Parsons Xtreme Golf

We don’t always associate mobility with speed in sports performance, but early first round leader Aldrich Potgieter is a good example of how the two can be connected in the golf swing. The bigger the turn a player can make, the longer their “acceleration ramp,” giving them more time to apply force to the club before impact. One of the key physical capabilities we measure in rotational athletes is thoracic spine mobility, which we assess through our Seated Trunk Rotation Test. When he came to TPI, Aldrich tested as well as anyone on the PGA TOUR, demonstrating 65° of rotation to the right and 70° to the left. Our movement screen isn’t predictive of golf skill, but it does help us evaluate the key movement capabilities that underpin the golf swing. While it’s certainly not the only physical quality responsible for his prodigious speed, Aldrich’s exceptional range of motion allows him to make more than a 100° shoulder turn in his backswing, extending that ramp and giving him more time to accelerate the club.