Is the Modern Golf Swing a Back Breaker? Why it Might be Causing Permanent Damage

We all want to swing our drivers like Dustin Johnson.  Who wouldn't want bomb 300-plus yard moonshots off the tee like Brooks Koepka.  And you just can't turn away from the powerful golf swings of young guns like Justin Thomas and Cameron Champ without developing a mancrush. 

 

According to the experts at the Barrow Neurological Institute, however, these players are damaging their backs in the pursuit of power off the tee.  And even worse, there's a serious risk of devastating and permanent injury for anyone, professional or amateur, who swings in the modern orthodoxy. 

Spinal injuries have always been the most common injuries suffered by both amateur and professional golfers.  However changes in swing style among players over the last 20 years is putting more stress on the spine than ever before, and for a sport that allows decades of participation, the long-term effects are not trivial. 

The X-Factor 
Spinal surgeons studied how the modern golf swing of present-day pros like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott differs from the classic swing of past greats like Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.  And they concluded that while the modern swing's "X-factor" creates incredible power that allows players to hit the ball harder and further, it also increases force and pressure on the spinal disc that over time can result in damaging injuries like "repetitive traumatic discopathy" (RTD). 

 

The rhythmic and relaxed swings of all-time greats like Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, and Bobby Jones were more natural, and most players lifted their left or lead heel on the backswing to help them make bigger hip and shoulder turns.  This gave players more space at the top to generate power, and also more time on the downswing to correct any flaws. 

 

In contrast, the modern swing generates power through maximum rotation of the shoulders relative to quiet hips and feet firmly planted into the ground at the top of the backswing.  This however, puts extreme and unnatural stress on the lumbar spine, discs, and facet joints, and requires great strength to maintain. 

Crunch Time 
It's not just the backswing that puts more stress on the back in the modern swing.  It's also the sudden and sometimes violent change of direction at the top that leads to career-shortening injuries. 

During an explosive downswing, lateral flexion can result in a "crunch" on the side of the spine which puts incredible strain on the disc and joints on that that same side of the spine.  And this grinding is causing increased reports of lower back disc degeneration in younger elite golfers - the kind of degeneration that the average man doesn't experience until maybe decades later. 

 

The Barrow Neurological Institute report was published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, and references Tiger Woods' swing and his injuries, and how Woods spawned entire generations of golfers who focus on gym work and muscle growth to achieve maximum power in the swing. 

Longevity and Success 
The modern swing comes with the significant disadvantage  of wear and tear on the lower back.  But it it worth it in terms of more success on Tour or better play for amateurs? 

 

While no one will argue that Tiger in his prime has one of the greatest swings of all time, it's natural to wonder if Tiger's health and swing would have endured more if he swing like greats from the past.  Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson are among a small group of players on Tour who still lift their lead heel with the long clubs, and these two players have won five of the last 13 Masters.  Lefty and Bubba are also still two of the longest hitters on Tour. 

 

Nicklaus lifted his lead heel and was the longest and straightest driver compared to his peers.  And Jack won three of his 18 majors after turning 40-years old.  Snead's syrupy smooth swing made him the oldest player to ever win a Tour event at 52-years old.  And yes, also a lead heel lifter.  In fact, of the 19 players who won five or more majors, only Woods and Nick Faldo didn't lift their lead heels when swinging longer clubs. 

Should You Be Worried? 
If you employ a modern golf swing it's not inevitable you'll suffer certain back injury.  However there's a good chance you're putting yourself at higher risk of injury if you aren't committed to a long-term strength and conditioning routine. 

 

Whichever swing you employ however, be it modern or classic, be aware of what your body is telling you.  It's always easier to prevent an injury than to treat an injury.  And with a little common sense you can play the game at a very high level for a very long time.