Why?

[Neil18]

Why is it that I have my best golf swing thoughts/revelations/technical additions when I haven't played.

I've pleayed 9 holes in 5 weeks and been to the range twice.

Aside form that I've been reading stuff and watchig swings, and I've come acroiss another thing that may change the shape and effectiveness of my golfswing all together.

Why is the lead shoulder not talked about more?

I had/have issues with getting my top half too far forward and over the ball in my downswing with a very low left release. Fine if I want to play with a pull. But I don't.

I dunno where I saw it or why i tried it, but as soon as I started to rotate my left shoulder (I'm right handed) back behind me just before impact it gets me out of the way of the club, keeps me turning, keeps my head back and allows me to release all the speed created toward my target.

Stupid game.

[LowPost42]

Re: Why?

I'll wager because it forces you to keep rotating through the shot.

[Neil18]

Re: Why?

I'll wager because it forces you to keep rotating through the shot.

It certainly seems to LP. Big amounts of speed for 4-5 feet after the ball. Gonna see if I can put it into practice on Sunday, frost permitting!

I love these little Euraka! moments. Seems I have my best ones when I'm not playing!

Maybe I should not play at all! I'd be well good by next summer!

[BrianW]

Re: Why?

Hi Neil,

I retired in September and have been playing around 3 times a week since, my game is getting better all the time. I spend much less time at the range and more playing the game which seems to work for me in all aspects.

I know what you are getting at with rotation being important through impact. I have been using an on-plane swing for some time now and can generate great ball contact with some impressive distance by using the method where I pull the club through a tight arc at impact in the way I have described in one of my 'Plane & Path' articles, based on the attached video by Jeff Ritter. That guy turned on a number of light-bulbs in my head regarding the way to simplify the golf swing and get real improvement.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I5nNkzgjLUE

[vp27519]

Re: Why?

Brian,

Love the clips you add.

I really think at times some, including myself, focus too much on the takeway and top of the back swing.

I am really struggling with my finish at the moment. Just curious - at the completion of the swing where should the hands be and should the right arm be fully extended?

Don't mean to steal your thunder Neil.

Nicole

[Neil18]

Re: Why?

Hey VP!

Stop being such a leaf-blower..............................

I jest.

My threads are as public as the rest, so comment away!

I posted this on another website (similar, but different to my OP here):

Don't know why I tried it, but I seemed to have a problem with stopping my turn and having my arms come across me in the follow through. Flipping and heely contact was a problem for me, as was lack of clubhead speed.

The thought of keeping my left shoulder turning up and behind me during the follow through definately keeps the club going in the right direction and keeps/increases the speed through and after the ball. It also helps me stay back behind the ball and I really get the feeling of hanging onto the club as it pulls me to the finish.

Before I had a rather fake follow-through where I was pulling and pushing the club all over the place. The left shoulder getting out of the way seems to have solved that for me.

The finish should just happen. The club will finish up fairly high. I like the Hogan finish. Hands near the left ear (for arguments sake, and reference, let's say 6-8 inches off the left ear - not wrapped all the way behind the head).

The right arm should be fully extended all the way up to where it naturally breaks near the top of the swing. Take a look at that slo-mo video of Hogan on Youtube from face on with his 4 wood (I can't get the link right now). His right arm is dead straight almost all the way to the finish. That's not just because he's firing his right arm hard through the hit, but also the speed and momentum of the clubhead is pulling his right arm straight until the speed naturally dissipates well after the ball's gone.

I would say that if you can't feel the pull of the club on your arms (and it is quite a strong pull) then you may be guilty of steering the club through impact and to the finish.

Turning my left shoulder up and behind me has given me what I would say is the correct feeling. Bordering on gay abandonment (purely in the old fashioned sense!) through the hit. Free it up baby!

Yeah!

NB: I've changed my avatar to a good picture that captures the sense of Hogan hanging on to the club in the follow through. I think it really gives the athletic feel of the swing in full flow, despite it being a still photo.

[BrianW]

Re: Why?

Brian,

Love the clips you add.

I really think at times some, including myself, focus too much on the takeway and top of the back swing.

I am really struggling with my finish at the moment. Just curious - at the completion of the swing where should the hands be and should the right arm be fully extended?

Don't mean to steal your thunder Neil.

Nicole

Nicole,

In my swing the left arm extends in the backswing and hugs close to my chest, the right arm folds with the elbow pulling back behind me. In the follow through the opposite happens, my right arm extends and hugs my chest and the left arm folds with the left elbow retracting back behind me. Just like in Jeff Ritter's video. This way I can hit solid powerful shots with a simple swing that is very repeatable for all clubs.

Neil, I also feel as if my chest is pointing up to the sky at the finish, I think this gives a similar sensation to your left shoulder turn.

This is the swing that does it for me:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsEvZI-1mng

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SgN47b8j-oc