Downswing....where to start?!

[DANB]

I have just moved form what I would class as a 1PS which was a little flat to a 2PS, trying to get myself into a steeper position at the top. I tended to get my arms stuck behind me and had to recover the shot with my hands.

I am comfortable with my takeaway and position at the top but have been hitting lots of fat and thin shots. I tend to draw the ball on good shots and have a high ball flight that dies quickly.

Checking on the impact bag and video my impact position is pretty good with a decent amount of lag late on and hands ahead of the club face at impact.

I would like to understand some view points on what starts the downswing and how it should unfold. At present I try to start with a slight bump towards the target rather than back down the line of my feet and drop my arms a little then fire my hips to the left.

I think some of my bad shots are caused by not dropping my arms but hitting at the ball with them.

What do the better plays on the forum do?

Thanks
Dan

[Neil18]

Re: Downswing....where to start?!

Sounds like you haven't got far to go to get the downswing you want. It's all in sequencing it correctly for accuracy and power. I get stuck if my body turns before my arms get into the delivery position halfway down. That means weak pushes or flippy pull/draws for me. When I get it right I feel like I've left the body turn late and do nothing with my arms through impact. When I strike it well, I hit through the ball with my body/Chi. Look at most good ball strikers and their shoulders and hands form an equalateral triangle at/just after impact with hands ahead:

http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio...giogarcia.html

The more "off centre" the peak of the triangle is away from the target (looking face on) the more you will have to drag your arms through actively (getting stuck). At least that's what happens with me!

You're on the right lines. Just gotta find those nuances that make the difference. That'll vary from player to player and is only discovered by practice and feel. Don't complicate it. It's simpler than it sounds in writing!

If you can get on video, check the maintenance of your spine angle through the swing. It's usually the chief culprit on fatting and thinning.

[pnearn]

Re: Downswing....where to start?!

It's all in sequencing it correctly for accuracy and power. I get stuck if my body turns before my arms get into the delivery position halfway down. That means weak pushes or flippy pull/draws for me. When I get it right I feel like I've left the body turn late and do nothing with my arms through impact. .

I agree Neil. Think I mentioned something similar in the pulling thread

For me I like to feel my body and arms moving back down together as one whole unit. Such that they are both moving at the same speed. Body/Core is turning and arms are coming down with them. If I leave the arms behind and try and drag them through with the body I get stuck and hit pushes . If I make the arms go too fast I will pull or hook depending on how im setup and the shape Im trying to hit

I like to feel everything working together. A good mental image for me is to imagine I had a pencil stuck in my chest pointing out at an downwards angle towards my hands- I want to move everything together so that the pencil keeps pointing towards my hands - that way everything is connected and my timing/weight shift etc is right on

[Jeff Mann]

Re: Downswing....where to start?!

If you are sympathetic to the idea of having a body-style golf swing then Neil's suggestion of developing correct sequencing of body movements is appropriate. I think that my downswing chapter covers that topic in great detail - see http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/downswing.htm

A useful drill on starting the downswing correctly is the "pump it" drill - see http://www.network54.com/Forum/72052...secret+to+golf

One needs to start the downswing with weight shift to the left and a hip shift-rotation movement, but one also must get one's right elbow to move straight down to the right hip area. Those hip/right arm moves must occur simultaneously.

Jeff.

[shootin4par]

Re: Downswing....where to start?!

if the center of gravity, COG, shifts left while the top of the spine stays, the arms will drop with no conscious movement of them. if the COG and the top of the spine both move forward, you have lunged. If you fire your right hip at the ball you will lesson your chance of swaying, if you pull with the left side you will increase it. learn to control your muscles and know which ones you want to use. All you have to change is your intention, rather then solve some big problem.

[BrianW]

Re: Downswing....where to start?!

To understand the start the backswing consider what you do when walking?

You simply transfer your weight to the other foot, you don't consciously think about sliding bits of your body this way or that way. If you want to do it really well then transfer the weight to your left foot just before your arms reach the top of the back swing.