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Instruction

Untitled Page

A loaded swing

Three little moves, and a skeleton suit, add up to greater power and accuracy.

by Jerry Crowell, PGA with Patrick MottPublished: September, 2011

Do you want to load your swing with substantially more power using just three somewhat unconventional swing keys—and an equally unconventional outfit?

This move involves not just a handful of somewhat different moves, but a skeleton suit as well. You get to perform the moves; I get to skin into the skeleton suit.

The suit is useful because it emphasizes the subtlety of these moves in a way that’s easy to spot in a stark black-and-white series of images. In using the suit, I’m paying homage to the late, great SCPGA golf professional Mike Austin, who used the suit as a teaching tool and pioneered this swing—the counter-rotational leveraged swing.

Don’t let that name throw you; remember, there are only three moves to consider:


Starting the takeaway. Note the slightly closed clubface. (PHOTOS: Eddie Meeks)

1. The “counter-rotational” movement of the arms and hands—a lot less complex than it sounds.
In a more conventional swing you’re rolling the clubface open during your takeaway and rolling it closed as you swing through the ball. Instead, what we’re looking for is a clubface that is aligned with your spine tilt when the club is halfway through the takeaway, and aligned with your spine tilt once again when the club is halfway through the follow-through. This has the effect of closing the face slightly and eliminating most clubhead rotation. The result: greater accuracy without sacrificing power.


As you turn and the club rises, so does your trailing hip... Nearing impact, the other hip rises.

2. The compound pivot.
Again, don’t worry; you’re not going to tie yourself up in knots. This part of the swing is more like a little dance. As you go into your takeaway, your trailing hip (your right if you’re right-handed) should rise slightly as you turn. Likewise, your leading hip should rise slightly as you turn and head down toward impact. This weight shift provides great power. What does it look like? Think of a swinging, ringing bell. Or if you like, a hula dancer.


Preparing to “throw” the hands at the ball.

3. The “throw release.”
How do you throw a football or a baseball? Notice that when your arm is drawn back to throw, the knuckles of your dominant hand (right if you’re a rightie) are turned toward your eyes. For this swing, this is how your right hand ought to look at the top of the backswing. If this is done correctly, the lead wrist (the left) should flatten at the top of the backswing. This is the same flat wrist we want at impact. When you’re ready to begin your downswing, think of literally throwing your hands at the back of the ball. It’s a powerful feeling and produces a powerful, and repeatable, result.

Jerry Crowell is a PGA teaching professional at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma. He can be reached at (951) 201-4941.

Readers Feedback:

Where are the pictures???
Comment at 9/1/2011
No skeleton suit pics?
Comment at 9/1/2011
I am out of the state of California....I heard there were pics of him in a skeleton suit??? Did I miss them somewhere?
Comment at 9/1/2011
Is there pictures somewhere? Interesting.
Comment at 9/1/2011
This article would be great with a video. How come there are no pictures of him in the skeleton suit online??
Comment at 9/2/2011
LOL!! That is Awesome!!!
Comment at 9/2/2011
That would be great for clinics. You can really see the bones moving. Great job Jerry
Comment at 9/2/2011
Very cool to be published in a professional magazine for your sport!!
Comment at 9/2/2011
I knew that Halloween costume would come in handy sooner or later!
Comment at 9/3/2011
Looks like a young Mike Austin! I was Mike Austin's last student
Comment at 9/5/2011
Looks like a young Mike Austin! I was Mike Austin's last student
Comment at 9/5/2011
That would be great with a black background! You should do another one with a blackscreen. Very cool though.
Comment at 9/6/2011
Would love to see the positions [clubface] from the down-the-line view. I am a big Mike Austin fan, nice to see the skeleton suit back!
Comment at 9/6/2011
Gotta see more. Others have video on the video page. Wanna see it in motion!
Comment at 9/7/2011
Great article! Clarified some key things about the Austin swing I've been trying to put into practice. Its nice to see Austin's theories catching on and starting to make a difference for golfers out there including me! Love the suit too!
Comment at 9/8/2011
Mike Austin is the most UNDERRATED instructor and legendary figure in golf history! Glad to see you do this! Nice work!!
Comment at 9/11/2011
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Comment at 9/14/2011
There is a Mike Austin wave coming!!! It's great to see that an SCPGA pro would do this!
Comment at 9/15/2011
Yo, that's what's up trutfhully.
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Comment at 10/5/2011