At Senior-Golfers.com, we focus specifically on how the golf swing, equipment, and practice change after 60. If you’re looking for senior-friendly golf advice, start here.
You’re on the range.
You make a swing.
And you think:
“That didn’t used to feel this hard.”
Not painful.
Not broken.
Just… harder.
6 minutes read time
The backswing feels shorter.
The follow-through feels restricted.
Your balance feels slightly off.
And the swing that once felt automatic now feels like something you have to work at.
So you do what we all do.
You look for a swing tip.
You watch a video.
You read an article.
You try to “fix” something.
Maybe you try to turn more.
Maybe you try to clear your hips faster.
Maybe you try to create more lag.
And instead of feeling better…
Your swing feels more confused.
Here’s the part nobody really tells senior golfers:
Most swing problems after 60 are not mechanical.
They’re physical.
They’re mobility-related.
They’re range of motion.
And until you understand what your body can (and can’t) do today, no swing tip in the world is going to stick.
Before you change your swing, you need to test something first.
You need to test your range of motion.
When you were 40, you could copy a swing tip and your body could usually figure it out.
Your hips turned.
Your shoulders rotated.
Your balance held up.
Your spine moved freely.
Now?
Your body has different rules.
So when an instructor says:
“Just turn more.”
Your body quietly replies:
“We don’t do that anymore.”
That’s when frustration starts.
That’s when golfers think:
“I’m getting worse.”
You’re not getting worse.
You’re trying to swing like a younger version of yourself.
And that’s the real problem.
No gym.
No stretching routine.
No equipment.
Just you and a little honesty.
These two tests alone will tell you more about your swing than most lessons.
How to do it:
What you’re looking for:
Can you turn your shoulders at least 70–80 degrees without strain?
If you can’t turn, you physically cannot make a full backswing — no matter how many videos tell you to.
This directly affects:
If this feels tight, that’s not a swing flaw.
That’s a mobility limitation.
And this is where many seniors realize:
“I’ve been trying to fix the wrong thing.”
This one surprises almost everyone.
How to do it:
If you need to grab something, score it low.
Poor balance leads to:
You cannot make a repeatable golf swing without balance.
And most seniors don’t realize this is the hidden issue.
After trying just these two, golfers usually say:
“Well… that explains a lot.”
Because for the first time, it’s clear:
This isn’t a technique problem.
It’s a body problem.
And that’s actually very good news.
Because you stop trying to force movements your body can’t make.
After trying these two tests, many senior golfers feel a strange mix of relief and frustration.
Relief because things suddenly make sense.
Frustration because they realize how long they’ve been trying to fix the wrong problem.
Most swing advice fails for golfers over 60 before it even starts — not because the advice is wrong, but because the body receiving the advice has changed.
Golf instruction assumes you can:
Those used to be automatic.
Now they require effort.
And when movements require effort, they stop being repeatable.
That’s why you can hit a few good shots on the range trying a new tip… and then completely lose it on the course.
Your body can do it once or twice. It just can’t do it consistently anymore.
This is also why many seniors feel like their swing has become “hard work.”
Not because golf got harder.
Because your body is asking for a different approach.
This is the exact same pattern many golfers notice when watching YouTube golf tips that confuse golfers over 60. The advice sounds great — but it doesn’t match what their body can comfortably do.
And this is where simple mobility work, like what’s shown in the Senior Golfer Stretch Guide, often produces better results than any swing thought.
Because when your body moves a little easier, your swing often cleans itself up.
These two are just the beginning.
There are five total tests that check:
When you score all five together, the picture becomes very clear.
You see exactly why certain swing tips feel impossible.
I put together a simple, visual guide that includes:
👉 Download the Senior Golfer ROM Self-Rating Guide here
It takes about five minutes to go through, and it might change how you think about your swing this season.
If your mobility is limited, the problem isn’t:
It’s that you’re trying to swing like a younger version of yourself.
And once you understand that, something powerful happens.
You stop chasing swing tips.
You start playing the swing you have now.
This is also why equipment and setup start to matter more than mechanics. Many golfers find that changes discussed in club fitting for senior golfers or even stability-focused equipment like LAB putters for senior golfers suddenly make more sense once they understand their mobility limitations.
That’s when golf starts to feel easier again.
Senior Insight
Most golfers over 60 don’t need more instruction.
They need more understanding of their own mobility.
Once you see that clearly, frustration fades and confidence starts to come back.
And that’s a very good place to play golf from.
Continue the article below
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No. In fact, don’t. You want to see your natural range of motion, not a warmed-up version.
That’s the point. This shows where your mobility limitations are. Stop if there’s pain.
Yes. Mobility and balance directly affect your ability to make a consistent swing far more than swing thoughts.
For many senior golfers, yes. Lessons make more sense when your body can support the movements.
Because most instruction is designed for younger, more mobile bodies.
Once a month is enough to see progress and understand changes.
Very likely. Limited shoulder and upper back mobility are common after 60.
Absolutely. Balance is one of the biggest hidden causes of inconsistent contact for seniors.
Before you try another swing tip this season, try these tests.
You may discover the issue was never your swing at all.
Link to past post about club fitting from Senior-Golfers.com
Senior Golfer Stretch Guide
Enter your email below, and I’ll send you the ROM Test.
Senior Insight
The right clubs don’t make you swing harder — they help you swing freer.
Comments
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