The Swing, Part 7
The swing doesn't end at impact; you extend through impact with your left arm straight. Both arms will be straight at the same time just past the contact point. Then the left arm bends as your right arm extends along the target line as far as you can reach. Exaggerate the feelingthe longer you stay on that target line with your follow-through, the more accurate you will be. Your left arm folds in a mirror image of your right arm in the backswing. Do not wrap your arms and the club around your body. Extend them out, up, and over your left shoulder.
Let me emphasize that the hands serve one function during the golf swing and that is to hold the golf club. We do not roll the hands (supination or pronation) or cup our wrists (flexion or extension) prior to contact with the ball. The clubface does seem to change position as we make our backswing and downswing. There is no real magic; this change happens because of the rotation of our shoulders, torso and hips, and the cocking of our wrists and the reverse coming down. However, the face of the club remains square to the target line throughout because the hands do not move.
Thoughts on the swing:
1. The grip and starting position for your hands are the same for every swing.
2. When you set up, cock your right knee in toward the middle of your stance, and keep your weight on the insteps of your feet.
3. Footwork, footwork, footwork; transfer your weight to the instep of the back foot at the start of the backswing by applying down-pressure.
4. Release the down-pressure to begin downswing.
5. The triangle formed by your hands on the club, arms, and shoulders should be maintained in the takeaway until your left arm passes waist-high. This will help keep your hands in front of your body where they belong.
6. Keep your hands relaxed but firm during the takeaway; do not cock, break, or roll. When your hands reach waist-high in your backswing it is time to begin to cock. In general they will do this naturally.
7. Position at the top is important. Do not take your club past horizontal. Keep your hands firm.
8. Proper rotation is more important than the length of the backswing when it comes to the speed of the club head at impact. Concentrate on a full 90 degree shoulder rotation.
9. Tempo should be the same for all swings. No different for your driver or your full wedge. Tempo is the time from takeaway to ball contact.
10. Release the down-pressure in your right leg during the wrist cock; this shifts the weight to the front foot and prepares you for the downswing.
11. Keep your grip light throughout the swing and finish out toward the target with a right arm extension.
12. Keep your left knee slightly bent until after contact.
13. Don't go looking for swing problems; check out your platform first.