New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

[Ringer]

Hey everyone, some good news for those of you waiting to see a new video lesson. I just created and released a quick video on backswing tilt that might be of some help to you. You can find it on Youtube at:

Please let me know what you think and have a HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

[KrudlerAce]

Different

Pretty good thanks Ringer.

It's something that's not talked about much in golf instruction these days. It is something that I notice a lot of high handicappers doing wrong.

I don't know if it's just my laptop but the sound was very low on the video. I had to turn my volume up to full just to be able to hear it.

Otherwise, job well done!

[Hannu]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Volume is low for me too.

About the drill, it was new to me. Turning my shoulder to wall puts my face to the wall too. It takes some time to get conftable.

Drill made me do a longer back swing - more like a dynamic stretch and it was easy to feel my hips turning.

Thanks

[BrianW]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

I like the idea of bracing the right side against the left with a spine tilt. Shawn Clements has a good video on this as well:

[Ringer]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Sorry about the audio. You should be able to turn the volume up after the intro music.

My bluetooth mic broke a couple weeks back so I had to use a backup mic that isn't very good. I'll try to get this fixed by the next video.

As for the backswing tilt, it is better to load up on the back foot and drive IMO. Sort of like a power pitcher in baseball. But to do so means you have to tilt your upper body over the back foot. This particular move stretches the left lat muscle which is the connection between your hips and shoulders. When there is slack in this, then they are less likely to turn together. Either the shoulders end up staying back while the hips rotate under, or more commonly the upper body leans forward to start the downswing and there is no lower body participation in the power production.

Lastly, the tilt away from the target is essential to the path our right shoulder moves. If one is tilted back away from the target then the right shoulder will move inside out relative to the target. That sets the path for the arms, hands, and clubhead to also travel more from the inside out.

[kbp]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Reminds me of a lot of the rotational players like Hogan (post-accident), etc. Right side brace with a constant reverse "K" structure. Pressing and torqueing the right foot into the ground to resist drifting. Backswing and through swing both rotating around the same front side axis. Very nice stable swing concept.

While you absolutely must have spine tilt away from the target through impact, IMO, it is a matter of preference in the backswing. As I have previously mentioned, many players let their hips drift away from the target in the backswing. They tilt the spine toward the target in the backswing and then they tilt the spine away from the target during the downswing. Jones, Montgomerie, Bubba Watson, etc. More active, free-wheeling hip and leg action. The release of the front heel to let the hips drift laterally on the backswing without too much head movement.

Monty, here, as one example:

YouTube - Colin Montgomerie Schuco Open driver.avi

Different stroke for different folks.

[Ringer]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

I did a bit of a companion video to this one. The audio is louder but the mic is kinda poor.

I think it addresses precisely what you are talking about kbp. You certainly can have a more upright tilt. There are just some things that must happen if you do.

[BrianW]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

I did a bit of a companion video to this one. The audio is louder but the mic is kinda poor.

I think it addresses precisely what you are talking about kbp. You certainly can have a more upright tilt. There are just some things that must happen if you do.

YouTube - Gateway To Better Golf - Le... The Backswing

Hi Ringer,

There is also the braced tilt method as in my attached video from Shawn Clements. I like this one as it presets the spine tilt and allows you to take your backswing with hardly any lateral sway then make the transition easily without having to slide the hips or drop the head.

What do you think?

[Ringer]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Hi Ringer,

There is also the braced tilt method as in my attached video from Shawn Clements. I like this one as it presets the spine tilt and allows you to take your backswing with hardly any lateral sway then make the transition easily without having to slide the hips or drop the head.

What do you think?

That's true. Shawn's idea of keeping the tilt but being more centralized is another alternative. I think this stems more from Shawn's own personal swing than from what we observe in most players. Doesn't make it wrong or right just because it's extracted from his swing. I used my swing as an example in my video so he is just as entitled.

The thing I don't really like about Shawn's idea is the lack of shear force on the right foot. There is no energy generation from the ground up. Instead he is trying to keep the spine in one place during the whole swing and rotate hips/shoulders around the spine. There's no real weight shift in this until well after impact, and there's no lower leg drive to torque the hips.

It's still a viable option that may work for some folks.

[BrianW]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

That's true. Shawn's idea of keeping the tilt but being more centralized is another alternative. I think this stems more from Shawn's own personal swing than from what we observe in most players. Doesn't make it wrong or right just because it's extracted from his swing. I used my swing as an example in my video so he is just as entitled.

The thing I don't really like about Shawn's idea is the lack of shear force on the right foot. There is no energy generation from the ground up. Instead he is trying to keep the spine in one place during the whole swing and rotate hips/shoulders around the spine. There's no real weight shift in this until well after impact, and there's no lower leg drive to torque the hips.

It's still a viable option that may work for some folks.

Did you notice how cleanly and powerfully he struck the ball.

[Ringer]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Did you notice how cleanly and powerfully he struck the ball.

Sure. Have you seen how cleanly and powerfully I strike the ball? I am not questioning his ability to hit the ball well. I was making a statement of what I feel is a more powerful swing pivot. I don't base the opinion solely on my swing or blind belief either. I have force plate data to back it up as well as the opinion of most bio-kinetic scientists. But I am willing to accept there are more ways than just the "optimal" to hit the ball, and Shawn has developed one of them.

Let me ask you, how many tour pro's have the lower body action of Shawn? Can you post any video of them? Where the axis of the hip turn is the tail bone and the head is tilted as far back in the backswing at the same time?

I have some for mine. In fact I think the majority of players do.

Tiger's infamous Nike Portrait:

Stuart Appleby:

Ernie Els:

They all get the classic left knee kicked inward, weight on the back instep, and titled away from the target. Ernie has a bit more tilt than Tiger and Stuart.

The important part to all of this is the pressure on the back instep. This pressure creates shear force that you can use to drive your lower body. You don't "NEED" it to propel the club, but from a kinematic sequence perspective it can be a big gain.

[Hannu]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Hi,
this is very interesting discussion and very much something I need to finetune in my swing.

There is an man with a white shirt behind Ernie. He is a good reference for how much Ernie moves his hips during back swing and down swing.

Not very much... tilt looks like coming from moving hips towards the target and keeping head still?

I think it might be a good method to start with Shawns idea of just swinging and after being able to keep everything still you might try to add "juice"? What do you think? That might end up closer to Ringers but with more control ... I mean first you learn and then you master?

[Ringer]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Hi,
this is very interesting discussion and very much something I need to finetune in my swing.

There is an man with a white shirt behind Ernie. He is a good reference for how much Ernie moves his hips during back swing and down swing.

Not very much... tilt looks like coming from moving hips towards the target and keeping head still?

I think it might be a good method to start with Shawns idea of just swinging and after being able to keep everything still you might try to add "juice"? What do you think? That might end up closer to Ringers but with more control ... I mean first you learn and then you master?

Sure, that's one way to go about it. Whatever gets you to where you want to go!

[keiko]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

When I practice I have to move around the range because I wreck the grass where my feet ground down into the turf. This is because I am a ground up swinger using the ground as a foundation by driving down into it with every swing.
If you don't disturb the turf somewhat during your practice sessions, you may want to feel what that is like, your swing and your ball striking will probably improve.

Sure, that's one way to go about it. Whatever gets you to where you want to go!

[BrianW]

Re: New video lesson - Backswing Tilt

Sure. Have you seen how cleanly and powerfully I strike the ball? I am not questioning his ability to hit the ball well. I was making a statement of what I feel is a more powerful swing pivot. I don't base the opinion solely on my swing or blind belief either. I have force plate data to back it up as well as the opinion of most bio-kinetic scientists. But I am willing to accept there are more ways than just the "optimal" to hit the ball, and Shawn has developed one of them.

Let me ask you, how many tour pro's have the lower body action of Shawn? Can you post any video of them? Where the axis of the hip turn is the tail bone and the head is tilted as far back in the backswing at the same time?


They all get the classic left knee kicked inward, weight on the back instep, and titled away from the target. Ernie has a bit more tilt than Tiger and Stuart.

The important part to all of this is the pressure on the back instep. This pressure creates shear force that you can use to drive your lower body. You don't "NEED" it to propel the club, but from a kinematic sequence perspective it can be a big gain.

None of those golfers in the videos sway back like you and they all post up against a firm left side like Shawn explains.

I dont think you have really understood Shawn's swing, he lets his weight move onto his right instep in the backswing then replants himself onto his left side in the transition, just like most good golfers do. His head behind the ball is also a classic position.

I like a nice centered rotation that keeps the head steady, I dont like the way you sway so much on the backswing and downswing, so much can go wrong doing this it needs such good timing. I do not say that it doesn't work well for you and maybe some other golfers but to me it is not something I would recommend to someone learning golf or for the novice looking to improve.