A restricted backswing? Bring your golf turn into the conversation.
If your turn feels tight, tell Chris where you notice the restriction and when it shows up. Massage and movement work can focus on comfort around your shoulders, back, and hips, with your golf routine giving the visit a practical goal.
By Chris Cox, LMTPublished
Make the visit fit your week.
- 01
Shoulders + upper back
Does reaching or turning feel restricted? Describe the motion rather than assuming the sorest area is the only place worth discussing.
- 02
Hips + lower body
Tell Chris if your turn, stance, or walking the course brings on familiar muscle tension. New joint pain needs a different conversation.
- 03
Your next round
Share the date and how you've responded to massage before. Let the work fit the week you've planned.
Describe the turn, not just the tight spot.
You don't need to diagnose your swing to ask about a massage. Say whether the restriction appears early in the backswing, during the follow-through, while reaching, or after walking several holes. Mention which side feels different and whether the sensation is tightness, soreness, or pain.
That detail helps keep the visit focused. Shoulder, upper-back, hip, and leg work can all be part of a conversation about comfortable movement. Chris can use massage, assisted stretching, and range-of-motion work when appropriate, with your feedback guiding the pressure and pace.
Comfort and mobility are useful goals on their own.
A session doesn't need a promise of extra yards to have a purpose. Feeling less restricted when you turn, bend to pick up a ball, or finish a round is a concrete goal to discuss. Notice what feels different in ordinary movement too, rather than judging the entire visit by your scorecard.
A 2020 review of sports massage found modest flexibility and soreness benefits. It didn't establish direct performance improvements, and it wasn't a trial of MMI's Golf Performance program. Those findings support a recovery conversation without establishing that massage will improve your swing mechanics, distance, or handicap.
Keep golf instruction and healthcare in the picture.
Massage isn't a substitute for swing coaching or physical therapy. If you're already working with an instructor or healthcare provider, share the movement goals and guidance you've received. Chris's soft-tissue work can then fit into the broader picture instead of competing with it.
New injury, sharp joint pain, numbness, weakness, or worsening symptoms calls for healthcare advice before massage. Don't force a painful turn in order to demonstrate the problem. You can describe it and discuss whether a visit is appropriate.
Choose one visit or explore a defined plan.
For a single appointment, sports massage is available for 60 minutes at $110 or 90 minutes at $140. Bring the areas you'd like to work on and your next-round timing into the conversation. A program assessment isn't required for one session.
Golf Performance is MMI's structured program for golf-related movement goals. It starts with an assessment, followed by a proposed plan and focused visits. Review the program details and discuss your starting point with Chris before deciding. You can also ask about a single visit if you want to start with focused time at the table.
01Booking basics
- Can massage improve my golf handicap?
- There's no guaranteed handicap or distance improvement. Discuss comfort, restricted movement, and recovery goals with Chris while keeping coaching and practice part of your golf plan.
- Should I book before or after my next round?
- Tell Chris when you're playing and how you've felt after previous massage sessions. Your goal and response matter more than one timing rule for every golfer.
- Can I book once instead of starting Golf Performance?
- Yes. A single sports or deep tissue massage is available without joining a program. The assessment is for exploring a defined recovery plan.
- What should I do if my backswing causes sharp pain?
- Get healthcare guidance before trying to push through it or using massage as the only response. Mention the symptoms and any advice you've received when contacting Chris.