Now that you all have met my friend Anthony Netto, let's get back to discussing setup and swing issues I saw with our students at the PPGS golf school last week.
One major problem that I see in golfers at all levels, including the professional tours (but is more acute an issue with amateurs) is the movement of the back knee and leg in the backswing. The purpose of the backswing is to make a weight shift (even with the PPGS limited turn backswing) behind the ball to help generate power for the transition to the forward swing for impact and then to the finish. The PPGS setup helps this weight shift with our pre-loaded heavy right setup position already having us setup loaded onto the flexed right leg. I discuss this in the Foundation Golf Swing manual on page 38. But even with this described in detail, I keep seeing the back leg move improperly, straightening and even locking up in the backswing by as many as well over 90 percent of golfers. So let's look at what a good weight shift and transfer is in the backswing as regards the back leg and knee movement.
I describe and write in golf lessons in the prescription section of my lesson form sheet for weight shift in the backswing, the following description. 'Limited turn to shift weight OVER AND ONTO AN INLINE FLEXED BACK KNEE.' In the Foundation Manual, on page 100 in the Top of Backswing face on section in point #8 it reads, 'Right leg loaded. That is, your hip socket, knee and ankle are in a straight line. Knee Flexed.'
We start with the back knee flexed in the setup and it should remain flexed in the backswing as the limited turn loads over and onto the 'flexed' back Knee. Webster's dictionary defines load as 'to put (a load) into or upon (a carrier). The load is your weight transfer of your upper torso. The carrier is your back leg.
The question we now have to ask is why do many golfers not load 'OVER AND ONTO' their back leg and rather straighten, even lock up the knee. The straightening back leg causes 'REJECTING' the weight pushing the torso forward into a reverse pivot or weight shift. This opens up the Pandora's Box of swing problems, from outside to in steep angle of attack swing path that can slice as quick as pull or hook the ball, and cause thin shots to chunk impacts. There are basically 2 issues causing the straightening of the back leg. One is setup related and the other is caused by the swing.
The setup problem is the widely taught position of pressing or cocking the rear leg inward with the thought that in the backswing we turn 'AGAINST' the back leg. The belief is that this builds up torque on the inside of the upper leg thigh muscles with the idea that this creates power and will stop swaying. It doesn't build up torque. Instead, it builds tension and stress in the leg, hip, lower back and even up to the shoulders and neck. It does stop swaying outside the back foot by pushing the player instead inside it and toward the front foot and ahead of the ball with the reverse weight shift. We cure this setup problem with the PPGS wide knee with outward pressure, pre loaded heavy right setup position.
The swing problem happens with making a big shoulder and hip turn as relates to our body design. I describe this in lessons by saying, 'As long as our legs are attached to our hips, no human being can make a 90 degree plus torso turn toward the back leg and not have that leg straighten up. And when the back leg begins to straighten up, the front leg will begin to bend or break inward, adding more to the straightening of the rear leg.' This happens because of the law of physics that states 'for every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.' This action/re-action can be caused by either the front knee bending inward, pushing the back leg straight, or the back leg pulling the front inward. Either way, the back leg is straightening and setting into motion the wrong leg movement of both legs.
One final point that must be covered is that this backswing right leg straightening action/re-action (we will now call an action) will cause the transition forward re-action opposite breakdown of the legs. The back leg, as it moves forward in the transition, increasing speed, will break and the back side collapses downward. The forward leg and knee now straighten to complete the forward swing re-action.
The swing cure for the rear leg straightening and setting is to understand the concept of weight transfer 'over and onto' the flexed rear leg so you can then do it correctly. The main point is that the knee flex, at address, must NEVER, and I mean NEVER change to less flex as any less flex is straightening.
The REAL DEAL is that the rear knee flex MUST CHANGE to a little MORE flex than the address position flex. Why? Because as the definition of load states, 'to put into or UPON,' must cause flexing of the knee as the leg 'RECEIVES' and 'ACCEPTS' the weight. This is the same as when you get into your car or golf cart, the springs and shocks depress to receive and accept your weight. Baseball pitchers rear knee flexes just before they push off the mound to throw the pitch. Tennis players, when serving, throw the ball up and both knees flex as they load their legs to spring up to smash the serve.
Golfers must load, that is get OVER and ONTO, the FLEXED rear leg in the backswing in order to have a powerful and level transition to impact. This can only happen with the rear leg flexing MORE when it receives the weight.
The Surge!