Anchor the Turn

Striking a golf ball solid can be elusive at times. I often find the biggest culprit is the amount of lateral movement throughout the entire swing. Simply put, the distance the head moves back away from the target during the back swing can adversely affect the chances of solid impact. In the last few years there has been a lot of discussion about this topic. The discussion was brought to the forefront when the Stack and Tilt method of hitting a golf ball introduced the idea that the overall weight during the swing should stay centered with more emphasis on the front foot. This gives the address position and swing a forward (toward the target) leaning appearance. Compared to the Traditional swing method that encourages the golfer to move the weight back as the swing is initiated, placing more weight on the back foot at the top of the back swing. Which is correct?

I do not think either method should be followed as a rule. While the proper point of impact requires that a significant amount of weight be on the front foot regardless of the method, every golf swing is different and the swing changes needed to better the point of contact is often different. However, the tendency for many average golfers is to move the weight back (away from the target), which makes the downswing difficult to properly time. With that, the Stack and Tilt method warrants merit. The method suggests that if so much weight needs to be on the front foot at impact, then why move back (away from the target) when the swing is started? I agree. But the level at which this is adhered depends entirely on the swing tendencies for the individual golfer.

As I mentioned before, many golfers move away from the target during the back swing. As a result the heel of the front foot lifts off the ground. Often when the heel lifts the hips slide away from the target with very little turn. When the hips slide away from the target the swing path generally moves away from the body making the hands rise above the swing path, creating an outside-in path. This scenario most often creates a fade or slice.

A good practice session includes hitting balls with the front foot solid on the ground. If the front foot had typically lifted, holding it solid will immediately keep the overall balance more centered and create a more downward motion toward the ball. This drill will also move the bottom of the swing further forward so that any divot is in front of the ball.

After working through the timing issues created by the new impact position the second step is to turn the back hip (right hip for right handed golfers) when the swing starts. A good thought when starting the backswing is to feel like the shoulders, hips, and hands all start at the same time while keeping the front foot planted on the ground. The back hip should turn and essentially move away from the ball. Think of a swivel motion with the head or chest as the center point. Turn. Do not sway or slide away from the target.

By turning the hips and holding the front foot solid on the ground will keep the body more centered. The added emphasis on the hip turn during the take away will allow the hands to naturally stay lower and on plane. Keeping the hands low is a key fundamental to striking the ball from the inside and promoting a hook or draw ball flight. So anchor the swing on the front foot and turn the hips for better balance and more solid impact.

Is It This Position Or That Position?

To say I teach the student not the method would miss the mark. However, with the complexity of the golf swing and the variety that humans bring to the golf course, no model fits them all. Golf instruction must be rooted somewhere. Even if it is only a basic understanding of swing path and face angle. A sort of quick fix approach can develop the proper dynamics. "I can fix your slice Mr. Jones. Just turn your left hand on top and aim right." This advice may create a drastic pull hook, but the slice would be gone. It may also work perfect by creating a nice high draw. I find it interesting when golf instructors and golf fanatics speak in absolutes when it comes to the golf swing. "Is it this position or that position?" I had this exact question a few days ago from a decent 5 handicapper. Oddly, I had an answer because the choice seemed quite clear. As he turned to walk away he followed with, "I'm duck hooking everything." Hmm... He was gone before I could change my answer.

Punch It

I use the analogy of hitting a punch shot as a model for solid contact. The natural movement that even higher handicappers make when trying to replicate a punch shot is the shallow downward blow required to trap the ball between the ground and club face. When I discuss with students the various shots they hit throughout a round of golf I often identify that they are comfortable punching out of the trees. In fact that is usually the sole responsibility of their 4 iron. For anyone who flips the club through impact, scoops it, or "casts" the club, they should try to hit punch shots. When Phil Michelson described how he hits a punch shot in a 2011 interview he simply said, "I keep the club head low after impact." Keeping the club head low after impact requires that your hands move through the impact zone at or before the club head. Otherwise the club will flip up adding loft.

Take a look at this video of Mac O'Grady demonstrating a punch shot. Note how centered he stays during the back swing and how he moves toward the target (left) during the downswing. Also important to note is the length of the follow through. By shortening the follow through he decreases the amount of flipping action of the hands and keeps the club head low. This swing is certainly a valid shot for a lower trajectory ball flight. For the average golfer, practicing this shot will translate to better overall ball striking in the full swing.

Slam It and Stop

from the series "how it feels to me"

Swing hard and abbreviate the swing by stopping early. This will exaggerate the proper slowing down rotation of the upper torso. The upper torso acts like the center of the whipping action at impact. As the arms and shoulders also take the lead through impact, they are forced to be in front the club head and relatively tense with the anticipation of stopping. The muscles are active.

That is how I am swinging the club right now. Slam it and stop!

A follow up post takes this idea further into a standard Punch Shot.

The Static Four: Grip, Posture, Alignment, & Ball Position

It has been written about for almost a hundred years. So why have we not gotten it right? Why does the basic preparation to hit a golf ball seem so elusive? For the average golfer the "static four", including the grip, posture, alignment and ball position, are the easiest elements of the golf swing to improve and even master.

GRIP
How we hold the club determines the arc and the way in which the wrists set or load at the top. Whether the grip is weak or strong makes the ball spin right or left. If the club sits properly in the fingers, the rotation through impact reacts on a larger level by rolling the forearms, one over the other. Correcting the grip always feels dramatic. But if the change is needed to develop and foster a better swing it is always worth the uncomfortable feelings associated with it. When a student says they have tried to change their grip but they can't, they have basically mastered the wrong grip and are often doomed to make other adjustments to accommodate their poor starting position.

POSTURE
The preferred posture is debated. But, we need to stand in an athletic position ready to act and be forward. Twenty-five years ago there was emphasis on straightening the spine as it entered into the pelvic area, almost inverting the hips, only to find out that this position gave everyone a back ache. Now it is widely accepted that the curvature in the lower spine should be angled to match the pelvic area straight on. No "hyper extension" of the lower spine. It needs to be comfortable. Good posture is about balance. That balance needs to be slightly forward on the balls of the feet. So a little bend in the knees, a little more bend at the hips and the hands will hang naturally away from the body 4-5 inches. The bottom counter balances the top with a little emphasis forward toward the golf ball. The curvature of the spine leading into the neck and head needs to be comfortable. A little slouching is okay as long as it remains slouchy throughout the swing.

ALIGNMENT
There are many good reasons to be aligned wrong. And that is okay. But understand the affect of poor alignment. Check out an earlier post, Alignment: Pull Shots and Slices, for more information.

BALL POSITION
The various ball positions, as they relate to the center line between the feet, is often misunderstood. For 90% of all full shots the difference in ball position between a wedge and a fairway wood is much less than most people visualize. Good practice aligns the ball in the center of the stance for a wedge. For every longer club the ball position moves toward the target (forward) by less than a 1/2 inch. That means about 5 inches between the wedge and fairway woods. Other factors, such as the width of stance and alignment can further reduce the disparity between the short irons and longer clubs. For both alignment and ball position, placing an alignment stick or club on both the parallel and perpendicular line is helpful to visualize these positions.

The grip, posture, alignment, and ball position all determine the direction, trajectory, and spin on the ball. These static elements of the address position require very little athletic ability. How you hold it and stand there affects everything. It is time we all get it right.

Girlfriendz Magazine Golf Clinic

I was recently asked to lead a golf clinic for Girlfriendz Magazine, an informative magazine for South Jersey women. The event, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, was an introduction to golf for 17 women covering etiquette, grip, stance and posture, and the basic overall movement of the golf swing.

Women were given the option to play nine holes at Little Mill Country Club or attend the clinic at the driving range. Bringing new golfers to the course in a friendly, low stress atmosphere, is core to building the game and promoting the club.

Are You Playing The Right Ball?

It seems there are plenty of options when choosing a golf ball. Distance is not really the issue anymore. Find a ball that feels good around the green then check the status regarding distance and compression. Is there a big difference between $50 per dozen and $36 per dozen? Here is a link to a recent 2012 Golf Digest article that covers numerous balls. You be the judge. I like the cross section photographs.

Golf Digest 2012 Hot List: Golf Balls

Pin My Head To The Wall

from the series "how it feels to me"

There has been plenty of references to a stake or pole being driven down through the head to the ground in reference to the axis point in the body. The vertical center line that all the motion rotates around. I recently had an experience while practicing where the feeling I had was more related to a wire being driven directly toward the front of my head so that it would be driven into a wall behind me. Not immediately behind me, but more like 10 feet or so. This distance would give the sense of slack in the wire, but taut enough for stability. The feeling gave me the sense of keeping my head still, but allowing it to move slightly throughout the swing. More specifically, during the moment of impact, as the hands and arms are reaching their maximum speed, my head actually moves backwards, allowing the whip of the club to pass by. There is a slowing down nature to the big muscles, of which my head is connected, as they reach impact. Much like a whip pulls back to make the snap.


"My head felt like there was a pin directly through my forehead into a wall behind me as my arms and body ripped through impact."

excerpt from I Want To Hit It Like I Am 10 Years Old

Alignment: Pull Shots and Slices

It is widely known that a vast number of golfers battle a fade that often turns in to a slice and occasionally becomes a pull hook. The worst is high right. Second worst is low left. Often the root of the problem is the same. Their set up at address is open to the target. For a right handed golfer this is aiming left and for a left handed golfer this is aiming right. Alignment and the relationship of the entire body to the target is at the core of any chance of hitting a ball on line. There is a saying in golf that to a novice seems very contradicting. "If you want to hit the ball left, aim right. And if you want to hit the ball right, aim left." Alignment affects the curve of the ball. Because the golf swing is so dynamic and we are forced to stand to the side of our target line, the chances are high that the ball is going to curve.

Proper alignment begins with the basic fundamental of aligning the body parallel to the target line. After placing the hands on the club and slightly bending the knees, simply bending forward and setting the club behind the ball should round out the proper alignment.  However, the average golfer will already be positioned for a slice or fade. For a right handed golfer the reason lies in the fact that the right hand is lower than the left as the grip is positioned on the club. A large percentage of golfers will naturally move the right shoulder forward or toward the ball. This creates a line aiming left of the target which in turn promotes a swing plane that is on the same line.

To align the body requires that we understand the relationship between our upper body and lower body. Adjusting such a large portion of our body (the shoulders) requires that our lower body (mainly the hips) make some adjustment as well. In order to square up the shoulders requires that the hips move with the adjustment. By realigning the shoulders, in effect moving the right shoulder back away from the ball and ensuring that it is down relative to the left shoulder, has the affect of slightly tilting the spine away from the target. In turn, the right hip is also slightly lower which forces pressure into the left side. The face on view reveals a sort of reverse "K" as the right side of the golfer is indented while the left is solid and straight.

I Want To Hit It Like I Am 10 Years Old

Can a practice session at the driving range resemble a round of golf? It did yesterday. This post is not about creating a practice session by hitting different shots into the range with various clubs. Or envisioning your favorite course and difficult holes at your home club. This is about emotions and adrenalin. I was at the driving range yesterday hitting balls. I had gone there with a few simple points that I felt were good swing thoughts for me. So a practice session was in order.

I picked my spot to hit balls and began like I do every practice session. I began with my 60 deg lob wedge and slowly worked up to the mid irons. Once I was into my groove I was hitting the ball well. Hard. That is my M.O. It always has been. Ball after ball rocketed at the flag. It was an even day, wedge, 8 iron then 6 iron. The smash factor was way up. I was so in my zone I could feel the compression of the rock hard yellow range balls. My head felt like there was a pin directly through my forehead into a wall behind me as my arms and body ripped through impact.

Then it happened. A voice from behind called out from the middle of the range and said, “Hey Chris.” I turned toward the voice and was greeted by a member of the club who asked with obvious sarcasm, “Are you hitting it good?” I said it was feeling good but I played it off. And he followed with, “It sounds like you are smashing every shot.” His emphasis was on “every”. At that moment standing on the range I realized that everyone was listening to the brief conversation. And because of my position on the far right side of the range, they had probably been watching me hit balls, and at the very least listening to the pattern of my shots. My mind bolted to a vivid memory of when I was 10 years old.

As a youth I excelled at golf. I was a strong kid and able to rip 7 irons over 150 yards with a small fade. I would stand on the practice range while a group of members gathered to watch. I enjoyed it. When I was 10 I had no fear. I didn’t really know what failure was. The group watching would talk about my future. My potential. I would play out thoughts of being on tour in my head. I would then give them the big show as I pulled out my ladies Titleitte driver and begin smashing it over 200 yards with the same fade. The small crowd would disperse and I would continue to live the dream in my head hitting every shot perfect.

Fast forward 33 years. When I turned back to the large bucket of balls I pulled one forward to resume my practice session. Except now my mind was racing with 50 unrelated thoughts. I tried to focus on the three simple ideas that I came to the range with. But I was frazzled. Throughout my golf career I have had moments of greatness. Stringing together three or four birdies. Ripping my driver down the center of the fairway for the first 14 holes. Putting myself in contention to win or place in the top 10. The details to those situations are irrelevant. The fact is they are all small pieces to a bigger puzzle. I have never finished the puzzle. My emotions and adrenalin have not allowed me to continue the overall pace and focus that would make me succeed at golf.

The feeling that I had before hitting that first ball was exactly the experience I have on the course when beginning to play well. I realized it. I even tried to breath and clear my head. I was simply hitting range balls. It should have been easy. But I could not get over the fact that 15 people were probably watching me from behind. There was an expectation (albeit mine) to create the rocketing pattern that I so easily put together just 5 minutes before. I was afraid. I had fear of failure. In that moment I was putting extra pressure on myself to hit a great golf shot.

For the next 20 minutes I struggled. I hit a few good shots but not one was as good as any of the previous string of shots. What has happened to me in 33 years? I want to hit it like I am 10 years old. I want to be comfortable with success. Not afraid that I might fail. I finally pulled out my driver and put six maddening swings on the ball. One left. Two right. And the final three were ripped down the center. I felt better.

See the Impact

Whether you have been playing golf for a month or for your entire life you have certainly had someone tell you to "keep your head down" or "keep your eye on the ball". These phrases are now cliche, but there is some truth to the idea. These simple reminders from a friend can change your round completely. When a golfer keeps their head down they are making some effort to stay bent forward, similar to the address or starting position. There are many different swings and methodologies for hitting the perfect shot. But it is widely accepted that if your head stays relatively motionless from the start of your swing all the way to impact, your chances of striking the ball solid are greatly improved. By keeping your eye on the ball, your odds are better still.

Address position (left) followed by impact (right)
See Impact!

If you have spent any time with me on the practice tee you know that I have a little different take on the old adages. I want my students to "see the impact". I have watched too many golfers keep their head down to such a degree that it inhibits their turn and weight shift, resulting in fat shots. Head down keeps the body from moving freely through impact. So while we need to remain bent forward at impact, there should be more emphasis on seeing the impact. And in some cases, a need to see the divot in front of the ball before turning to watch the flight of the ball.

The biggest difference between keeping your head down and seeing the impact is in how you mentally process the idea of "head down". When you are simply thinking of seeing the impact of the club hitting the ball, your only effort is to watch it happen.  When this concept is taken further to include the divot (to see the dirt after impact), consistently students make a swing that is more aggressive through the impact zone. By seeing through to the divot, this inevitably repositions the bottom of the swing to be just in front of the ball (rather than in line with your body) creating a trapping effect. This concept does not attempt to address direction or spin on the ball, it is simply an effort that increases the odds of hitting the ground in the same place every time. So while I might work with a student regarding their swing path, rotation on the back swing or alignment, there is always the overarching rule: SEE THE IMPACT!

 

Free Wheel It!

Impact is the moment of truth for the golf swing. The swing path, the club face alignment to the path, and the amount of forward lean and bowing of the hands all play a large part in the success of returning the club face back to the ball in a square position. No matter what combination of factors come together, the momentum and force must move freely through impact. This may seem obvious, but altering the swing usually creates uncomfortable feelings, which create tension. And the most dramatic effect is in the hands and arms. While guiding a student on technique I always press upon them to let the hands freely hit the ball. Allowing the hands to respond to changes in the swing gives a truer result. I want the ball flight to have a new pattern even if it is the wrong pattern.