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Jeremy Paul's TPI Assessment: Identifying a Common Misconception in Short Game Technique
With three top-25 finishes in his last five starts, Jeremy Paul is finding his form in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR.
When Jeremy came to TPI for an assessment last fall, data from our physical screen and force plates not only revealed opportunities to improve distance potential, but identified one of the most common misconceptions we see in short game technique.
Physical Assessment Insights
One of the benefits of assessing golfers is it often reveals potential gaps in their physical training. When we physically screened Jeremy, we found a few limitations in mobility as well as a reduction in power, despite demonstrating above-average strength.
We don't view this as a concern, we see it as an opportunity.
Of the thousands of elite golfers we put through our Level 1 screen, only a handful have passed every test. The screen isn’t predictive of skill, but an evaluation of movement capabilities. Failing a screen doesn’t mean they can’t play great golf, it just suggests where they might need to focus in the gym or how their coach might want to consider adapting their swing to complement their movement.
When done properly, strength training should actually improve mobility. As Dr. Rose mentions in the video, Olympic weightlifters are not only some of the most powerful athletes in the world, but also some of the most mobile.
Additionally, because strength was up and power was down, Jeremy might want to consider adding more ballistic exercises to his routine or reducing weight and reps in favor of greater velocity.
Developing power requires intent. To paraphrase Dr. Andy Galpin in our Power Level 2 online course, exercises will not improve power unless they are performed powerfully.
"Exercises themselves don't determine adaptation."
"Exercises themselves don't determine adaptation.”
— TPI (@MyTPI) July 7, 2021
The importance of differentiating between Exercise Selection and Exercise Application from @DrAndyGalpin in our online Power Level 2 course.https://t.co/RyAx2B8sqK pic.twitter.com/x0zRFr7mxw
Moving “Away, Forward and Up” in Short Game
One of the biggest revelations in Jeremy’s assessment came from measuring his center of mass during 10 and 20 yard chip shots. The best short-game players in the world tend to move away (away from the target line), forward (towards the target) and up (lifting the center of mass) during the shot. It’s often imperceptible to the naked eye, but more apparent on force plates or 3D.
This is one of the most important insights we've been able to gain from analyzing some of the best players in the world. Dr. Rose explained in a recent video we filmed for Titleist’s Learning Lab:
Most golfers understand the importance of maintaining a stable base to control low point in chipping, but are unaware when they aren't. It's our job as coaches to help them identify it.
If you are a coach, fitness or medical professional interested in learning more about how to help golfers determine if their body is affecting their swing, check out our newly updated Level 1 online course.
View TPI Level 1 Online Course
If you're a golfer interested in a physical assessment, you can connect with a TPI Certified expert via our Find an Expert page.