What Every Golfer Gets Wrong About Lower Back Pain

You’ve got the swing. The stance. The gear.

But your lower back is killing you — and if you’re like most golfers, you’re blaming the wrong thing.

You probably think:

“I need to strengthen my core”

“I need to stretch my hamstrings”

“I need to improve my posture”

Not wrong. But also… not enough.

The Real Problem

Lower back pain in golfers isn’t just about the back. It’s about how the whole body is moving — or not moving.

Golf is rotational. You’re twisting through the spine, hips, shoulders — repeatedly — under tension, with precision. And if one link in the chain is tight or immobile, guess what compensates?

Your lower back.

Over time, the back becomes the victim. Not the cause.

What’s Actually Tight

• Hip flexors: These get tight from sitting. They pull your pelvis out of alignment, making your lower back work overtime.

• Thoracic spine (upper back): If this area is stiff, you can’t rotate properly. So your lower back twists more to make up for it.

• Glutes: Weak or inactive glutes mean less power and less stability in your swing — and more pressure on your lumbar spine.

Where Massage Comes In

A proper sports massage isn’t just about relaxing. It’s about:

• Releasing locked-up hips and lower back tension

• Mobilizing the upper spine so you can rotate better

• Re-activating glutes and hamstrings

• Getting blood flow to areas that are tight and inflamed

It’s not a quick fix. But it is a reset — and if you combine that with strength and mobility work, you’re not just managing pain… you’re actually fixing the problem.

Final Thought

If you love the game, take care of the body that lets you play it.

Don’t wait until your back screams.

Listen to the signs.

Get it treated.

And swing without pain.