smooth and steady beats tight and fast every time. That’s why I always recommend watching the LPGA and not the PGA. The ladies are smooth and eloquent, while the guys are fast and ballistic.
When swinging harder doesn’t work, the next attempt at regaining distance is increasing the backswing range of motion by closing the stance and/or flaring their trail foot. This allows for a bigger turn – but at a cost. What golfers don’t realize is that these are compensations – and every compensation creates another one to counteract it.
The Over-the-Top Nightmare
By closing your stance, you make it much easier to take the club back inside rather than straight away from the target. Given that flexibility declines with age, how do you expect to drop the club even further inside on the downswing for an inside-out club path? The answer: You won’t.
Instead, ninety-nine percent of the time, this leads to an over-the-top move, early extension, and inconsistent ball striking. The result? A screaming duck hook to the left or the dreaded banana slice to the right AND even more distance lost!
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I specialize in biomechanics – not golf technique. Trust me when I say that closing your stance almost guarantees an over-the-top swing, no matter what the TV golf gurus say. They might be seniors themselves, but their technique is light-years ahead of the average golfer struggling to break 90. What works for them won’t necessarily work for you. Fun fact: Did you know that most amateur golfers cannot truly break 100 without the use of mulligans and/or the trusty “foot wedge”?
The Best Swing for Senior Golfers: G.A.S.
So, what’s the best approach for senior golfers? It all starts with G.A.S. (Grip, Alignment, Stance):
- Grip: When was the last time you had a grip assessment? A poor grip can ruin everything before you even take the club back. Grip is a super easy, low-hanging fruit and should be assessed at least on a yearly basis.
- Alignment: Have someone drop alignment sticks on the ground to check where your feet, hips, and shoulders are pointing. If they aren’t aligned properly, your brain gets mixed signals on how to execute the shot. You may think you’re athletic enough to pull off the shot with your feet closed, your hips square, and your shoulders open, but the reality is you’re not.
- Stance: Most senior golfers slouch toward the ball instead of maintaining good spine posture and hinging at the hips. This small change can make a world of difference in the ease of your “true” shoulder turn.
Once you dial in these fundamentals, focus on your backswing:
- Take the club straight back from the target (not inside).
- Keep your lead elbow completely straight.
- Stop your backswing as soon as you can no longer keep that elbow straight.
Most senior golfers will find this stopping point is at least twenty-five percent shorter than their usual backswing. But by following these steps, you’ll instantly see more consistency and better ball striking. And the best part? More consistency leads to more distance!
Want to See These Fixes in Action?
Check out Berman Golf on YouTube for simple, clear video demonstrations of everything discussed in this article. The Berman Method was developed specifically for aging golfers struggling with losing distance, shooting inconsistently, or simply not able to play as frequently as they’d like due to nagging aches and pains. The Berman Method focuses entirely on training you to recruit and activate your big power muscles (glutes and core) and keep them firing through the entirety of the golf swing. It also focuses on training aging golfers to improve their turn using the correct body parts (hips and upper back) to help increase shoulder turn in the backswing and clear your hips in the downswing. Implement these changes, and your golf game will thank you! Move better. Gain distance. Improve consistency. Play more frequently.
Dr. Jake Berman, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist and owner of Berman Golf, where they focus on helping aging golfers increase distance off the tee, shoot more consistently, and play more frequently. If you’re not ready to accept “getting old” as an excuse for a poor golf game, call Dr. Berman at 239.431.0232 to take advantage of a FREE 30-minute taster session!
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