Pivot: Think Inside of the Right Foot

A golfer's hips and upper body should mostly pivot in-place, staying fairly centered with no lateral movement. If you're like me, you've struggled with a sway that moves the swing plane's low point all over the place, making it difficult to get back to the ball consistently and apply power efficiently and effortlessly. The body can sway moving right, but it can, unfortunately, sway too far left on the downswing--getting too far ahead of the ball.

At some point, I think a golfer MUST get this point to advance beyond high handicap status: The backswing pivot occurs on the inside of the right leg and inside the right foot (for right handed players). Now, you may have been told that before from many credible sources and thought you WERE doing it, but when you really learn to do this right, a major lightbulb will go on over your head.

If you discover that your right hip is moving outside of your right knee and placing weight towards the outside of your right foot, you are swaying. This is very subtle and sometimes difficult to catch. The hips and knees should turn inside the feet.

The right hip actually moves straight back and even inwards a bit towards the center of the stance; the hips and knees should always stay centered between the feet until the very end of the swing.

A drill that you can find throughout the internet works to teach this sensation: Simply place a golf ball underneath and to the outside of your right foot and take some practice swings. There are also more expensive training aids available that can teach the same feeling. See how the swing center (and therefore bottom of the swing) stays closer to where you established it at address? When you first hit some balls while concentrating on this move (when you've been a swayer), you'll immediately understand the difference.

When this is done properly, the outside of the right foot should feel like it's slightly off the ground during the backswing, and the right knee will kick inward toward the left knee ever so slightly during or just before the backswing. Some pros use the inward kick of the right knee as a way to start their swing, and it's not a bad idea--it helps remove the possibility that you will sway. Or you might consider just kicking in the right knee slightly and concentrating your weight into the inside of the right foot as part of your address procedure. This bracing maneuver concentrates the weight on the inside of the right leg where it should be, preventing a sway to the right during the backswing. As a result, ball-club contact is much more consistent and powerful, because no energy is lost trying to find the ball again.

But this can be taken further, because one should really be on the inside of the LEFT foot during the initial part of the downswing! Hank Haney states that the weight should feel, initially, as if it's moving from the inside right foot into the left big toe and then finishes on the outside of the left foot. Therefore, the left foot rolls from inside to outside during the downswing, while the right foot NEVER rolls to the outside on the backswing. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus (two of the best players to ever hold a club) say that the game of golf is played INSIDE the feet! It's also easy to see how moving first to the inside of the left foot on the downswing can keep the head behind the ball where it's supposed to be at impact, instead of moving out ahead of the ball. But the kicker here is, you shouldn't TRY to stay on the inside of the left foot; just concentrate on staying on the inside of the right foot during the backswing (ensuring you maintain a flexed right knee) and the rest will take care of itself on the throughswing.

Achieving a centered pivot is possible when you recognize that the right hip does NOT move to the right at all during the takeaway: It moves straight back and even towards the body's center line, and the right leg stays angled towards the target (does not move towards a perpendicular-to-ground position). As a proper on-plane takeaway keeps the club head outside of the hands, the correct opposing move is for the right hip to move straight back. This thought should also keep you pivoting correctly.

Shawn Clement describes this feeling of playing on the insides of the feet as "bracing against a firm left side," because backswing energy is expended in making a centered turn, rather than wasting energy moving laterally backward and then forward again. Shawn says that any weight shift (back and then forward) is no more than a inch long! This is where the erroneous belief that the head doesn't move during the swing comes from: The head actually does move slightly right on the backswing, but it's such a small movement that the golfer doesn't always notice--it feels centered. Large movements to the right mean the swing bottom is moving well right of where it was set at address (probability to hit fat increases).

This works for ALL strokes: Drives, irons, chips, pitches, and even bunker shots (you can even dig the inside of the right foot into the sand to brace for those fairway bunkers, which helps pick the ball cleanly). For the short game and bunker shots, the weight on the inside of the right leg simply keeps one braced on the inside of the left foot (i.e., there's little to no rightward weight shift).

In an effort to keep your head still, your weight won't be able to shift to the right (for a right handed player) on the backswing unless you sway your lower body. This is not the way the tour pros shift their weight during the backswing.

Now, it doesn't take a lot of head motion to get your weight to shift, we measured it in centimeters. Most tour pros move their heads from 7 cm to 15 cm during a backswing.

Golf Instruction: Keep Your Head Still - Golf Tips

Keeping your weight on the inside of the right foot during the backswing is critical to shifting properly. Allowing the weight to get to the outside of the foot doesn't give you a strong base to push off from when "springing" over to the left side. This can also lead to the dreaded sway, which results in a lot of wasted movement and is corrosive to good swing mechanics. To find a proper position, keep the right knee over the inside of the foot at address and throughout the backswing. Obviously, it's not good medicine to think about this during the swing, but stop at the top of the swing occasionally and check your position. In time, this will pay off in added power and more solid hits.

Free Golf Lesson - Learn to Transfer Your Weight

The key to proper footwork is weight distribution throughout the swing. Good golfers play within their feet. In other words, their weight is on the inside of the back foot on the backswing and on the inside of the forward foot on the through-swing. The average player constantly fights the weight-distribution battle, falling to the outside of one or both feet. The result is a loss of balance, control and power.

A grounded approach to power - Brief Article | Golf Digest | Tiger Woods

 

Preshot Practice Routine

A golf shot should be a loose, relaxed, whippy motion, much like the rope drill tries to instill. Shawn Clement's perpetual motion drill is another great example of a way to instill this feeling. One should begin the golf swing with a feeling that one is already in motion, not from a static starting position that can easily introduce tension. This is why many players have a swing trigger; it's usually a small movement that mimics the through swing. This is also the reason that some players waggle.

I ran across a good article on a preshot practice routine (may have been Martin Hall) and modified it slightly to meet my needs. Much like a baseball player rehearses at bat, start with the club in the immediate post-impact position, with the toe up and club face facing away from the target line (i.e., wrist watch facing away from the target line) and the club shaft pointing at the target line. Swing back and brush the ground slightly before taking the club to the top (the club should brush towards the right foot). Now swing down and brush the ground slightly, mimicking the club rotation that was the starting point. Keep taking these practice swings until it feels loose and one is brushing the ground consistently back and through. When taking the shot, try to copy the same loose feel.

Practice swings? Take them!! Here's how. Set up as if you're going to hit the shot but so that your club is a foot or so inside the ball (this assumes your lie leaves you sufficient room to do this); this is important because it's the closest approximation to the lie you're facing for the shot and it makes it easier to walk into the shot (careful not to get too close or you risk hitting the ball). Take two practice swings and return to your posture; now "walk the machine" over to the ball and take the exact same swing (this is where you can really become aware of flinching or trying to add to the shot). Your practice swings should incorporate the moves to achieve the ball flight and power you desire. When you're taking your practice swings (relative to the ball position), pay attention to the arc formed by the blur of the club, where the club bottoms out (if an iron where the divot is), or when the club begins rising from the bottom (important for the driver); then make adjustments if necessary (i.e., you're hitting fat or on the wrong side of the arc). Doing this routine will save strokes, because you've effectively taken two "good" swings for the shot; now you're going to move in and recreate a third swing exactly the same with the ball in the way. It can also help you take the flinch out of your swing. This is not perfect but it's definitely a stroke saver.

Most golfers don't put much thought into their practice swings, then wonder why they have no feel for the shot. Instead, focus on making it a true rehearsal of the swing you're about to make: Use the same grip pressure, the same aim, the same tempo. Don't just waste it.

Make your practice swing count: Golf Digest

What I believe to be happening with golfers that have a problem reproducing the positive features of their practice swings is that when they step up to the ball (now that there is a result in the balance, and the additional visual demand on the brain of the ball) the majority of the awareness is now taken away from what the golfer is feeling and put into what they are seeing, anticipating or anxious about. To recreate the same thing that happened in the practice swing they would have to continue to pay attention to what they are feeling, as they did in the practice swing.

One logical thing I would suggest in order to make the transition from the practice swing to the swing through the ball is to add a visual component to the practice swings: e.g., focus on brushing a leaf or particular blade of grass, etc., with your practice swings. This shows you if your club brushed the ground in the right spot or not. And if you have the specific problem of swinging too hard through the ball I would offer a temporary, band-aid type fix first: be sure to swing as hard in your practice swings as you are going to swing through the ball (and if you don't like the result of the practice swing don't swing through the ball until you take a practice swing that you like - if the practice swing was bad why would swinging through the ball on the next swing be better?).

The Practice Swing Phenomenon - Golf Instruction Article - PGAProfessional.com

You have long term and short term memory. Short term memory is held in the practice swing. If I am playing a golf shot out here the first thing I am going to do is take a practice swing, get a feel for the shot. If I am thinking about my backswing, my forwardswing, my set up, whatever I am doing I am thinking about it right here. After I take the practice swing I am done thinking.

Video Golf Tip | Utilizing a Practice Swing

As you take your practice swings, remember to use the same motion, do not think too much, visualize the flight of your golf ball before you address the ball. Having a pre-shot routine and using it before each shot will help you relax. However, if during your practice swings you feel your body start to tense up, step back and start your pre-shot routine all over again.

You Want To Eliminate Tension & Relax As You Swing the Golf Club

State your intention with each shot. Tell yourself what you are going to do, then go do it. On your short shots, take the same actions but take a couple practice swings right next to the ball. Rehearse the shot exactly the way you want to hit the ball with the same length swing and tempo. Create the exact feel that you want for the specific shot then simply set up and let your body repeat the feel. Do not give yourself time to think or to become tense over the golf ball. This leads to mishits. Focus on your landing spot and allow your body to repeat the same swing you rehearsed.

Commit To Your Shot! | Instruction Feature | PGA.com

 

Pivot: Create Separation

I mentioned this in a previous post on keeping the back facing the target for as long as possible in the downswing to help hit inside-out, but I felt I needed to emphasize the first part of this equation. You must create separation between the lower and upper body on the downswing (i.e., often called X-factor).

Once the back is facing the target, begin shifting weight to the left leg and rotating around it, while the back stays facing the target and the arms begin dropping. This move is discussed extensively by Ben Hogan in his milestone book (also by Jim McClean), and it's so critical to creating a powerful downswing that's driven by the lower body.

What really makes this work is the separation between shoulder and hip position. The shoulders should only catch up to the hips in the follow through. If they catch up early--or worse, outrace them--be ready to look for your ball in right field, because you'll likely get a slice.

If you get a push or slight slice, you simply need to close the stance (i.e., get the face closed to the path) to get that powerful draw working.

Another way to think of it: the shoulders mostly move first on the backswing and the hips mostly move first on the downswing. Voila! X-factor!

 

Putting: Allow Putter Head to Close

We all know there are two types of putting styles: straight back & through and arcing (i.e., the putter head opens going back and closes coming through). But what happens when you blend the two as I have for so long (i.e., arc back and try to go straight through). Well, I can tell you. Most of my putts have consistently missed right, because this hybrid putting method causes sliced putts.

Today, I started allowing the putter head to close going through and I actually hit straight putts with good distance control. I also discovered that this put more zip on my putts, which helped me reduce my lower body movement. My best putting style appears to be arcing--with a putter face that slightly opens going back and closes going through. This style is best for long distances, as it adds some zip; straight back and through might be more appropriate for medium to short putts.

 

 

My Wacky Left Shoulder Hitch

I am occasionally vexed by a hideous hitch in my left shoulder. What happens is that my left shoulder joint sometimes rises slightly upward at address (tension) and increases during the down swing, which exaggerates my shoulder tilt and causes all sorts of crazy shots--fat, pop-ups (especially with the driver), and thin shots. I've noticed it can creep in to my swing when I'm nervous or trying to belt one.

Not sure why it happens but it may be an unconscious effort to lift the ball during the swing.

And I'm not 100% certain how to cure myself other than to be aware of it; it's a sign of tension in my swing and address position.

 

Posture and Setup

Here are some tricks I use to get a basic, fundamental setup:

• Aim: Stand behind the ball to get aim line (starting line relative to the target); pick a spot on the ground a foot or so in front of the ball that's on the aim line--focus on that spot as you address the ball
• Alignment: Take standing position on the side of the ball with club held out in front; align parallel to the line created by the ball and the spot you picked in the first step; back is straight
• Stance: In general, set the left foot perpendicular to the target line and flare the right foot out slightly. Foot position can be adjusted to encourage ball flights but one should NEVER move the left foot from its address position during the swing
• Posture: Unlock the Pelvis: Bend from the hips at address, such that the rear end protrudes SLIGHTLY to balance the torso; the pelvis should be inline with the torso. When the pelvis is locked, the pelvis is more inline with the legs, the back is in a C posture, and the body is already preset to stand up and lose the primary torso tilt, either going back or coming down. Don't go too far or you'll have the opposite problem with and S posture. If you feel unstable at address, check for this. The back is still straight; now bend the knees; arms should hang but shoulders should feel pulled back (if they droop the the upper back is drooping); this will look and feel as if you're establishing a tripod created by your legs and the club, and you will be looking in on your hands; another feel is that you're squatting to sit down on a stool (Updated 15 Jan 2015)
• Posture: At address, the sternum or the middle of the chest will be pointing to the ground at a certain angle, pointing more down with short clubs and less down with long clubs. Note this position of the sternum, for it represents the "return cover angle" (the primary torso tilt or spine angle) of the chest needed during the downswing to maintain posture and hit the ball solidly (Updated 1 Dec 14)
• Posture: Preset secondary axis or torso tilt by concentrating the weight onto the inside of the right foot and ticking the right knee in slightly; the upper body should then tilt slightly away from the target and the head should be preset behind the ball; this will allow for a centered pivot without swaying off the ball (Reverse K Position)
• Set-up: Ensure that the elbows are straight, close together, pointed down, and in front of the torso; the upper arms should be somewhat across the top of the chest
• Stance: Weight should be on heels at this point, so shift it slightly forward into the balls of the feet (mid-foot or arches)
• Stance: Take small adjustment steps to align the club to the ball and target line
• Set-up: (Ball position) Looking down at the hands and the ball at address, the hands should be, generally speaking, just in front of the ball for irons and just on top of or maybe slightly behind the ball for woods; the proper way to get the ball and hand position is with stance adjustments left or right (do not use the arms to get this hand position, i.e., forward press)
• Alignment: Finally, ensure that the shoulder line is parallel to the knee, hip, and aim lines
• Set-up: The belt buckle should be angled down toward the target/starting line, and the butt of the club should point at the belt buckle

My first typical error is to allow my pelvis to get into an un-protruded position, which fundamentally alters the posture and can lead to several errors, including thin and fat shots. A symptom that this is happening is that your shoulders will begin to droop and you will lose the feeling that the arms and club are hanging from the shoulders (i.e., the elbows and forearms may start touching the belly area, depending on your physical condition).

My second typical (and biggest) error is to leave my shoulders too level and turned slightly open, unconsciously aimed off to the left. This ironically FEELS right because the right hand is lower on the club and naturally pulls the right shoulder toward the aim line. But the correct position is such that the back of the left shoulder is slightly facing targetward; the correct FEEL for me is that the shoulders are aligned pointing slightly right, when in reality the shoulders are aligned parallel to the knees, hips, and aim line. Here's a test: set up in the correct posture holding a pitching wedge with the arms hanging. Now let go of the wedge and see where the arms hang. If they hang in the same plane the shoulder alignment is good; if the shoulder line is aimed too far left or right then the arms will hang unevenly. Turning the shoulders slightly rightward to improve alignment also gets the head behind the ball and automatically lowers the right shoulder.

My third typical error is to let my arms start bending and bowing slightly outward; my elbows separate and point outward instead of down.

My fourth typical error is to let the ball position relative to my swing center get too far forward, which, depending on the club face at impact, can cause pulls, pull-hooks, or slices. It's important to first "setup the crane and wrecking ball" and then "walk that crane into position," (Shawn Clement) such that the hands are just ahead of the ball for irons and either on top of or maybe slightly behind the ball for longer clubs (for driver, the ball isn't as far forward as you might think, especially for a draw). This works because the hands should be in the same position relative to the middle of the body for all clubs at address.

Along those lines, if you're losing shots to the right (i.e., straight-slicing, pushing or push-slicing), try moving the ball forward in your stance a few inches, especially with the driver, woods, and even the putter (Leadbetter). Keep in mind that this can exacerbate pulls and pull-hooks, so back off if that becomes the issue. (Updated 5 Aug 14)

Note that these setup steps don't account for unusual lies or stance adjustments for shot shape, so aspects may change for uphill, side hill, down hill, desired ball flights, etc.

Make sure you have a good knee bend and a nice bend from the hips. Your arms should hang down in your setup so there is a slight angle between your forearms and your golf club shaft. Your weight should be on the balls of your feet or towards the middle.

How To Achieve Perfect Posture On Every Golf Shot For Great Results | swingperfectgolfswing.com

1. Stand tall with a slight knee bend from the hips.

2. You should feel a pelvic tilt (butt out) with a flat back as you bend over.

3. Weight on the balls of your feet.

Good posture for good swings | Kandi Comer Golf

Once you are in this position stick your butt out. The reason for sticking your rear end out is to bring your center of gravity to a point over your arches.

With your weight in the middle of your feet you are in a dynamic position, you can swing the golf club to and fro and maintain good balance and that is the key to a good, solid, repeatable golf swing.

Butt Out - Play Better Golf

Chris DiMarco said his renewed golf swing is all in the butt. As in, sticking it out.

"My wife said, 'you used to stick your butt out like you were wearing a dress,'" DiMarco told the media after he fired a 68 in the first round at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. "It's amazing, the simplicity of it. Sure enough, that just kind of kicked everything right into gear and I have hit so many sold shots all week.

Tim McDonald: Chris DiMarco says golf swing is all in the rear | World Golf News

Often your stance can look and feel square to you but your hips and shoulders will be several degrees off line.

Instruction Tip #20 - Perfect Your Alignment

Point the butt of the club at your belt buckle and your belt line toward the ball.

"Belt line at the ball - Brian Manzella"

As we reach slightly lower with our right hand to grip the club, our right shoulder moves down and forward slightly and our right hip moves forward just a little bit.

Slight as they are, these movements "open" our body to the ball. You can see the effect more easily if you drop your right hand a foot down the shaft from the left.

The effect of this "opening" is threefold. It causes us to aim to the left, restricts our backswing and shoulder turn, and puts us in a position to hit from the outside in before we have even started the club back.

The Golf Stance Part 3: The Arms and The Open Position

Strive to keep your hands just SLIGHTLY ahead of the ball at address with all of your clubs. If you find you're pushing your shots you can bring them back to even with the ball. If your hands are really slow you can adjust them to just a tad "behind" the ball. No more.

Better Golf Address Fast and Easy

With the driver, most golfers play the ball too far forward and stand too far away from it. This might feel powerful, but it sets some bad things in motion.

Lesson Tee: Butch Harmon: Rule No. 1: Position The Ball: Golf Digest

The final step in our setup is to simply march over to the golf ball. From the setup position with the clubhead resting on the ground at the center of the stance, simply shuffle over to the ball while maintaining setup posture. Basically we create the setup while standing a few inches too far away from the ball, then slide the clubhead up behind the ball as the feet take a small step forward. We literally use the club as a yardstick to measure the body distance from the ball.

Golf Setup Lesson – Foundation for a Golf Swing

The hand position at address should be as close as possible to the position you want your hands to come into the ball at impact.

For an iron shot, where you need the club coming down into impact, you place the hands forward of the ball and in front of the club head so the shaft and left arm are in a straight line.

For a driver off the tee, where you need to hit the ball into the air, the hands should be opposite or even behind the ball slightly. The higher you want to hit the ball, the further behind the ball you have the hands when hitting off the tee.

Golf Address Hand Position - Stance Grip Tips | Suite101

 

 

 

Golf-ageddon: Myrtle Beach, SC

We'll be leaving shortly for our family vacation in Myrtle Beach, which also happens to be somewhat of a golfing mecca. I bought a golf vacation package and thought I'd share the courses upon which I'll be losing a lot of golf balls. I will be playing four courses in three days (one day I'll be playing two courses).

First up (the day I arrive), my son and I will play at Long Bay. Its signature 10th par-4 has a fairway completely encased in a giant bunker.

The Long Bay Club is a magnificent Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that is consistently ranked among the top courses in the state. This is not a typical Nicklaus design; deep pot bunkers and vast waste areas add a unique identity and challenge.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

On the next day, I'll be playing two course at Myrtle Beach National, back-to-back: King's North and SouthCreek. King's North's signature par-5 hole, The Gambler, provides two choices: not safe and dangerous. SouthCreek seems a bit tamer, but only a little (and for my current level of play, I'm sure I'll be playing up on the 'old man" tees). All of the Myrtle Beach National courses are designed by Arnold Palmer.

Famous for the island green and "SC"-shaped sand traps of Hole 13; the famed par-5 sixth hole, nicknamed "The Gambler" that tempts golfers with a shortcut to the green via an island fairway.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

With just 6,400 yards from the back tees, this course challenges golfers to focus on accuracy not distance with each shot. Finesse is required by every golfer with its guarded MiniVerde Ultradwarf greens and protected waste areas, as it winds through wetlands and hardwood forests.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

After a day of rest where I do the beach thing with the family, I'll close out my golf vacation with the West Course at Myrtle Beach National.

From the regular tees, golfers of all abilities will enjoy the classic Arnold Palmer design, ranked 4.5 STARS in 2010 by Golf Digest's "Places to Play". But be prepared for a professional challenge from the back tees as the numerous doglegs, fairway bunkers and natural hazards come into play.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]