Golfbald, the right foot Z position?

[pgmetcalf]

Hi Golfbald,

I've been reading through the forums and have seen you mention the right foot 'Z' position to initiate the throughswing. I'm not sure what you mean by this, can you please explain it to us in simple terms?

Thanks
Paul

[Golfbald]

Paul,

I'd be happy too. I'll write this generic for lefties and righties. The backfoot is the right for righties and left for lefties.

Greg has a lesson, The Throughswing under The Golf Swing on the left column, I will refer to that in my explaination.

The Z position is formed by the back leg on the throughswing. It is the first thing that should happen. It will cause the chain of events in the through swing. This move does a few things, it prevents a player from coming over the top by activating the lower body first;` it moves the back knee into the correct position under the hands and level with the front knee, this prevents coming into the ball with a high backside, it levels your swing out, it allows you to push off your backside big toe and inside of the foot causing the weightshift to the front foot.

The "Z" position resembles the letter Z. It is formed by the back leg. The hip to knee, knee to ankle and ankle to toes.

This position will allow the proper release of the clubhead through the ball. The hands will fire the release off the back hip that this position sets up. Look at the second picture down on the left side impact position. You will see Greg's left arm is straight down and everything else sets up behind this. He is firing off the hip. His arms have not moved ahead of his body. The back knee is pointing at the ball.

Check you position in a mirror, this one move can bring consistency to your game.


GolfBald

[mtibt]

Right foot downswing problem

Lately, for some reason, I am having trouble turning through the ball by pushing off the right foot which is costing me yardage on drives. I have tried turning left foot out but I still get hung back and not through onto my right toe on throughswing.
I could use a drill and a tip to get me back on track.
Thanks.

[aragland]

Golfbald,

Are you implying that golfers should raise the right foot as the first move in the downswing? If so, I believe this will result in faulty mechanics and an over active lower.

If not, I believe I know what you're talking about. Anyone can see it in Arnold Palmer, Snead, Player, etc. Most of the modern pros keep their knee in a rigid, stiff, unnatural position...

Where did you learn about this "Z position"? I thought I heard something about Mike Austin and this position...


A. Ragland
http://logicalgolf.tripod.com

[aragland]

Re: Right foot downswing problem

Originally posted by mtibt Lately, for some reason, I am having trouble turning through the ball by pushing off the right foot which is costing me yardage on drives. I have tried turning left foot out but I still get hung back and not through onto my right toe on throughswing.
I could use a drill and a tip to get me back on track.
Thanks.

Check that you're not reverse-pivoting.

The weight shift onto the left foot for the follow through will happen naturally in a technically efficient swing.

Make sure that your weight gets to your right heel on the backstroke and your left shoulder gets near your right knee. From a good BS position, the downswing is a piece of cake!

[pgmetcalf]

I know is meant by clearing but my first move is planting the left heel. I suppose what really counts is the time at which you start the throughswing - my heel goes down when the backswing is nearly done, otherwise people may get the impression I hold at the top, A bit like Nancy Lopez used to.

Maybe Golfbald counts the left heel plant as part of the backswing too? If that is not what he meant, It would mean his left heel is raised and then the right raises too. I would imagine this would cause you all kinds of balance problems.

Paul

[Golfbald]

Paul,

You are correct in your statement the left heel comes down before the backswing is complete. You are talking about the transition or weight shift. The old saying "every action has an equal and opposite reaction", is very true in this case. In order for an action to the left side to take place it must be initiated on the right side. This is where most higher hdcps. make mistakes. The upper body completes the backswing to the right, while the lower body is shifting to the left in the transition. The shift to the left is caused by the lifting of the right heel, the planting of the left foot is the result of the action. This transition action maximizes the coil.

The left heel raising is only a result of the coil action (backswing)prior to the transition and should never be done unless it is caused by the backswing not because a golfer thinks it will make him turn more. The opposite effect is true, you can lose coil by lifting your left foot. If the left foot comes up, the lifting of the right heel will immediately plant it as you have stated.

Hope this clears it up a bit,

GolfBald

[mtibt]

Weight Transfer to the right on the downswing

Thanks everyone for your help. I found your advice helpful plus I tried flaring the left foot out and I began moving onto the left side almost automatically on the downswing.
Slowing my downswing also helped a great deal.
Thanks again.