The golf downswing is absolutely and without doubt THE most important move in golf. It doesn't matter what precedes it. If the downswing is not right, it doesn't matter how good your grip is or how perfect your alignment is or how flawless your backswing is. If your downswing is wrong, everything else is wasted. Everything we do before we commence the downswing (the grip, the stance, alignment, takeaway, backswing) is preparation for enabling us to make the golf swing as perfect a golf swing as possible.
The most common mistake golfers make is to initiate the downswing with the arms or shoulders. What this usually creates is an "out to in" motion, which causes us to swing across the intended target line. To compensate for this, we have to open up the club face to allow the ball to get back on target, which creates side spin which creates that destructive slice. If like me your natural swing is a fade/slice you will know how difficult things can get when playing into a head wind or a left to right wind. The other problem this can cause is if we do NOT open the club face to compensate. Result. A pull shot to the left.
The downswing should be the very natural result of everything that precedes it. It should start from the ground up. This sounds a bit complicated but all it simply means that the first movement of the downswing should be made by the lower body. Coaches and swing gurus argue about this move and which part of the body moves first. It is vital that we do not have too many technical thoughts in our heads at this point in the swing. We should have one single trigger thought and only one.
Golf Tip #1 A great trigger motion is to move the right knee towards the left knee and plant the left heal flat on the ground. Planting that left heel begins the process of your hips moving forward.
Golf Tip #2 Allow your body to uncoil naturally in response to this trigger motion. Let your legs do the work. If your lower body is moving and turning, your upper body has to as well. Let it happen with as little conscious input from you as possible.
Golf Tip #3 It is imperative that you make sure that your shoulders, arms and hands follow exactly the same path as you made with your backswing. If you can master this part of the downswing then you will eliminate that "out to in" swing.
Golf Tip #4 Practice this trigger motion without a ball. Rehearse that feeling of moving the right knee and planting the left foot flat on the ground. Rehearse what it feels like to have the same path for your backswing and your downswing. Repeat it until it becomes natural, until you don't have to think about it.
Golf Tip #5 Probably the best advice you will ever get is to swing within yourself. Feel like your swinging at about 85% for all your shots. This will allow you time to perform the swing and it will improve timing hugely. The result is longer, more accurate shots.
Be relaxed at all times. None of us can perform any physical task while we are tense. Let the swing flow. Try only to have a few specific swing thoughts. Too may swing thoughts in your head at any one time will only make things more difficult. Master this one aspect of the swing and then we can work on improving other aspects of the golf swing at a later stage.
Be aware that there is much more to the perfect golf swing than just the downswing but mastering the perfect golf downswing will greatly improve your game and your chances of getting that handicap tumbling downwards.
No comments:
Post a Comment