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Ross Jun 08, 2016
We feel tension in the same place. The instep of the back leg. That trailing leg or back leg, position once setup acts as a brace. The leg torques a bit, but the knee does not straighten up. We wind the shoulders against the “inside” of that leg.It is very important to not slide our weight back on top or to the outside of that leg.
As far as the front leg… since we have at least 60% of our weight forward, we are more on top of that leg vs. it being angled and braced. Everyone has to find what is good for them. The key is to feel like the lower body is holding and resisting at first, to give the shoulders something to windup against. The reason I said “at first”, is because the shoulders do wind the lower body eventually (if needed), but we never slide towards the back leg.
Ross Jun 06, 2016
Hello Rene’
On the backswing…
I feel like my feet are “anchored” and “hold” to the ground. The back foot is braced at an angle, generating from the “instep”*, resisting and preventing me from swaying to the back foot. The front foot feels like it’s “holding”, as if it were on a “dock” and my back foot was on a “boat” and I didn’t want to let the boat pull me away from the dock… (just the way I picture it). NOW… all that goes on (from practice), while my shoulders start the backswing and wind up.On the downswing…
I feel the “feet” in harmony with the body unwind from ground up… “push off” or “push against” the ground. I really feel the back “instep” use the ground to “push” to unwind.Much of the downswing is automatic from the correct windup. There had been so much “potential” stored from the shoulders on the windup, the downswing just has to “let go” and I use that to kind of “push off” the ground.
I’ve never tried to explain this before Rene’… hope it helped… Ross
*Weight on the backswing never moves to “on top” or “to the outside” of the back foot! There is kind of a “dug in” feeling braced.
Ross Mar 11, 2016
A “bigger turn” does not = “more distance”. It may add some distance, but just making it “bigger”, more often than not, causes other problems.Making it efficient* and accelerating faster on the downswing, with square/centered hits, and with the shaft in line with the front arm WILL give you some more distance**.
* A big part of “efficient” is keeping more weight forward, so you don’t slide or move toward the back foot during the backswing. Holding the front knee is one way to help. It is not in stone that the front knee must hold. If you can let it turn in, and not slide off the ball and still wind up correctly”, that is okay.
** There are so many factors that add up to added distance, or loss of distance, we could discuss it for days. My experience tells me, the straighter the ball goes, the lower you can score. Many times when a golfer tries to add distance they sacrifice direction. They think sacrificing direction is okay, because they’re closer to the green (I don’t agree). Distance isn’t the “end all” answer for better scoring or more fun/enjoyment. Distance is what advertising sells golfers on, to buy new clubs. Distance and poor course management, is what usually leads to the “others” (6, 7, 8s).
In my opinion… Everyone is capable of being excellent at putting, chipping and pitching regardless of body type or age… and most are average or worse, but still try to hit the ball farther.
FYI, I once played in a tournament and had (if I remember right) 8 one putts, most under 10′ but only had 1 birdie… the rest were all “saves” for par. I saved 7 shots with great short pitch shots and solid putting. Now that’s fun…
Ross Apr 11, 2016
Thanks Dan. When Jordan is bit farther away, he always rotates… one of the reasons he is as good as he is… but, when he gets closer, he tries to use only the shoulders and hands, thinking it has better control. This is not the case, because the shoulders are very limited on their own and will cause the flip and usually more backspin. They can only go so far forward (without some body rotation), This is why I don’t really advocate “chipping” because “pitching” is more natural and more reliable, even very close to the green. It is also easier to get the ball to roll forward with a pitch shot. Jordan also struggled 3 times on Saturday with short pitch shots where he didn’t rotate.Ross Apr 11, 2016
In theory. There are always “trade-offs”. If a golfer has no intention of working or changing their golf swing and using game improvement clubs help, … then use them.The main reason for the post is not about equipment, and not about the hands leading the club head, but about how using the “body’s rotation” will help maintain the correct position of the shaft through and past impact. It is more difficult to “flip” through impact when the body’s rotation is dominating the arms/club. Many times, if a golfer is struggling with contact and direction, just improving and completing the body rotation (correctly), improves their swing.
Ross May 25, 2018
I’m going to say; It’s not possible to over rotate if it is done correctly and in balance. It is possible to rotate the hips way ahead of the shoulders/arms, to the point that when the shoulders/arms catch up, the new path is left of the target. Here’s one example.You start with your shoulders and hips parallel to the target line. You start the takeaway using the shoulders first. The shoulder eventually turn the hips some to the end of the backswing. Hypothetically at this point the shoulders have turned 90° and the hips 45°. Okay, on the downswing the body unwinds, and because of gravity, the arms/club are pulled back down in front of the body into impact. Now, ideally, at impact, the hips are slightly open to the target line, the shoulders are back parallel with the arms/club at the ball with a square club face. This is a “dynamic” position… meaning everything is moving and nothing is stopping or passing. The body is unwinding like a rubber band.
Now this scenario is a kind of ideal model. Everyones body is different and shots are different with different needs.
Now, I suspect in your case, your arms/club are stuck behind you. Usually that is because the back elbow is bent out* getting caught on your back hip, so the arms could not get back in front in time… the body keeps turning and by the time the arms/club impact, there is a new path to the left. Some call this “Spinning out”. This might be because you lifted your arms up to help and your own muscles are holding your arms/club up, or back, so gravity can’t bring them back down. Essentially, they’re left behind until later in the swing when you’re now aimed left.
* The elbows must stay close together. I prefer pointing back at the hips as much as possible… especially the front elbow at impact!
Ross May 22, 2018
Those are great Keywords. Alignment is very different for everyone because of so many variables. Whatever you can do to get the body to get the club face back to square through impact is great (and use it). Now if it starts to not work; time to go back to the basic setup I teach.Ross Aug 24, 2015
Yes, taking a moment (like Jason Day), to see your shot and recall when you’ve taking the shot before and were successful is VERY powerful. It really works great around the green to imagine the entire trip the ball will take to end “in” or “by” the hole. Then just hit your spot at the speed you imagined (don’t forget to allow for break too).Ross Aug 23, 2015
Just a thought on DJC2650’s comment…Some golfers grab the club when it is on the ground, and then close the arms against their sides. This pinches the pecs and the shoulders can’t turn freely.
A good way to get the arms in the correct position at setup, is once you take your grip, start with them out in front of you, elbows close, then “let that hang”. Now, the arms/club can be controlled by the SHOULDERS. The shoulders do the work on the backswing. The shoulders turn around the spine and
Ross Jun 01, 2015
If you’re not sure about the white dot lie angle, you can put tape on the bottom of the leading edge and hit on a hitting board and look at the mark. You want it right in the middle. If the mark is more toe or heel, they need to be adjusted for your swing. If the lie angle is way off, you may have a problem (if I remember right), in that Ping can only be adjusted a certain amount.Ross May 31, 2015
That is all good!Finding the right “shaft alignment” at setup, takes a little practice and everyone is a little different (strength, posture, grip etc.).
I think what you discovered, (that most golfers don’t know), is how the golf shaft reacts “dynamically” through impact. The inertia of the club head, pulls down when it’s traveling at 80-100+ mph during the swing (through impact). This will force the back of the front thumb and wrist to “raise up”. This usually removes any preset inward, angles* the wrists made at setup. This also can make the “toe” of the club dig deeper than the “heel” if you look at your divots. This can also be the wrong shaft for your swing. There are many trade offs.
One of the best ways to find how that shaft should be is to … hold the club with the front hand only … squeeze a bit with your hand, and then move the club around using your arm, finding the strongest position (no floppy wrist). Try to control the club and it will settle into the strongest position. This is the best position for you when you setup and swing. This takes practice.
FYI… that shaft MUST be inline with the front arm at impact … period! The butt of the club will NOT be pointing at your belly or forward of your front arm … must be inline at impact!
* The angles that would have the back of the thumb/wrist bent inward (not flat or bowed up).
Ross Apr 15, 2017
Most often any pop up will have a “flip” at impact. Flipping is generally caused by the back hand throwing the club head into impact, so loft has been added and it is weak. What goes hand in hand with the flip is the “stop rotating” by the body (to support the flip).If you focus on keeping the setup shape* through impact and make sure your body KEEPS TURNING all the way to the finish, you’ll end up (with practice) with a boring trajectory and more distance. You can start with very soft, short, controlled drives that have a complete turn while maintaining the shape through impact. Then as you get it down, speed up your rotation through impact.
* This is the shaft in line with the front arm … flat front wrist … elbows pointing at the hips.
Ross Aug 12, 2014
What changes is the length of the club. If you start with your arms out in front of you, elbows close together, and let that hang, it will usually drop on top of your pecs (everyone is built different). Now as you get into an Athletic position (Chest moves a little forward as your back side sticks out (this is a counter balance that keeps you centered) like a quarter back. Then you sit down. Again, this will have your hands a bit different due to different lengths of clubs.The weight is square, across the feet just like you stand, (with 60% on forward foot… (weight on balls of feet, or toes, or heels, are all not good and create big balance issues that cause many problems during the swing[nono]) If you start balanced, you can swing in balance… if you start out of balance, your body will move around during the swing to find BALANCE.
Ross
It may be because your front foot is squared off (90° to the target) restricting your rotation. Try to flare the front foot open a bit at setup to help create more freedom for rotating. It is critical for your front foot to roll to the outside of the golf shoe (DUPLESSISGOLF Members can watch: Roll your Feet in the Swing Section ). You can not rotate with the front foot flat. If you just throw a ball and see what your front foot does, it can give you an indication of how your front foot needs to be setup for your golf swing.