What is Titleist Performance Institute?
Titleist Performance Institute is the world’s leading educational organization dedicated to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing. Founded in 2003, TPI has studied thousands of golfers ranging from the top professional Tour players to weekend enthusiasts. An incredible amount of data on players of all shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness levels has been gathered during this time. Using this data, TPI discovered how a properly functioning body allows a player to swing a golf club in the most efficient way possible. Additionally, TPI has analyzed how physical limitations in a player’s body can adversely affect the golf swing and potentially lead to injury.
What is Titleist Performance Institute’s Mission?
TPI seeks to educate golfers and industry professionals on the BODY-SWING CONNECTION – the importance of the human body and how it relates to the golf swing.
What is Titleist Performance Institute’s Philosophy?
TPI believes golfers will benefit the most from a healthy and efficient body. The most efficient swing is not the same for every golfer, because efficiency is unique to their body. In fact, TPI has this statement on its website – “TPI does not believe in one way to swing a club, rather in an infinite number of swing styles. But, we do believe there is one efficient way for every player to swing and it is based on what the player can physically do. To achieve an efficient swing, a golfer must first be screened.”
What is the Titleist Performance Institute Physical Screen?
This screen involves an assessment of swing mechanics and biomechanics, physical fitness, movement quality, current health, and a client history. The physical screen consists of 15 movement screens to identify altered mobility and faulty stability patterns by assessing every joint in the body, from the neck to the ankle, to get a full picture of how one area of the body moves in relation to another. After this assessment, the golfer will have a numerical value representing his or her golf fitness handicap. As a normal golf handicap would do, this number will be very valuable for the golfer to have a way to measure if their body and golf fitness is progressing through retesting at specified intervals.
What Happens After the Titleist Performance Institute Physical Screen?
The connection of the human body and how it relates to the golf swing is the most important step. The golfer will learn how the physical limitations in their body can adversely affect their golf swing and potentially lead to injury if not addressed. Then, the results are used to create a customized plan unique to the golfer. The plan may include fitness training, physical therapy, and treatment, coaching of swing mechanics and biomechanics, nutrition, mental strategy, or all of the above.
I’m Ready To Get a Titleist Performance Institute Physical Screen, but Who Do I See for This?
TPI currently has 5 unique fields of study to become certified. All 5 fields of study take the same Level 1 TPI Physical Screen class. However, Level 2 courses and above, are when each professional dive into their specialization. Since specialization doesn’t start until Level 2, my opinion is a golfer needs to see someone who is at least Level 2 or higher in their unique field of study so the golfer can be confident they will have their needs and goals met. To help you decide which TPI professional is right for you, I’ve provided a brief description of each below:
· Medical – This track is designed for Licensed healthcare practitioners (eg. MD, DPT, DC, DO) to be the experts in golf-specific injuries and golf-specific rehabilitation. These are the experts in identifying injury-inducing golf swing mechanics to ensure that a golfer can play for 10, 20, or 30+ years. They also have unique training in a golf-specific visual assessment. In other words, these are the Golf Doctors.
· Golf – This track is designed for Licensed golf instructors (eg. PGA, LPGA) focusing on the physics of projectiles to know why ball flight behaves the way it does and how ball flight can be manipulated. Other areas of expertise include short game, putting, skills assessment, and various practice strategies
· Fitness – This track focuses on advanced strength, power, and cardiovascular fitness screening to complete the picture of a player’s level of fitness. They are able to further develop effective strength and power training programs
· Power – This track focuses on increasing swing speed through technical, physical, and equipment modifications to increase overall power and distance
· Junior Development – This track focuses on the development of youth players from ages 5 to 17 years and to safely implement appropriate training protocols based on their developmental age.
Dr. Wade Roberts – Owner of RobertsPT
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I have specialized in the Titleist Performance Institute Medical Track with a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist background to become the expert for golfers in Kansas City for musculoskeletal dysfunction as it relates to the golf swing. I want to become your golf doctor.
After a thorough assessment, we will discuss your Body-Swing Connection in a manner that you can understand and immediately apply on the golf course that day. If there are pain and mobility deficits, my intervention strategies may include hands-on manual therapy stretching and mobilizations of the joints, spine, and soft tissue. After reduced pain and mobility are achieved, my visits include detailed education in stability, strengthening, and motor control exercise training. Finally, I provide education and a home program to improve carryover between treatment sessions and, most importantly, to the golf course. I will recommend a package of either 3, 6, or 12 visits depending on your needs with visits typically performed 1x/week or every other week with dramatic improvements usually seen after the first few sessions. The best part? I come to you, in the comfort of your home or office, every visit.
What Can a Titleist Performance Institute Professional Do for Me?
If you are an adult golfer in Kansas City and desire to play better golf, play pain-free, hit the ball 20+ yards farther off the tee, lower your handicap, keep pace with your kids and grandkids on the course, and be able to play for years to come without relying on pain medications, injections, or surgeries then Schedule a Strategy Call with your Golf Doctor today!
