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Yes, at least the club face. Not all golfers setup with the shaft in line with the front arm or with front wrist flat or bowed out slightly, but they do get to that position by impact. Jon does get the shaft in line and gets his wrist bowed by impact with the face square… he may not always start that way.
Ross
Ross: Jon Rahm’s swing is rather on the shortish side but he hits it way long. Would you describe his motion as getting the club to impact in the same position it started?
Yes and it is a very important element in putting. Most golfers don’t think of the putter as a club that has loft, but it does. So, it is important that the handle of the putter be lifted up and down to set the putter face exactly (square to gravity*) behind the ball. If the putting surface is exactly flat (no slope) then the bottom of the putter head would sit flat on the ground and the loft and face would be square to the target line. But, if the ball is on a slope, the handle of the putter should be lowered or raised to adjust for the slope and bring the putter face back to square (offset the slope).
* Square to gravity (a term I made up to help explain) means the face and loft of the putter are exactly 90° perpendicular to gravity. If you can imagine a string with a weight hanging and then imagine the putter face perpendicular to that … that is how the putter face must be at setup so the ball does not start left or right of the intended target line. AND, if the face is not square, side spin will be added (we don’t want that).
Ross Apr 01, 2016
Great. Nothing is in stone with my method. Different body types achieve different results. If you get good results, use it!The one thing I will caution others using my method. Trade-offs can cause other issues. If you decide to “pinch” your pec muscles vs. on top, it is pretty hard to turn your shoulders, without turning your hips, and that can sacrifice other positives in the windup from top down. The shoulders need to start first and get a bit of a head start to create more power… and moving the shoulders first, takes the “slack” out of your back muscles, so the downswing will be connected.
1. The shoulders setup “level” (as much as they can with the back hand lower on the grip), BUT, they turn around the spine (roughly 90° to the spine). The shoulders don’t turn level parallel to the ground.
2. Yes we sit down more with shorter club, but maintain the athletic counter balance (so to speak), with the tailbone out more to compensate. There are no specific ratios, it’s a balance thing, keeping your weight over your feet evenly.
3. Yes the hands are close to the body for wedge. If the elbows are close together and arms are hanging on top of your pecs, there should be no issues.
4. Yes the swing is steeper for wedge vs. driver. You don’t have to worry about it, just turn your shoulders around your spine at the spine angle you end up with, once you’re when you’re in balance… and for the conditions of the lie of the ball. Setup takes practice and experimentation… but you must always be in balance athletically!
5. Setup the club with the shaft in line with the front arm, elbows close together and let that hang… then sit down the ball athletically with 60% of your weight forward. You don’t have to think about “changes”. You can’t try to calculate change in spine angle, wrist angle, distance from the body etc. (for each club and situation)… just trust sitting down to the ball once your arms are setup.
Ross Jun 23, 2014
Hi Jim
No, as long as when the back shoulder moves, the front shoulder moves too. You do not want a separation where the back shoulder moves first by itself.Ross
Ross Apr 28, 2016
If the ball goes left (and you’re right handed), you either used your back hand to help (flipped), or your arms got ahead of the body rotation. Answer: Make sure your rotation DOMINATES and lead the arms/club or… it might be easier to just use more club, or be satisfied with what you can do with the club in your hand.Usually, it is all an amateur can do, to hit the ball straight, let alone try to add “When a shot calls for a faster swing”… to the equation. If you’ve practiced “increasing” your swing, then go for it, but most have not and don’t have that option in their bag… so, play the shot you know and make up whatever you need on a different shot on the hole… like chip closer… or, making a longer putt. What I’m saying is, play within your ability and you get what you get. Don’t stretch it, unless you’ve put in the time and have the shot.
Ross Apr 24, 2016
If I understand the question correctly… yes you can (and should), choke up or down to adjust for the shot needed.First, never grip the club on the “end” of the shaft. There is usually an inch or so just before the end of the grip that “flares” out and you want to be under that flare for control. Now, gripping lower really has no limit depending on the shot needed. Many times around the green (in a precarious lie), I’ve had to choke down so far, I’ve gripped SW below the grip on the shaft, to get the shaft angle and face exactly how I need it, so the ball will respond accordingly.
The key to what you said (knee flex and distance from the ball) is just following the “routine”. Once you’ve gripped the club for your needs… get your arm template set, let it hang… then sit “balanced” and “athletic” down to the ball. This allows you to turn your shoulders freely, still rotate and swing in balance.
An example of what not to do: The ball is way above your feet, so you just lift your arms up as to take a baseball swing. That rarely ever works for many reasons [frown]. If you choke way down on the club, you can stand a lot closer to the ball and it will be much more like a regular swing. Now, you’re not going to get maximum distance, but you will know where the ball is going and be out of trouble. So you “took your medicine*” and you can then make it up on the next shots.
* “Took your medicine” a saying I heard as a kid that meant… okay you got yourself into trouble, now “get out of trouble first”, then move on with playing the hole. The “Hero” type shots are rarely pulled of by amateurs… so “take your medicine”, “get out of trouble”, “forget about what just happened”… then focus on the present… how to capitalize from where ever the ball lies.
Ross Apr 23, 2016
I honestly have not heard enough from golfer’s that have tried. Again, it will be trade-offs. Gain accuracy lose distance. My method already hits the ball pretty straight once learned, so losing distance (for no gain) does not make sense to me.Interesting story: One of the biggest problems with Jr. Camps in general is kind of the same concept (same length – too short for the loft) and one of the reasons many kids don’t like golf, or struggle at first. The golf courses/pros think it is okay to take a bunch of unmatched, lost and found golf clubs… cut them down to fit the kids, then teach them for a week. Just try to hit a 3 iron, cut down to a 7 iron length.
Now, I know the “new” same length clubs are not cut down and the shafts probably adjust some and are designed for the lower lofted clubs, but the geometry scares me. I can see golfers over swinging for more distance. Also, I’m thinking the trajectories will be lower, because of the lack of shaft length to help get the ball up, so it can drop out of the sky on the the green.
Oversized Grip:
I would just experiment with an oversize grip on one of your clubs to see if it helps or hurts your game.Ross Apr 30, 2016
I agree. I think you said it perfectly. Also, the courses most golfers play on are not the same playing conditions.carlgo May 16, 2016
This was a good tip for me as my stance had drifted too wide over time and that made it harder for me to get a decent backswing and to rotate properly. The backswing is the most inconsistent thing for me, for some reason, and has a big effect on what happens after that. At least for me.Ross May 05, 2016
Usually if your knees don’t touch, you didn’t finish rotating to the outside of your front foot… and problems can occur. Find a comfortable stance so you can rotate completely.Ross May 19, 2016
You’re an inspiration JW66 [thumb] I like your drive and positive self talk. This game is tough and needs constant attention…that’s half the fun I think.Ross
Ross Aug 29, 2014
That’s awesome Dan!Once your brain correlates the “feeling” of keeping the face square, to more solid, straight and consistent shots, it will start to “accept” this swing change as valid, and override the old muscle memory. This takes time and is different for everyone. I’ve seen, that anyone that wants lasting change, will have to put in the time/effort, to give your body/brain time to change and accept. It is like an vague image that becomes more and more vivid and clear over time. This does not happen in a swing or a moment like “now I got it”… you develop it.
– You get it, you lose it
– You get it back better, then you lose it better (but with experience)
– You lose it less often, and get it back much quicker [wink]… in time you learn more about yourself and your golf swing.
Glad you came by Dan…