TPI Golf
Assessments
A TPI assessment is a structured 16-point movement screen that identifies the physical restrictions causing your swing faults, backed by clinical examination from a registered chiropractor or physiotherapist.
The Titleist Performance Institute developed the TPI screen to map the connection between a golfer's body and their swing. Costa Health's TPI-certified team uses this screen alongside a full clinical assessment to find what's holding your body back. If you're dealing with pain on the course, or you've hit a wall that lessons can't fix, the answer is almost always in your movement patterns.
The Body-Swing Connection
Why your back hurts on the course
Lower back pain is the most common complaint among golfers at every level. Based on data collected by TPI from over 31,000 golfers, 28.1% deal with lower back pain after every round. It is also the most reported problem among professionals on all major tours.
The lower back is rarely the original source of the problem. It may be where the pain sits, but the root cause is almost always elsewhere. Restricted ankles, tight hips, a stiff thoracic spine or limited shoulder mobility all force the lumbar region to pick up work it was never designed to handle. Over time, the lower back breaks down under the accumulated load.
A TPI screen exposes these upstream restrictions. Rather than treating the pain in isolation, Costa Health identifies the movement deficits feeding it. That changes the treatment plan, the exercise prescription and the coaching priorities in a single assessment.
What Goes Wrong
When the lower back breaks down
Four patterns that TPI screening catches before they become serious.
Muscle Strain or Ligamentous Sprain
Usually resolves in two to four weeks with appropriate management. Symptoms range from minor aches to sharp, localised pain in the lower back, often triggered by a specific swing or warm-up movement.
Disc Injury
Tears in the disc can lead to bulging or rupture, potentially irritating or compressing spinal nerves. Pain may radiate into the buttock or leg. Early identification through screening reduces the risk of progression.
Altered Joint Mechanics
The brain can alter the lumbar spine's movement by changing muscle activation patterns or sequencing. Over time this leads to chronic problems that feel like stiffness but are actually motor control deficits.
Degenerative Changes
Repetitive overloading of the spinal joints can accelerate wear. Sharp pain with specific movements and chronic dull pain between rounds are common signs. TPI screening catches the movement patterns that drive this.
Prevention
Three strategies to protect your lower back
Restore Movement
Address mobility in the hips and thoracic spine first. Assess and correct restrictions in the ankles and shoulders that force the lower back to compensate.
Optimise Swing Mechanics
Correct common swing characteristics like Reverse Spine Angle, S-posture and Hanging Back. These patterns place measurable stress on the lumbar spine during every swing.
Build Resilience
Targeted strength and stability work to protect the lower back under the rotational loads of the golf swing. A strong foundation reduces injury recurrence.
Case Study
TPI screening improves golf performance
John, a 45-year-old club golfer, came to Costa Health after years of declining performance. His handicap had crept up and his lower back ached after every round. A full TPI screen and clinical assessment revealed limited thoracic rotation and restricted right hip internal rotation, two restrictions that forced his lumbar spine to absorb rotational forces it wasn't built for.
Sarah used a combination of spinal mobilisation, soft tissue release, dry needling and a targeted home exercise programme to address both restrictions over three sessions across six weeks. The exercises focused specifically on thoracic mobility and hip rotation, prescribed at the intensity and volume his assessment showed he could tolerate.
After the programme, John's thoracic and hip rotation had improved significantly. His swing became more efficient, his distance increased and the post-round back pain resolved. His handicap dropped four shots in the following two months.
Your TPI Team
TPI-certified specialists
Sarah Monaghan
TPI trained Chiropractor
Sarah has been involved with golf for over 15 years. Based in the heart of the Costa del Golf, she treats golfers of all levels, from weekend club players to touring professionals.
Flora Muijzer
TPI-Certified Physiotherapist
Flora specialises in golf performance and rehabilitation. Her background in biomechanics and movement analysis allows her to connect physical restrictions directly to swing faults.
"I am a full-time professional golfer who faced a significant setback due to a serious accident resulting in fractures to my right heel, ankle and pelvis. Sarah not only revitalised my body but essentially gave me a new lease on my golfing career. My golf swing has never been better."
Nick Lofthouse
PGA Professional
Common Questions
TPI assessment FAQs
What is a TPI screening and what does it involve?
Can chiropractic or physiotherapy improve my golf game?
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What exercises complement TPI treatment?
TPI Assessment
Full 16-point screen with clinical assessment
TBC
Pricing confirmed on enquiry
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Book a TPI assessment and discover what's holding your body back from playing your best golf.
Available at Riviera del Sol & The Clubhouse Marbella