What controls the golf swing?

[Rackster]

I have read many a golf instruction book, and I can see two schools of thought on what controls the golf.

A book I am reading at the moment "How to feel a real golf swing" by Davis Love Jr and Bob Toski say that the hands control the swing. They are very against the shoulders being seen as a controlling factor of the swing.

Other reading I have done, such as David Leadbetter, say that the body controls the swing. In Leadbetter's case "The Dog Wags the Tail", not the "Tail wags the dog" (Does Leadbetter still use this motto, it only seems to appear in his early 1990s work?).

One principal central to both Love/Toski and Leadbetter is that by mention centrifugal force in the swing. But what actually creates and controls the centrifugal force? Body are hands?

[BrianW]

Re: What controls the golf swing?

Hmmm! My best answer to this question would be "The Brain controls the golf swing" The swing is a number of complex synchronised movements using the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, torso, hips, legs and feet at various times and in various combinations.

Once you have created and grooved a good swing muscle memory then repeats it for you and that comes fro the old cranium.

Regards
Brian

[GregJWillis]

Re: What controls the golf swing?

This is going to be quite a good thread... many prople will have what they like to think as in "control" of their swing are going to be very different.

What might help to narrow the gap is keeping the defination narrow.

"Control" of what?

Is it control of the power?
Is it control of the angles of the face through impact?
...others?

So, my guess is there will be explinations of all. Preface each with which control type you are discussing and it will be easier to compare.

My power is controled by my lower body. It increases the harder I turn through. This does have the affect of creating more tension on my arms and hands, as compared to a "normal" power swing. So they have to keep up, by adding a little more of their own "catch-up" actions-resistance. But, for me, my "controlling" source of power starts at the top of the swing in my leg/hip/torso drive through the ball. My takaway is the same (maybe even a bit slower) in anticipation of my extra drive.

My face angle is controled by my shoulders, not my hands. I do not like to think of those weak-in-comparison wrists being in control of anything other then being a hinge to control the hight of my shot. My shoulder's fully rotating to the same position every time is so easy to repeat, and also easy to manipulate if you want to work the ball.