At a Glance
- Area affected
- Hip (lead and trail)
- Also known as
- Hip pain, hip impingement, groin strain
- Common golf trigger
- Deep rotation demand on the hips through the backswing and downswing.
- Our approach
- Restore hip rotation and strength so the hips drive the swing and spare the back.
Your hips generate power and absorb rotation in the swing, and they are the lower back's best protector. When they are stiff or weak, both power and the spine pay the price.
Golf hip pain ranges from muscular strain to joint-related restriction. Assessing the hip properly matters, because improving it often helps the lower back as well.
Why the Hips Are Central to Golf
The hips rotate deeply in both directions through the swing, loading in the backswing and driving through the downswing. That makes hip mobility and strength central to both performance and staying injury free.
When a hip cannot rotate far enough, the lower back tends to make up the shortfall. This is why hip restriction and back pain so often travel together.
Protect the back by training the hips
Good hip rotation and strength is one of the strongest defences against golf lower back pain. The hips are meant to do the rotating.
Common Golf Hip Problems
- Pinching at the front of the hip on the backswing or downswing
- Groin or deep hip pain from rotational load
- Glute and outer-hip pain from weakness or overload
- Restricted rotation limiting your turn and driving back pain
See someone if
You have deep, persistent hip or groin pain, catching or locking, or pain that is not settling. These deserve a proper assessment.
How Physiotherapy Helps
Treatment settles the painful hip, restores the rotation your swing needs, and builds the strength to control it. As the hip improves, the lower back frequently benefits too.
- 01
Assess
Measure hip rotation and strength and link it to your swing and symptoms.
- 02
Restore
Regain the hip mobility your backswing and downswing require.
- 03
Strengthen
Build glute and hip strength for power and control.
- 04
Return
Carry it into full swings and play with a protected back.
Train the hips to rotate and drive, and you protect the back while adding clubhead speed.
This page is general information about golf injuries, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Every golfer is different, so book an assessment with Kam for advice tailored to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my hips be causing my golf back pain?
Very commonly, yes. If a hip cannot rotate far enough, the lower back makes up the difference, so limited hip rotation is one of the most frequent drivers of golf back pain.
How do I improve hip rotation for golf?
A combination of mobility work and hip strengthening, matched to where you are restricted, works best. An assessment identifies exactly which directions and muscles to target for your swing.
Is hip pain in golf serious?
Most golf hip pain is muscular or related to mobility and responds well to treatment. Deep, persistent pain, catching or locking should be assessed to rule out a joint issue.
How Kam Can Help
Physical Performance Coaching
Physical performance coaching is one-to-one programming that turns your physical potential into performance on the course.
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