The body rotates around a spine angle that should be fixed or stable, keeping your club on the proper swing path. Are you able to do this with your swing?
This may be the idea that separates the high handicapper and low handicapper: the ability to rotate your body, keeping the club on a consistent swing plane.
Admittedly, some of the pros like Jim Furyk make some interesting movements in the swing, but if you dissect it a little further, you will notice they keep the club in a certain slot on the backswing and on the downswing. Every tour player is able to rotate around a fixed or stable spine angle, make a linear weight transfer, and successfully hit the golf ball.
This is the goal of the golf swing: keep the golf club in a slot, essentially dissecting the shoulder on the back swing and follow through.
How many of us do that? Fewer than we would probably like to admit. So how do we rotate the body and keep the club in this slot? The answer is probably not the one we would like to hear. It requires developing a “feel" for the golf swing and knowing what the body is doing at every step of the golf swing.
Essentially, you must develop a feel for both the club and your body. Some of us are better at it than others. At this point, it is ingrained into the body and you will know when the swing is off and what to correct. Keep in mind, we are not going to make a perfect swing every time, but that is our goal.
How do we go about keeping the swing on the correct plane and developing “feel?" I know of two possibilities. One of the answers is probably quite obvious. The first answer to this question has to do with your golf swing mechanics. Yes, probably not a surprise to many of you.
The golf swing is an intricate, biomechanical movement requiring you to perform a large number of movements with the correct timing and no room for error.
Understanding the correct biomechanical sequence of the golf swing and the ability to execute it take great instruction, a good amount of practice, patience and time.
The body can learn either the correct or incorrect way to swing a golf club. As a result, it is imperative to receive quality instruction on the proper way to swing a club.
Secondly, the mind and body learn new movements through repetition. The only way to learn the correct golf swing is through consistent practice. Practice ingrains into your brain, nerves, and muscles how to properly execute the movements of the golf swing, the correct sequence of the golf swing, and the correct timing of the golf swing.
Finally, to learn the golf swing correctly it takes time. It is not an overnight process but requires consistent time spent practicing and playing. Don’t let anyone fool you that there is a quick-fix patch that will drop your handicap 25 strokes while you’re sleeping.
Over a certain time period the body will learn the swing. It’s different for each of us. Once the body learns the swing, the “feel" begins to develop. Once you get that feel, you will begin know exactly where your clubhead is at all times during the golf swing.
I can’t feel a thing! Most of us understand that the golf swing is a rotational movement and requires learning the proper biomechanics of the golf swing. However, the second part of the answer of developing “feel" may be less understood.
Now think about this for a second. What if your body is not able to rotate around a fixed spine angle? If you can’t rotate, it will be very, and I mean very, hard to keep your club in a slot.
I see it all the time with amateurs. They want to develop a good swing desperately, but are unable to do so because of a weak, inflexible, and powerless body.
If you are inflexible in the hips, how are you going to rotate in a manner that places the club in the correct slot for the downswing? It’s not going to happen!
If you have poor balance, how are you going to develop “feel" in the golf swing? You’re not! It comes down to this notion about the golf swing. Your body is performing the mechanics of the golf swing. In order to do this properly, your body must have certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power.
The only, and I mean only, way to develop a good swing and “feel" within your swing requires a body that can support your swing.
The swing is a very complex movement requiring a synergy between your body and the mechanics of the swing. If you attempt to develop a swing without a body to support it, you are on your way to a very frustrating experience and lowering your handicap will be a trying time.
I would strongly suggest implementing a program that develops your swing mechanics in conjunction with your body.
Sean Cochran
About the Author Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to www.seancochran.com
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