Sifting through the numerous opinions about the golf swing can confuse and discourage even the most motivated golfer. However, Ralph Mann, a biomechanist, and Fred Griffin, a professional golf instructor, teamed to write a book titled “Swing Like a Pro,” for which they analyzed the swings of hundreds of professional golfers and then developed a theoretically perfect golf swing based on their research. The steps to the golf swing they prescribe closely match those recommended by many of the top golf instructors in the world.
Address
Jack Nicklaus, one of the best professional golfers ever, suggests that you can hit a decent golf shot if you address the ball correctly, even if your swing is less than perfect. Scott Sackett, one of Golf Magazine’s top 100 instructors, describes a method to address the ball. Stand with your feet together and the ball positioned between your feet. Hold your club in the air in front of your body and grip the club properly. With the club still in the air, spread your feet apart, slightly wider than shoulder-width when using your driver, and progressively narrower with shorter clubs. Bend forward, place your club head behind the ball, and flex your knees slightly. Finally, position your head slightly behind the ball by leaning your upper body toward your back leg.
Backswing
A proper backswing prepares your muscles to contract powerfully during the downswing, and positions your body and the club to make an effective downswing. Shift your weight slightly to your back leg as you start the backswing, and simultaneously begin turning your shoulders, allowing them to control your arms. When the club is parallel to the ground with its toe pointed upward, stop shifting your weight, but continue turning your shoulders. Allow your wrists to cock so when your shoulders have stopped turning, the club points forward with its toe pointed downward. Keep your front arm as straight as possible and maintain a smooth pace throughout the backswing.
Transition
According to Mann and Griffin, the transition bridges the gap between the end of the backswing and start of the downswing. It helps create power in your downswing and allows you to start the club on the proper path to contact. To execute the transition, just before your shoulders have turned completely during the backswing, begin rotating your hips forward and shifting your weight to your front leg. This move happens very quickly and, therefore, is difficult to “make” happen on the golf course. Practice the transition off the course in slow motion at first and then gradually more quickly, until it happens naturally.
Downswing
Mann and Griffin suggest that your ability to execute the downswing correctly determines how far and straight you hit the ball. According to David Leadbetter, one of professional golf’s top instructors, start the downswing by allowing your arms and hands to drop straight downward, and maintaining the angle between your forearms and the club shaft. When the club is approximately perpendicular to the ground, begin turning your shoulders and unhinging your wrists to lead the club head to the ball on an inside-to-outside path. Just before impact, stiffen your front leg and rotate your hands to square the club face to the ball.
Contact
The position you achieve at contact is “the moment of truth,” according to Mann and Griffin. Contact is the byproduct of the previous steps of the golf swing. If you address the ball correctly and execute the backswing, transition and downswing proficiently, contact should take care of itself. You should note, however, that at contact, your front leg should support most of your weight, your back elbow should barely clear your body, and the club face should face your target.
Finish
Like the contact position, the finish of the golf swing largely takes care of itself if you do the previous steps properly. Allow your arms to keep moving and your hips, shoulders and hands to continue rotating during the finish, until your club is behind your back. If you do this correctly, your back toe will slide forward slightly. Hold your finish and maintain balance as you watch the flight of the ball.
References
- "Swing Like a Pro"; Ralph Mann and Fred Griffin with Guy Yocum; 1998
- Golf.com: Six Steps to a Perfect Address
- "Motor Learning and Control"; Richard A. Magill 2007
- Golf Digest: Hit It Great All the Time
Member Comments