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 The challenge is that while those six elements are easily identifiable and relatively simple to digest, they're also easy to learn incorrectly and to forget. And since they're all part of one chain reaction, if one link is weak, it can affect your entire swing and create a slew of bad habits. Fortunately, the fundamentals are always there: unchanged, waiting and ready for you to reintroduce yourself. That's why we turned to two of the most fundamentally sound golfers we could find to refresh everyone's memory. Bobby Lasken is a teaching professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, and he outlines what you need to know about each fundamental step, how to get it done and why it's important. The visual part of our feature involves Will Tipton, a plus-2 handicap and club champion at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. He was our model for the six key positions. And while there's no substitute for a productive, one-on-one lesson, we feel this is a good reminder of something we all might have learned at one time but also might have forgotten over the years. THE SETUP 1) What you need to know You can't underestimate the importance of a well-balanced setup. It's from this position that all good things happen in the golf swing. Here are some key thoughts: • In the grip, you should see two knuckles on the left hand, and the "V" on the right hand should be pointed between your chin and right shoulder. • Grip pressure is firm yet gentle, not tight. • The knees are pointed in slightly. • The head is centered over the ball. • The stance is square, as if it were positioned on a railroad track parallel with the clubhead to the target. • The shoulders are slightly tilted. • The right arm is relaxed and slightly bent. 2) How to get it done Look in a mirror to make sure your shoulders are stacked over your hips. Then, do this: • Start with your left hand. Grip the club gently in the air in front of you. That is the amount of tension you should have holding the club in your left hand. • Place your right hand on the grip and lower the club to the ground as you're bending forward from the hips. • Slightly bend your knees and point them in one inch. 3) The benefits "The golf swing is very much a chain reaction," Lasken said. "So the fist link in the chain must be solid." THE TAKEAWAY 1) What you need to know It's important to start the club back properly, but don't let mechanics get in the way of a fluid motion on the takeaway. The last thing you want to do is create tension on the way back. Relax, and think of it this way: • The triangle of the arms and shoulders start the club back together. • The hips start to turn with the torso motion. • The weight turns toward the inside of your right leg. • There is not a conscious weight shift. The feeling is more of a rotation rather than shifting. 2) How to get it done A good drill to get the triangle of the arms and shoulders going back together is to put a Nerf ball in between your forearms (see inset). If the Nerf remains between your forearms throughout the backswing, you will achieve a one-piece takeaway. 3) The benefits "The takeaway is the second link of the swing. If you can get the swing started on plane you have a much better chance of getting to a better position at the top of your backswing," Lasken said. "The best thing about that is there's no need to compensate on your downswing." TOP OF THE BACKSWING 1) What you need to know The arms and shoulders are still working together and there is no independent action. This provides a stable position at the top of the backswing. Other things to look for: • The head remains steady. • The right arm has folded to 90 degrees and the left arm to the club shaft is also at 90 degrees. • The weight is on the inside of the right leg loaded and ready to move forward. • The hips have turned 40 degrees and the shoulders have turned 80 degrees, providing a good coil for more power. • With your irons, this is a classic three-quarter backswing. With a driver, you should reach 90 degrees of shoulder turn to get the shaft parallel at the top. 2) How to get it done A good way to practice your turn is to to put a shaft across your shoulders, crossing your arms and holding the club in your fingers while rotating your shoulders (see inset). 3) The benefits "From a good position at the top it is much easier to consistently bring the club down on plane with maximum clubhead speed," Lasken said. THE DOWNSWING 1) What you need to know The hips lead the way, first with a weight shift toward the target and then a turn with the belt buckle toward the target. Notice how: • The right elbow is tucked in and the right wrist is loaded. • The grip pressure remains firm, but gentle. If it tightens, you will cast the clubhead, like you would a fishing rod. And that will only lead to bad things. • The right hip is rotating toward the target and the left hip away from the target for more power. • The head position remains steady and centered. • The shaft is parallel to the ground. 2) How to get it done Lasken says this is the toughest position for golfers to get into because it's the fastest-moving part of the swing. A good way to develop feel for this position is to pump the club from the top of the backswing down to the position pictured above back and forth a few times. Practicing this motion will help you learn what it feels like to be in that loaded position when the club is parallel to the ground. 3) The benefits "If you have done everything right up to this point, you can just let it go from here," Lasken said. "The centrifugal force will release the club automatically if your grip pressure is correct. This is the easiest way to swing the club because you're really 'swinging the club' when you do this action." THE RELEASE 1) What you need to know This is the part of your swing where the clubhead really gets moving. Things to be aware of: • The right wrist and right elbow have fully released, creating maximum clubhead speed that is powered by the hips rotating through impact. • The triangle of the arms and shoulders remains intact. • The weight has shifted completely to the left side. • The head remains steady and over the ball. • There is a slight rotation of the forearms that should occur naturally if the grip pressure is correct and you have swung through on plane. 2) How to get it done A great release drill is to practice swinging the clubhead into an impact bag (inset). This drill helps you feel the impact of the right arm and right wrist fully releasing. The sensation helps you square up the clubface through impact without sacrificing power. 3) The benefits "More clubhead speed through the ball equals more distance," Lasken said. "Releasing the club in front of your chest helps you fold your arms into the proper finish while remaining in balance." THE FINISH 1) What you need to know You know you've made a good swing when you're able to stay in balance and hold your finish. The ability to do this creates the least amount of strain on your back. Also notice how: • The elbows have stayed close together. • The hips have turned completely and the belt buckle is facing the target. • The chest also is pointed directly at the target. • The weight has shifted fully to the left side. • The shoulders are stacked over the hips. • The knees are close together. • The finish is balanced for less strain on the back. If you can hold your balance at this point, you have swung the club correctly. 2) How to get it done A good drill is to make short backswings and complete follow-throughs in a continuous motion. This will help you to subconsciously be in better positions on the follow-through. Reverse engineering the swing can really help you feel the proper motion. 3) The benefits "This position is much easier on your body," Lasken said. "If you've made a good finish, you'll know that you've done things correctly throughout the swing." |
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