Golf Lessons advice for someone with a back issue

Certain swing characteristics do put extra pressure on the back, reverse spine angle, S posture, early extension, hanging back, all can put stress on the back. There are also physical factors such as hip and torso mobility that can lead to these swing characteristics.

Best to see a golf specialist physio such as Shane Lawlor, he can evaluate you and recommend a pro to see as well.

Had a bad back last year myself and had the same thought as you in terms of some coach working around my limitations. Truth is, your back is vitally important for your swing and there is no point in dancing around an injury/weakness.

What I did is pump out reps upon reps of what my physio told me to do for a few months (mainly core/hamstring/hips/upper back) and now I don't need to do that any more, just a light warm up works fine these days. I used to be crippled a day or two after 18, or even the driving range, but now I can zoom around 36 without too much of an afterthought.

+1 for the specialist golf physio.

This isn't exactly true. In my experience I had mega back pain after all my rounds and I play a lot. I'm only 35 with no diagnosed back issues so I knew this wasn't normal. Went to see someone and did a few assessments and turned out I had poor core strength so my lower back was doing all the work.

I could have played every day but unless I fixed the problem, it was never going to get better.

A word of warning, if there's an underlying physical issue causing a swing characteristic, which is causing an injury, fixing the physical issue doesn't automatically mean the swing characteristic will be changed and fixed. The swing technique still has to be changed.

Try the Gary Player 'walk through' drill, by simply stepping forward following the ball immediately after you've struck it. This relieves any sustained strain on your (lower) back, incurred by trying to sustain your swing follow through poise too long. (Just Google it)

The "Gary Player walk after technique," or walk-through drill, is a golf swing exercise where a golfer steps forward with their right foot after hitting the ball to promote a proper weight shift to the lead leg and prevent hanging back. This drill helps promote a more solid impact, increased distance, and better balance by allowing the body's momentum to carry it through the shot toward the target. This video demonstrates the Gary Player walk-through drill:

01:36

How to perform the Gary Player walk-through drill:

1. Set up: Take a regular stance.
2. Swing: Execute your normal golf swing.
3. Step through: After hitting the ball, immediately step forward with your back foot (your right foot for a right-handed golfer).
4. Focus on weight transfer: Allow your body's momentum to move you forward, shifting your weight to your lead (left) side.
5. Maintain balance: Continue walking or stepping toward the target to maintain balance. 

Benefits of the drill:

• Promotes weight shift:It ensures your weight transfers fully to your lead leg, which is crucial for power and solid contact. 
• Prevents hanging back:The drill counteracts the common amateur fault of getting stuck on the back foot and failing to fully follow through. 
• Increases power:By transferring body weight forward, you can generate more power and increase ball distance. 
• Improves balance:A successful walk-through drill requires and reinforces good balance through the swing. 
• Creates crisp iron shots:The forward motion helps golfers take a divot after the ball, leading to cleaner, crisper contact.