A bit confused

[sandmac]

As I learn the golf swing I've encountered a few contradictions. I understand where your head (or sternum) is, represents the bottom of the swing. I've also been told to tilt away from the target on setup and keep my head behind the ball at impact. How do you take a divot after the ball if the base of your swing is behind it?

Thanks.

[GregJWillis]

Re: A bit confused

Tilt does help slightly to put the head behind the ball, but what causes the divot after the ball is that all the weight has transfered to the front foot at impact. This moves your center slightly forward. Tilt helps drop the trailing side down a bit and promotes an inside-out path.

[JohnnyNight]

Re: A bit confused

sandmac

hello

how are you going about learning the game?

that is, through a teacher or a certain swing idea you are reading about in a book or online

[sandmac]

Re: A bit confused

Well, I took a few lessons at Golfsmith and have read quite a bit. I also have always been a pretty good athlete, so I'm observing and learning visually as well. So, I guess I'm learning though several different processes.

[BrianW]

Re: A bit confused

Hopefully this will assist your understanding.

Address the ball with a 7 iron.
Take your right hand off the grip and let your left arm hang freely.
The clubface will settle just around or inside your left armpit, around the inside of your left heel.
This will be the position when your left arm is straight in the swing, the club will be at the lowest point of the swing path.

Another factor involved here is the design of the club, each club has a slightly different make-up regarding the length of shaft, lie angle and loft. Only when the sole of the club is set squarely behind the ball and flush to the ground are these characteristics accurately represented, you will need to set these at address and return them at impact.

Now, if the ball is positioned 2/3 inches behind the low point of the swing you will strike the ball before the club has bottomed out then the club will strike the ground in front of the ball.

Finally: your centre of gravity is located down your sternum and you need to move this back and forwards depending on what club and shot is being made. For the driver the right foot and sternum need to be well back from the ball which also brings back the position of the left armpit, this will allow an earlier bottoming out and create a slightly upwards sweeping stroke. Moving the right foot and sternum closer to the ball will encourage a steeper blow and forward divot.