Takeaway - stiff right leg

[tnsekhar]

I have, like most beginners, a problem that my right leg straightens out during the back swing (i am a right handed player). My conscious attempts to keep some flex in the right leg leads to stiffening of the muscles. Sometimes, despite the flex being there, I consciously feel that the leg has straightened out. Some of this is psycological but can someone suggest some exercises/ routines which can help me out?

Thanks in advance

[GregJWillis]

During lessons, I place a club behind the knee and bend down behind the student so I don't get hit. This club is just held there through the swing. The student gets nervous at first that they will hit me, but after about 2 shots, they relax and can concentrate on the drill. So this holds the right knee in place in a good flexed position.

The other drill/suggestion/swing thought I use is the think about your right leg being the in starting block of a sprinter. It's flexed at the start and used it to push off at the gun. The swing is kind of like that. WHen you get to the top of the swing, that is like the running ready to go. If you do not have any flex in the right leg, then you have no power to push off from.

And yet another, is to try to make you knee flex more as you take the club back. Thinking of it as "screwing it down into the ground". This is not as good as a thought because you could get too much movement, I use it as a last resort if the others don't work.

[miffin]

Re: Takeaway - stiff right leg

What fault result does this bring, as I have started doing it?

Bri

[GregJWillis]

Re: Takeaway - stiff right leg

Generally, weak slices. If you don't start the downswing with the legs rotating the hips/hips the torso...then you must be starting from the top and that causes out-side-in swing paths = slices. If you over compensate with your hands and try to square up the face, then you a looking at very erratic low hooks and high fades.

[miffin]

Re: Takeaway - stiff right leg

Brill Greg. That is EXACTLY what is happening. I know what to work on now. Thank you.

Bri