The knee is a highly mobile joint, which allows the golfer to achieve an amazing amount of rotation and force throughout the swing. The position of the knees changes with each segment of the swing, and plays a key role in linking the lower extremities with the upper body. PGA teaching professional Mitchell Spearman highly advocates checking the position of your knees in a mirror to gain instant feedback and make corrections for each segment of the swing.
Address
When addressing the golf ball, the knees should be flexed slightly as if beginning to sit in an imaginary chair. Ben Hogan believed that the knees should bend from the thighs down, while keeping the upper part of the trunk erect. The knees serve to provide balance and stability, and Hogan asserted that when the knees are properly flexed, the golfer can rotate the hips and shoulders with ease.
Backswing
During the initial part of the takeaway, the knees remain in a flexed position. Once the club reaches parallel to the ground and you begin your shoulder turn, the left knee remains flexed but the right knee straightens. In his earlier years, Tiger Woods was notorious for snapping his right leg straight because he believed it increased his rotation and gave him a sudden burst of power.
Top of Swing
At the top of the swing, the right leg should be completely straight and the left knee should be slightly flexed and pointed toward the right leg. Hogan believed that turning the left leg in and slightly rolling the left foot inward helped shift his weight from left to right, thus adding more power.
Downswing
The downswing is primarily initiated by the hips, according to Hogan. As you swing toward the ball, the hips unwind which straightens the left leg completely. The right knee bends to allow the right side of the body to completely rotate through the ball. Hogan believed the breaking of the right knee toward the ball significantly added velocity to his swing.
Finish
At the finish, the hips and shoulders have completely unwound, leaving the golfer facing the target. The left knee is still completely straight or just slightly flexed to reduce the impact of the powerful torque on the knee joint. The right knee is flexed and pointed down to the ground, on a parallel line with the target
References
- "A.I.M. of Golf"; Mitchell Spearman; 2004
- "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf"; Ben Hogan; 1957
- "How I Play Golf"; Tiger Woods; 2001
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