My method is very repeatable because:
– We keep 60% (or more) weight on the front foot during the backswing*.
– We setup the Elbows/Wrists/Shaft, exactly how we want to be back at impact (setup shape).
Setup Shape
– We then use the shoulders, to turn that “setup shape” to the top of the backswing as we hold** the shape.
– We then unwind our body*** to rotate that shape back through perfect impact, as we continuously unwind to the finish.
Yay!! straight, solid golf shot… You can do that again and again… have fun.
My Arm Setup and Swing
I setup my arms/wrists first thing as I start my routine and am standing behind the ball looking at my target. Then, I hold that shape and let my arms hang down and use that shape as a template to setup to the ball. Using the club face as a guide, my feet move me around to align that arm setup to my target. The arms/wrists/shaft never change. Once aligned, I sit down. This will have me perfectly balanced with parallel body lines.
Now I’m setup, I then stare**** at the target and picture my 2 “Keywords” (one backswing, one downswing). My (2) Keywords are, Spine… Unwind. I like to visualize my shoulders turning around my spine, then my body unwinding. Once I’ve pictured me doing these 2 words, I look back at the ball and GO… I do the 2 keywords.
Alternate Keywords:
Find what works for you. Eventually all these keywords meld into 3 concepts … SETUP, SHOULDERS, BODY. But as you are learning, you may need a few extra words.
– Shaft in line, elbows pinch, wrists fixed… Shoulders turn that shape the Top… Body turns that shape to the Finish.
– Setup Shape… Hold Shape using the Shoulders only… Turn Shape through to the finish.
– Setup Impact… Hold Impact to the Top… Turn Impact through to the Left (right hander).
– Setup… Shoulders turn… Body unwinds.
The Hands Ruin Everything
The real swing killer is usually the “Hands” throwing the club head. Learning to stop throwing the club head can be learned with a couple of easy drills I have. The “Key” is time… you must put in the time (practice) to reap the benefits. You can’t just think your way through this. Muscle memory is replaced in time and with repetitions. Maybe a couple weeks/months…everyone is different, but you will improve daily and learn a lot about discipline and commitment… You will “Know” you’ve improved and will keep these improvements. Oh, yea… and will take them to the course, only if you practice them as part of your routine…your Routine is the ONLY thing that you take to the course.
* If we maintain at least 60% of our weight on the front foot, we can rotate around our front hip socket, as fast as we need on the downswing, because we don’t have to “Fix” having swayed, slid or moved off the ball. Most golfers that slide off the ball, do it because the ball position is in the middle of their stance and that is not athletic, they can’t rotate… causes flipping, fat shots, shanks and many other issues.
** We want to maintain the relationship of the elbows/wrists/shaft so we “hold” that shape. We do not want the wrists to hinge or breakdown into a bad position… we don’t want the elbows separating or breaking down. Just hold the setup shape and turn your shoulders and when the shoulders can’t go any father, start the downswing using the body. We don’t need much backswing. The power is in the downswing unwinding and rotating.
*** Yes, unwinding the body is very powerful. It is the move many other sports use to hit Home Runs, Throw the Discus, Javelin, Footballs, Baseballs etc. The faster you turn, the farther the ball goes. It is usually the hands trying to help that ruins the body’s natural ability to rotate. If the hands take over, the body stops rotating thinking that you’re hitting at something rather than rotating through it. We “Trap Impact” with our entire body mass rotating… much more reliable than just the club head being thrown by the hands.
**** The reason I use the word stare is, I want to be looking at my target picturing what I will do, in rhythm, when my face looks back at the ball. This technique works AWESOME. It is like a mental rehearsal… as long as you are looking at the target. If you just glance at the target, then look back at the ball and try to picture what you want to do IT WON’T WORK!
8 Comments
You can turn (you say spin) as slow or fast as you need, for distance desired once you learn to use the body’s rotation to bring the arms/club back down in front of you and around to the left (right hander). That sounds a lot more complicated than it is to do. You don’t spin out when you throw a ball, because you know you have to bring your arm through with the ball an let go. It is exactly the same. You just have to learn it and practice it. We “use” the body’s rotation to move the ball with the entire body, we don’t just let the hips spin as fast as they want leaving the arms/club behind. I have drills that teach this like “The Ross Drill”… plus it’s natural anyway… again like throwing a ball.
Now, path is not an issue when you learn how to have a square face at impact. If fact, you can keep a square club face through the backswing and through impact. BTW, 80% of face angle imparts on the ball… only 20% of path influences the ball… THIS MEANS: Where the face is pointing at impact is pretty much where the ball is going. Also, no golf swing has a “linear” path… the club will always be one or the other… in to out, or out to in… again, it is about the club face angle at impact that mostly determines where the ball goes.
When rotating, with the ball position on/near my left heel, how can I prevent my self from spinning too fast (spinning out) and typically causing an out to in swing path and a slice.
Hello Ravi
Yes, pretty much the front arm pit (like you say) or front hip socket or just inside the front foot. I essentially this is where you will rotate athletically. Throw a ball and watch how your body naturally unwinds around the front hip. This is where the bottom of the swing arc will be. Since we rotate and want to trap the ball with the entire body, playing the ball at that point allows us to do that… Ross
You say above “people sway because they keep the ball at the middle of the stance”. When we follow your method for all irons, should we keep the ball just in front of the left arm pit?
Wow Tony… great work. Thanks for the nice compliment… Ross
Ross thanks so much …you made me a 5 hdcp and thrilled its only going to get better .the moves really work
Hi Tony
What works for many of my students is focus on the shoulders only controlling the backswing and practice purposely taking a shorter backswing so the hands don’t take over. This could be a 50 yd. shot. So the shoulders carry your arms to about 9:00, then engage your body to unwind for the downswing. This gives you many practice shots where the hands do not take over so you are getting used to that feeling.
Other students squeeze their wrists a little so they can hold the shape, take it back shoulders only half way, then turn through.
You can turn through faster and faster for more distance, but do not take the club back farther. You will learn a lot about your swing practicing like this. Remember, you always finish your rotation every swing. You knees will be touching and completely up on your back toe…Ross
I still have a tendency to flip it..open it at the end of the backswing..can’t always maintain the shape …….