The Full Swing
The Full Swing – “Golf is played from behind the ball”
General – Pivot motion
The body is the engine, the big muscles control the arms and hands.
The body (shoulders, pelvis, hips) pivots and turns back into right side and through into left side on a firm base of legs and feet.
Turn of body squares the clubface not the hands.
The Take-away
“Togetherness” – Torso/shoulders/arms/club move together – One piece.
Club-head moves away down tow line, slightly inside.
Swing butt end of club away, not the head. (Do not rotate hands and arms to much clockwise, keep back of left hand and club face looking at target.)
Weight transfer to right hip/heel – Keep right knee flexed and steady throughout backswing.
Keep weight inside right knee/foot.
Movement of lower half kept to a minimum, only a little lateral movement to right.
Hips turn flat while legs are static and shoulders turn 90% to spine.
Eyes never leave back of ball.
Left arms straight, but it is extension without tension.
Practice:
Place ball under right heel during swing for the correct feel.
The Backswing
Chain reaction started by one-piece take-away, everything working together.
Shoulders gain control turning around right knee to the top.
Order of movement - Shoulders, arms, hips, left knee.
Turn back to target, left arm soft.
Image: Standing in barrel and turning without touching sides.
The Upswing
Allow left shoulder under chin.
Turn right hip on heel.
Hands cocked at top.
Image: Carry club in right hand like a tray
Back points to target.
80% of weight on ball/inside of right foot.
The Downswing
First move - Weight shift to left heel
Starting down feel you are grinding down into the ground with your feet.
Left arm slides down chest.
Left arm straight and forms vertical line with shaft.
Focus on holding the shoulders back at the beginning of the downswing.
Right arm fully straightens as knees and hips move, the arms swing club in space created by the fully turned shoulders.
Shift hips laterally back.
Head must remain behind the ball.
Release wrist cock just before contact.
Order of movement – Left heel, hips, arms, shoulders.
Focus on “swing the club” rather than hit the ball.
Left oblique pulls the cub through the ball.
The Follow Through or Finish
No stopping at impact, smooth swing to the end.
Both arms straight at impact.
Club-head travels towards target, extension on the follow through keeps the club-head square through the ball for a longer period and this will increase accuracy.
Image: Shake hands with the target.
The ball gets in the way of a good swing.
End on full height on left heel with club over left shoulder, left of ear.
Practice:
Swing club through to hit back.
Weight move – Lift left foot on backswing and walk after shot.