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Body Motion/Angles
Note: The
following tips make reference to a right-handed player. Simply reverse
if you are a left-handed player.
Level Turn | Hands/Arms
Across Chest | Spine Angle
Click picture to enlarge
Click picture to enlarge
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Level Turn
-- With the aid of a mirror, and using your 5-iron, address
a golf ball as you would normally. While in your posture
position, "freeze", and simply take the club out
of your hands and place the shaft behind the back of your
neck, somewhere comfortably, with the grip end in your left
hand. From there, make a simulated backswing, and stop
there, at the top of your backswing. What you should
notice in this position -- as you look at yourself in the
mirror -- is that the butt-end of the grip should now be pointing
about 1 foot outside of your target line. (Note: If a Driver/1Wood
was used to do this drill, for example, then
the butt-end of the grip would be pointing even further outside
of your target line -- by at least 2 feet). Now, as you
begin to turn back down (simulating your downswing), try to
get the angle of the shaft to now match up as closely as possible
to the same angle of the shaft that you had just seen in the
mirror a moment ago when you were at the top of your
backswing. The clubhead
should now again be pointing about 1 foot outside your target line.
When this drill is done correctly, you will be turning very "level"
(based upon your tilted spine angle position that you
established at address), and your overall body motion will
be greatly
improving!
This drill not only
works on proper turn and coil, but also puts a lot of
emphasis on a well maintained spine angle DURING BOTH THE
BACKSWING AND THE DOWNSWING -- which is another extremely
important aspect of the golf swing!
NOTE:
The pictures show the same top of backswing position
-- just from 2 different camera angles.
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| Hands/Arms
Across Chest – This is one of my favorite drills.
This drill puts a strong emphasis on proper body motion.
It is also a good check point -- to hopefully see how your
body is correctly responding -- to the swinging of the club
(see pictures below). With the aid of a mirror, and using a 5-iron, address a golf
ball, and assume your normal address position. You will
not be hitting the ball in this drill -- it will only be used
as a reference point throughout this drill. Now, bring
your club up, basically underneath your chin, and crisscross
your hands/arms across your shoulders, as shown below.
The butt-end of the grip should be pointing towards your intended
target. Now make a simulated backswing. What you
should notice is that with proper body motion, your back/spine
should now be angled away from your target, your left foot
shall remain on the ground (allowing for it to "roll"
inwards, slightly, is perfectly acceptable), you should also
feel more weight to the inside of your right foot/heel, and
the butt-end of your grip should be pointing roughly 1 foot
behind, and outside, of your target line. Additionally,
having the feeling that your left shoulder is over your right
knee, is a superb position to be in when you are at the top
of your backswing. Then, as you begin to make your simulated
downswing move, you will want to have had all of your weight
move off from your right side, and into a "tall",
firm left side, and into an excellent finishing position --
while being well balanced on your right toe. Consequently,
now the clubhead itself should now be pointing about 1 foot
in front of, and outside of, your target line as well.
This drill is very similar to the Level Turn drill
shown above,
but this drill places a specific emphasis on proper body motion
-- especially the upper body -- and the way it should properly
respond to the swinging of the club.
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Click pictures to enlarge
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Click picture to enlarge
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Spine
Angle – Of all the angles in golf, your spine angle
must remain the most constant -- throughout your entire swing!
If your spine angle becomes altered at any time during your
swing, a poorer shot will most likely result. Proper spine
angle tilt can be established with good posture at address.
Once correct posture is established, and consequently proper
spine angle is established as well, do your best to maintain
your spine angle throughout the duration of your swing!
However, once your hands and wrists re-cock the club after impact
-- at about the hip-high position -- your spine angle will eventually
start to rise and you will then consequently get into a more
"vertical" position with your spine. This is
only natural at that point. |
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I am concerned about spine angle issues within one's golf
swing because every so often I will be instructing someone
who has been told, "keep your head down".
If your head remains "down" too long after impact,
once again, a poorer shot will likely be the result.
Once the arms and right shoulder pass under your chin after
impact, then it is necessary to allow your head to follow
that "through" motion and consequently get into
a nice, classic, finish position – where the wrists have
fully re-cocked and the club then lies comfortably across
the back of your left shoulder and/or back.
VERY BAD ADVICE -- "Keep your head
down" -- BECAUSE IF TAKEN LITERALLY, IT COULD ALSO CREATE
A STEEPER CLUBSHAFT ANGLE INTO THE BALL, ESPECIALLY ON THE
DOWNSWING. CONSEQUENTLY, YOUR BODY’S TURN/COIL
WILL BECOME VERY LIMITED, AND THUS ROBBING YOUR SWING OF POWER.
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Thank you,
"Keep it in the short grass!" - The Golf Channel
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Feel free to e-mail me
with any and all comments regarding these tips/notes.
With your suggestions, I can continually make these tips as
helpful to all of you as often as possible! |
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