Titleist Performance Institute
The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is a golf education and research organization that studies how the human body affects the golf swing. Most golfers encounter it through a TPI-certified coach, trainer, or therapist who screens their movement to find physical limitations that hold the swing back.
What is Titleist Performance Institute in golf?
TPI is an educational body founded in 2003 by chiropractor Dr. Greg Rose and golf coach Dave Phillips, backed by a 52-member advisory staff of medical, fitness, and coaching experts (MyTPI). It describes itself as the world’s leading organization dedicated to studying how the body functions in relation to the golf swing, and since its launch, it has gathered movement and swing data on thousands of players, from tour professionals to weekend golfers.
The name points to three related things, which is where a lot of confusion starts. TPI is the organization and its research. It is also a physical place: a 33-acre research campus inside Titleist parent company Acushnet’s test facility in Oceanside, California, with fairways, a fitness lab, and a 3D motion-capture studio (MyTPI). And for everyday golfers, “TPI” usually means the screening and coaching they receive from a certified professional near them, not a trip to California.
The body-swing connection
At the center of everything TPI teaches is an idea it calls the Body-Swing Connection: how well a golfer’s body can move directly shapes how efficiently they can swing a club. A player with limited hip rotation or a stiff upper back will struggle to make certain positions, no matter how many lessons they take.
TPI does not push one “correct” swing. It holds that there are countless swing styles but one most efficient swing for each player, based on what that person’s body can physically do (MyTPI). Finding it starts with a screen.
What is a TPI screening?
A TPI screening is a physical assessment that checks how a golfer moves, then links those findings to their swing. A certified professional runs the golfer through a movement screen (commonly a 16-point version) that measures mobility, stability, and flexibility in the areas golf relies on most, such as the hips, spine, and shoulders (Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics).
Results are often paired with a video swing analysis, so the coach can tell whether a fault comes from a physical limit or a technical habit. Many providers also calculate a Golf Fitness Handicap, a score that reflects the gap between a player’s physical potential and current movement quality (Macro Golf; Greiner Physical Therapy). A full session usually runs 60 to 90 minutes (Lifeline Therapy), and pricing varies by provider; one Nashville clinic lists a screen with video analysis and a follow-up session at $175 (Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics).
TPI certification: fields and levels
The professionals who deliver all this are TPI Certified. There are more than 19,000 of them across 63 countries (MyTPI). Certification runs across five fields, so a golfer can be matched to the right kind of expert, and it climbs through three levels, from the foundational Level 1 screen up to advanced biomechanics and force-plate work at Level 3 (Grumpy Gopher).
| Certification field | Who it is built for |
|---|---|
| Golf | Swing coaches and teaching professionals |
| Medical | Physical therapists, chiropractors, and doctors |
| Fitness | Trainers and strength coaches |
| Power | Specialists in adding distance and clubhead speed |
| Junior Development | Coaches working with young players |
A golfer does not need every specialist. Someone playing through back pain is best served by a TPI-certified medical provider, while a player chasing distance might see a fitness or power coach.
TPI screening vs. a regular golf lesson
The two are easy to mix up because both aim to improve the swing. A standard lesson watches the swing itself. A TPI screening looks at the body first, then explains what the swing is doing because of it.
| TPI screening | Regular golf lesson | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | How the body moves | How the club and swing move |
| Typical provider | Certified coach, trainer, or therapist | Golf instructor or PGA pro |
| Output | Movement findings, often a Golf Fitness Handicap and corrective plan | Swing feedback and drills |
| Best when | A fault keeps returning despite lessons | Learning or refining swing technique |
The two work well together. A screening tells a coach which fixes a body can realistically make, so lessons stop chasing positions the golfer cannot reach.
Related Golf Terms
- Hip mobility — Hip range of motion essential to an effective swing.
- Foam rolling — Self-massage with a roller to improve mobility and recovery.
- Grip strength — Hand and forearm strength that supports club control.
- Golfer’s elbow — A common tendon injury on the inner side of the elbow.
- Injury prevention — Training and habits that reduce common golf injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TPI stand for?
TPI stands for Titleist Performance Institute, a golf education and research organization founded by Titleist parent company Acushnet.
Who founded TPI and when?
Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips founded it in 2003, alongside a 52-member advisory staff of experts (MyTPI).
What is a Golf Fitness Handicap?
It is a score from a TPI assessment that reflects how much a golfer’s physical movement limits their swing, separate from their scoring handicap (Greiner Physical Therapy).
Is a TPI screening only for professionals?
No. TPI has studied everyone from tour players to beginners, and providers screen recreational golfers of all ages and skill levels (MyTPI).
Do golfers have to visit California?
No. The Oceanside campus is the research headquarters, but golfers work with certified professionals in their own area.
Sources
- MyTPI (Titleist Performance Institute). “About TPI.”
https://www.mytpi.com/about. Accessed August 2026. - Titleist. “TPI Physical Screen.” Titleist Learning Lab.
https://www.titleist.com/learning-lab/performance/tpi-physical-screen. Accessed August 2026. - Grumpy Gopher. “TPI Certification for Golf Instructors: What Level Do You Need?”
https://www.grumpygopher.com/tpi-certification-golf-instructors-guide. Accessed August 2026. - Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics. “Do You Need a TPI Golf Screening?”
https://www.eliteorthopaedic.com/blog/what-is-a-tpi-golf-screen-and-do-you-need-one/. Accessed August 2026. - Greiner Physical Therapy. “TPI Golf Assessment.”
https://greinerphysicaltherapy.com/services/tpi-golf-assessment/. Accessed August 2026. - Lifeline Therapy. “Understanding the TPI Screening Process.”
https://lifeline-therapy.com/blog/tpi-screening-process-physical-therapist-guide/. Accessed August 2026. - Macro Golf. “What is TPI Golf? (Titleist Performance Institute).”
https://www.macro.golf/blog/what-is-tpi-golf-titleist-performance-institute. Accessed August 2026.
