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What is the Titleist Performance Institute?
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Why does being TPI Certified Matter?
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How does this relate to my golf game?
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When should I see Dr. Gilliard about my golf game?
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Brief Summary.
What is the Titleist Performance Institute?
The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) was established in 2003, and has studied thousands of golfers and golf swings to identify the common characteristics of exceptional players, common flaws or faulty mechanics that impair good performance, and typical patterns caused by undesirable golf biomechanics — among other things! TPI Certified professionals are able to deliver this vast knowledge base to golfers across 15 countries through a variety of disciplines — Golf professionals, Health professionals, Fitness professionals, etc.
Why does being TPI Certified matter?
TPI Certification provides an advanced understanding of golf, golfers, and the golf swing, ensuring each professional receives training related to swing biomechanics, specific physical screening techniques for golfers that identify an ability (or lack of ability) to effectively control their body, and the correlation between physical screening results and possible swing compensations that occur.- These features build on the TPI philosophy (which is shared by Dr. Gilliard!) that there is no one single way to swing a club; there are an infinite number of ways to swing a club. But, there is one efficient way for everyone to swing a club and it is based on what they can physically do, making it unique to each golfer.
“We don’t believe there is one way to swing a club; we believe there are an infinite number of ways to swing a club, But we do believe that there is one efficient way for everyone to swing a club and it is based on what they can physically do.”
— Titleist Performance Institute
How does this relate to my golf game?
- A player’s physical abilities will dictate the degree to which a golfer is able to make efficient contact with the ball, successfully modify their swing to improve performance, and reduce their potential for injury from their golf swing.
- For example, sometimes a painful “lead” ankle (the left ankle for a right-handed golfer) suffered during a round of golf is not caused by bad function of the ankle itself, but by poor rotation of the “lead” hip — which may cause the hips to slide forward during the swing, forcing the ankle to roll over in compensation! In this case, it would be important to treat both the painful ankle and the poor functioning hip in order to get back on the course now AND prevent pain from returning in the future!
- Having a physical screen from a TPI Certified professional addresses many similar examples identifying either the potential for future injury or compensations that are occuring currently during a golf swing.
- For more information about how physical limitations can impact the golf swing, check out this blog posting reviewing the “Body Swing Connection”.
When should I see Dr. Gilliard about my golf game?
- Dr. Gilliard can help your golf game by assessing and treating painful complaints, and conducting physical screening to identify movement deficiencies that may relate to swing flaws. So the sooner the better!
- Although TPI Certification also educates professionals on swing analysis and advanced golf exercise training, golfers will get the best results when the appropriate specialists in these fields communicate as a team. For example:
- Golf Professionals are best suited to offer swing analysis and advice,
- Medical Professionals are best suited to assess and treat painful or dysfunctional physical problems
- Fitness Professionals are best suited to develop, train, and coach physical skills specific to golfers.
- As a medical professional, Dr. Gilliard applies his TPI Certification to help golfers within the central TPI philosophy — working towards your unique, efficient way to swing based on what you can physically do — by managing painful complaints or dysfunctional physical movements.
Key Points
- The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is dedicated to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.
- Physical limitations force golfers to make compensations in their swing to make quality contact with the golf ball.
- Dr. Gilliard can help your golf game by assessing and treating painful complaints, and/or conducting physical screening to identify movement deficiencies that may relate to swing problems.