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Lower back pain is a common problem amongst golfers because of the strain that part of the body is put under during the swing.

The muscles in the lower back, hips, hamstrings and glutes support the body and add power to the swing through rotation. The best way to try and prevent any injury from occurring is to ensure you have a correct posture. The posture is the foundation of a good swing and the framework around which the body operates; it must be solid. Follow this guide to ensure you have a solid posture.

• Using a mirror, stand bolt upright and look at your side profile. Your whole body should be straight with your chest out and shoulders back.
• Pick up a club and extend it in front of the body. The shaft should be parallel to the ground and the grip pointing back at the navel.
• Tilt forward from the hips, keeping the back flat and straight. This tilting should continue until the club touches the ground. The club should only fall as the hips tilt, with the arms staying extended.
• When looking back in the mirror, the spine should be straight and tilted over from the hips.
• Now add some knee flex. This should be a flex and not a bend. It’s important to flex because it adds athleticism to the posture; a bend could cause the hips to tuck under the body. The body weight should be tilted on to the balls of the feet.
• The spine angle created by this posture should be maintained throughout the swing until after impact when the whole body can rise up to a full finish position.

A bad back is something of a golfers curse which can be avoided by achieving a better posture and improving flexibility.

If you are suffering from a bad back then swinging as hard as you can to loosen up the body is probably not the best idea! The chances are you will intensify the problem. Focus on a good posture and improving flexibility.

Although strength training is never generally a bad idea, pumping weights with a bad back can cause serious damage. A golfers best bet is to focus on flexibility not only in the lower back but also the glutes, hamstrings, hips and stomach. All these areas are connected and could all be linked to the same problem.

Many players suffering with a bad back instinctively tuck the hips underneath the body to try and protect the lower back. This should be resisted. Push the pelvis back and stretch out the affected area.