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**Martin Levac** · 12-20-2006, 11:25 AM

Re: How to Keep Your Swing Connected

All fine by themselves but not connected.

OK. What's important, what's not. Striking the ball properly is important. Everything that happens after having struck the ball is not important at all. Everything that happens before striking the ball grows in importance from very little to almost as important as contact. There are certain parts that, when focused on independently, allow to make a smoother swing than otherwise like the position at the top before the downswing. Once you achieve a good position at the top, it's easier to make a good downswing, which then makes it easier to make proper contact, which then makes it easier to send a ball to a target, which is what golf is all about afterall.

So, forget about the followthrough, that's one thing you don't have to think about. Ultimately, making proper contact with the ball is what you want to do with the swing so focus on that throughout. Focus on making a good downswing, that's the thing that comes just before contact so it must be almost as important as contact itself. Then focus on bringing the club in a good position at the top of the backswing so that you can start a good downswing. Because, afterall, the downswing follows the backswing. How you bring the club up on the backswing is not so important, it's better just to focus on the position you want at the top. Next, focus on proper address because that's almost as important as the downswing. An advantage to forgetting about the followthrough is that you can focus on the ball longer than you really need to so you can watch as the ball is struck by the club, only lifting your head when your shoulder bring it up.

Or, swing the club back and forth, focusing on one part 10 times, switching to another part and focusing on that 10 times and so forth.

Put a ball down, take position, aim, swing to strike the ball to send it to a target.

Do the above 500 times per practice session and you might just connect all those parts at some point. I don't think about all that, I just focus on making proper contact and sending a ball to a target.

**oldwease** · 12-21-2006, 04:02 PM

Re: How to Keep Your Swing Connected

I guess I should try to answer this as I've referred to a connected swing elsewhere. I think the key to achieving this is the correct use of the arms during the swing.

I recently went trough a spell whereby, although I was hitting the ball well, I didn't feel I had the same control with the longer clubs. This was particularly the case with the driver when I was letting rip. Basically, I had no problem turning up the power with the irons, but didn't have the same control with the driver. In short, I didn't feel my swing was connected with the driver.

I went back to analyse what I was actually doing with the different clubs. Most coaches tell you the swing is basically the same regardless of the club (same swing, same tempo and so on). Now, I knew I wasn't doing this as I always created a wider arc with the driver, using a low sweeping takeaway. Eventually, I realised that the problem with this was that I wasn't setting up porperly at the top of the backswing. Basically, my right arm was in the wrong position.

To check this, or to see what the correct position should be, I did a couple of things (with the same results). First, take the club back with the right hand only (as if you're only going to hit the ball with this arm - any club, driver to PW will do). Check the position at the top. The second approach is to adopt a throwing position. Again, you will see that the position of the arm is the same at the top.

In essence, the swing I used with the driver was dominated by the left arm to the detriment of the right arm. By making the adjustment with the driver to ensure the correct set up at the top, I suddenly felt a lot more in control and had the sensation that the arms and shoulders were working together. I also felt a lot more 'wound up' at the top of the backswing. All of this helps to achieve much better balance - the key to really turning up the power.

I should say, finally, that this change with the driver does nothing to shorten the swing. In fact, I think it extends the arc and certainly helps to keep the swing on plane.

**pnearn** · 12-22-2006, 10:28 AM

Re: How to Keep Your Swing Connected

I know its an obvious one but I find I hit the ball SO SO much better when I have a compact backswing. I tend to get overly long and my arms keep going when my shoulders have stopped turning - usually when Im trying to kill it or having a bad round.

When I feel like Im just going to take half or even 3/4 length swings on the way back I play my best golf, long and straight - and in reality when ive seen it on video what feels like a 3/4 swing is actually pretty close to a full one. This way everything stays connected and syncrhonised

**Yggdrasil** · 12-22-2006, 10:37 AM

Re: How to Keep Your Swing Connected

Apropos backswing -

One of the things I noticed when I focused on the connection in my chest, was that my backswing did become more compact, naturally. The only problem I have with you guys' backswing coments are that they are still focusing on too small an area. I can make my backswing more compact, good position, etc, etc, if I focus on that... or any other detail for that matter. But when I do that, then (typically) my hips turn too quick, making it impossible to get the club around, and I must push the ball, or some dramatic adjustment that ends in a snap hook. Focusing on my hips makes my hands go passive, no snap, etc.

My point is that I need that OverAll connection, so that all these details are minor points of my focus. So far, I'm still believing in focusing on the center of stress, right in my heart area. To be honest, watching Ernie Els & Gang last weekend, I think I "See" them staying very "centrally focused" - not on extremeties like backswing/weightshift/hip turn, etc.

Do you understand what I mean?

thnx guys,
Charles

**BrianW** · 12-22-2006, 11:03 AM

Re: How to Keep Your Swing Connected

This may sound a paradox but I think that to improve connection you have to consider separation.

The way of working the lower and upper body by creating separation between the hips, and shoulders combined with the role of the arms and wrists is the key to good swing mechanics.

To keep it short you must put back in the downswing everything you took in the backswing plus some more at impact, in that the hips must be more open at this point.

Going up:

Arms and shoulders
hips
arms

Coming back:

arms
hips
arms and shoulders
hips
arms and shoulders.

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How to Keep Your Swing Connected

How to Keep Your Swing Connected

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