How to Maintain the Spine Angle in Your Golf Swing

There are many golf swing faults that can affect your game but one of the most common is a change in the spine angle during the backswing. This causes a reaction of compensations that changes your swing plane making it difficult to make good contact with the ball. The result of this particular fault is inconsistency and a multitude of poor shots.

So how can the golfer maintain their spine angle in the golf swing? The changing of the spine angle from address position to the backswing is a common fault for many golfers. The spine angle change often occurs right at the start of the backswing; this is commonly referred to as standing up in the backswing.

Actually, standing up in the backswing is not so much a swing fault as a problem with the golfer’s flexibility. You see, golf is not just about technique and having the correct golf mindset; it is also about flexibility and general fitness. Unfortunately, many golfers don’t place enough importance on their physical condition or flexibility but a lack of flexibility will hinder golfers from performing the proper mechanics of the golf swing.

Even if a golfer identifies their problem with their golf swing as standing up in the backswing, they mistakenly think of it as a swing fault instead of a lack of flexibility. As a result, they continue working on trying to fix their golf swing problem with no gain and they don’t know why it happens.

Once the golfer realizes that their problem is that of a lack of flexibility, they can take the correct measures to overcome their swing problem. So, now we know what the problem is that is causing the standing up in the backswing and why the golfer can not maintain their spine angle during the backswing.

We can also pinpoint exactly which area of the body is causing the problem - the hip area of the body. In order to maintain a fixed spine angle, the hips have to be flexible and movable so that they can revolve around with the spine during the swing.

By understanding a bit about the biomechanics of the golf swing we can identify the precise muscles in the hips that are causing them to be too rigid and tight. What causes golfers to stand up in the backswing are normally tight hip flexor muscles. These muscles run across the front part of the hip on both legs. When they are tight or rigid, they don’t rotate enough in relation to the spine which causes the golfer to stand up in the backswing.

Some golfers struggle for years with a certain golf swing fault, like a slice for example. But with this swing problem the solution is easy – add some golf fitness and flexibility exercises to your golf routine. These stretching exercises take just a few minutes a day to do and they can reduce the tightness in your hips, which will improve your golf swing. Through time, these stretching exercises of the hip region will lengthen the tight and rigid flexor muscles. This allows for more hip mobility which will allow the golfer to maintain the correct spine angle throughout the golf swing.

It is important to consult with a fitness expert who also understands basic golf swing mechanics. If you can not afford to directly hire a fitness expert then you can search online for one. One that is highly appreciated by many golfers and pros is Mike Pedersen, who has a relatively cheap e-book on Golf Fitness Training Program.