The Missing Piece in Junior Development
Let me tell you about a student I'll call Jake. Jake was 13, had been playing golf for three years, and had a persistent slice that no amount of swing instruction could fix. His parents had tried two other coaches before coming to BGP.
Within five minutes of Jake's TPI screening, I found the problem: his left hip had significantly less internal rotation than his right. His body literally couldn't clear through impact. The slice wasn't a swing problem — it was a body problem. Three hip mobility exercises, and a month later the slice was gone.
What Is TPI?
The Titleist Performance Institute connects the body to the golf swing. Through physical tests, we identify how a player's body moves — and where it doesn't. Those limitations directly cause swing faults.
For junior golfers, this is even more important than for adults. Young athletes are still developing. If we catch limitations early, we can correct them before they become ingrained habits.
What We Test
Lower Body
- Pelvic tilt control, hip rotation, single-leg balance, lower body separation
Core and Trunk
- Trunk rotation, lateral bend, core stability
Upper Body
- Shoulder mobility, thoracic spine rotation, wrist mobility
Common Findings in Junior Golfers
- Limited hip mobility: Kids sit more than ever. Tight hip flexors limit rotation and cause early extension.
- Poor core stability: Weak cores mean lost power in transition and compensatory arm swings.
- Asymmetric rotation: Growing bodies don't always develop symmetrically, creating swing compensations.
- Limited thoracic mobility: Phone and screen time rounds the upper back and limits rotation.
The Custom Program
After screening, we build a targeted program:
- Daily mobility routine (10-15 minutes, loaded into their student dashboard)
- Pre-round warm-up (5 minutes, reduces injury risk)
- Age-appropriate strength progressions
- Monthly reassessment to track progress
TPI and Injury Prevention
Junior golfers are getting injured at alarming rates — back pain, hip issues, wrist problems. Most are preventable with proper screening. When a young body compensates for a limitation, it puts stress on joints that aren't designed to handle it.
When to Get Screened
- Ages 7-9: Basic movement screen
- Ages 10-13: Full junior TPI screening with custom program
- Ages 14+: Comprehensive screening with speed training integration
Book a junior TPI screening at BGP and let's build the physical foundation that unlocks their potential.
