Keeping the knees flexed in the golf swing enables the proper rotation, unwinding and acceleration necessary to hit good shots. The ideal distribution of weight at the setup is also attained through knee flex. Essentially, everything a golfer is directed to do in a fundamentally sound golf swing depends upon a posture that involves knee flex.
Knee Flex at Setup
Setting up over the golf ball requires stability. It's also important to be comfortable as you prepare to hit the shot. Standing up straight with no knee flex makes it difficult to accomplish either of these things. The real question when it comes to knee flex in the golf stance is just how much to bend the knees. The ideal flex is represented by lowering yourself no more than 3 or 4 inches. However, don't crouch.
Balance and Rotation
As in most sports, the knees are key to an athletic stance that prepares the body to undertake a range of action. Part of what makes an athletic stance is balance. Balance is central to making a productive swing because the rotation of the body requires proper distribution of weight for flow and control.
Because the upper body rotates fully while the lower body remains largely unchanged, the knees bear the burden of changing weight through that rotation.
Knees in the Backswing
During the backswing, it's important for the knees to remain flexed and stable. However, a small measure of turn in the knees is required as the upper body rotates in order to remain pliable and balanced. An ideal shift in the knees will find the left knee (for right-handers) pointing at the ball when the club reaches the top of the backswing.
Knees in the Downswing
As you begin the downswing, the knees will still be flexed. The hips initiate the downswing and will move toward the target, in part, because the knees will be driving forward, through the swing. The drive of the knees should not be a hurried or violent shift. It should be smooth and athletic, in sync with the tempo of the rest of the swing. At the conclusion of the swing, the knees will not be completely straight. It's advisable to maintain some flex in order to comfortably absorb every last bit of movement.
Overactive Knees
The one drawback to knee flex tends to be the way in which it tempts some golfers to slide the knees excessively back and forth through the swing. It might feel as though the motion of the knees back with the backswing will provide a measure of leverage to create power. This, however, is misleading. A quiet lower body through the backswing will help to maintain the swing plane and lend better balance to the overall effort.
References
- "Ben Hogan's Five Lessons"; Ben Hogan with Herbert Warren Wind; 1957
- "Golf For Dummies"; Gary McCord; 2006
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