By Dr. Brandon Mancuso, DC
About the Titleist Performance Institute
By Dr. Brandon Mancuso, DC
What is the TPI?
The Titleist Performance Institute uses a scientific approach to understanding optimal golf swing mechanics and systemizing the best way to translate that information to each individual golfer. We are all put together a little bit differently. The TPI system does a nice job of finding what strengths and weaknesses an individual currently has, and then provides a direction for where to focus next to help this golfer improve their game. The institute is state of the art and uses 3-dimensional motion capture technology in its research and testing.
Player development changed in the 90’s when Tiger Woods came on the scene and demonstrated the extra edge his athleticism provided to his game. Physical conditioning for golf started to get recognized. The physically fit golfer can get in better positions that allow them to delivers a consistent golf swing. The TPI philosophy says there is not one way to swing a golf club, but infinite ways. BUT, there is ONE efficient way for each golfer based on what that golfer can physically do. The goal is for the golfer handle the physical demands needed to deliver a swing that is efficient, consistent, and powerful. If they cannot, the body will compensate in ways that break to body down and/or take away from the golfer’s swing performance.
What does it do well?
The Titleist Performance Institute has put together common nomenclature and language for medical, fitness, and the golf professionals. The TPI has specific trainings and certifications for each specialty to optimize golf performance. The TPI website is a great tool players and coaches to collaborate and learn.
How does it benefit TrainSMART clients?
At TrainSMART Personal Fitness, we have a strong understanding of how to incorporate the findings of a TPI golf screen assessment into a golfer’s fitness plan. I have been through the TPI certification and implemented the corrective exercise strategies learned into customizable training programs for our clients. Our clients are getting the best of both worlds by having a medical & fitness professional perform their golf movement assessment and design their customized plan. Many golfers suffer from aches or pains with their golf swing. Here at TrainSMART, we can educate our clients what they can do differently to feel better. Many times, we can offer therapeutic exercises for a golfer to incorporate now, before a potential injury happens. When needed, we have other medical professionals we collaborate with to find out how to help each person.
TPI founder, Dr. Greg Rose says “the glutes are king of the golf swing”. TrainSMART has been integrating gluteal training for over a decade. We have really mastered how to help clients find and connect to these lost powerful muscles. I want clients to learn what took my 20 years, to learn in 20 days.
What we do with it?
The TPI philosophy of the human body compliments that of TrainSMART’s. We both follow what has been termed the “joint by joint” approach. This approach was first tough to us from physical therapist Gray Cook and strength & conditioning coach Mike Boyle. Simply put, each joint in our body plays a primary role of mobility or stability. At TrainSMART Personal Fitness and at the Titleist Performance Institute, we closely assess each client to discover what they do well, and more importantly where they need to improve. All TrainSMART clients are given a customized corrective exercise plan to do at home to improve. It is nice that many of the corrective exercise plans require little to no equipment to make it easy for the client to succeed.
Another philosophical similarity of both TrainSMART and the Titleist Performance Institute is the emphasis on safety and injury prevention. The old school mentality of “no pain, no gain” or “more is better” is crap. We pay close attention to detail with our golfers to make sure they are performing the movement with proper form and following the right dose of movement. The right exercises can cause harm if the coach prescribes incorrectly. We work with a broad scope of golfers, but the majority we coach here are in there 40s, 50s, and 60s. Many of these golfers are at higher risk of injury if the movements are prescribed incorrectly. We believe very strong in keeping our clients safe and injury free and have made it one of our company’s core values.
