But everybody is doing the big '¦
I always start a group clinic with this question:
'Will everyone here who is happy with their swing raise their hand?'
The most hands ever raised were in a group of over 500 golfers.
Counting my hand, the total was 3.
That high number of unhappy golfers leads to another question:
'Why do so many unhappy golfers keep playing?'
Because they hope that if they keep searching, the next big tip they read or hear may be the Holy Grail to swing happiness.
We all want a swing that is easy, consistent, hits the ball solidly, straight and longer, and maybe won't hurt our back and body.
Could this be that Holy Grail article?
I think it is, and we'll look at one important aspect to the Peak Performance Golf Swingg that will give you the biggest part of the equation that leads to solid, straight, long and less stress.
But first, I will state that I teach only fact, no opinion, speculation or trial and error.
By fact, I mean, I have spent over 20 years studying the golf swing, in terms of the physics involved with the ball and club, and the physiology, in terms of a human swinging the club.
I studied with experts in physics and engineering, and with experts in the medical fields, specifically with Dr. Ned Armstrong, an orthopedic Surgeon and sports medicine specialist.
We asked, 'What has to happen, why, and how do we make it happen?'
The answers we got on many swing principles did not conform to accepted, widely taught swing theories.
Thus, when you don't play by the rules of physics and your body, the way nature is designed, you likely will have problems with consistency and potential for injury.
Let's now look at one of golf's most hallowed principles: turning the torso in the backswing 90 degrees or more to create power.
Golfers have been told a big turn is necessary for power.
Swing tips, like, 'turn your left shoulder under your chin,' and 'turn your back to the target,' and 'turn your left shoulder and get it over your right foot.'
There's more: 'Lift your left heel off the ground and move your left knee in toward the ball to free up your upper body to make a bigger turn.' And, 'turn as far as you can, and then force it a little more to get the maximum turn possible to create that torque for power.'
Of course, the one comment forgotten in there principles, is the comment golfers exclaim after performing these suggestions:
'OUCH!'
Our studies showed that turning the torso 90 degrees is not necessary and, in fact, compromises the physics necessary for solid, on-line impact.
Also, it is dangerously stressful on the back, as that torque created with a big turn is a major cause of the high number of back injuries of golfers at all levels.
So, how much turn is needed?
Just 70 degrees.
This is an amount of turn that anyone, including non-flexible golfers, can do with no problem and little to no stress!
There is no sport in the world that teaches throwing or hitting to turn your back to the target except golf.
I don't think God gave golfers a dispensation to play by their own set of rules as regards physics and physiology.
I have been asked many times, what is the main difference of my teaching when compared to conventional instruction.
I reply with a test, one you can do now while reading this.
Assume your address position, arms hanging (without a club) to hit a ball aiming through a door or a window. Now, swing your right hand up, like in a backswing, as if you were going to toss a ball underhanded through the door or window. When your hand reaches the top of the backswing, stop and check its position.
If I were there, I would grab your right hand, point out it's position and then place a club across your shoulders and show you how little you turned them.
I would then gently turn your shoulders with the club across them to 90 degrees, to show you the difference.
Then I ask the big Question:
Why didn't you turn your back to the target to throw the ball?
One ' or more ' of these answers are always given:
1. 'Can't see the target.'
2. 'It's not natural.'
3. The one I think sums it up best, 'I can throw it anywhere, but not accurately.'
I then come back with:
'If you can't throw it accurately from back here, how can you expect to hit it accurately?
So, what is a 70 degree turn?
From your setup position, while holding your lower body stable, turn your shoulder until your left upper arm (shoulder to elbow) gets over your toe line.
That's all the turn you need.
From there you just lift your arms up with no more turn.
That's it, 70 degrees.
That is all the turn you need!
So, where does power come from?
Power comes from being able to swing your arms faster and more accurately on a straight line to impact and up to your finish.
It's all about moving your body less so you can swing your arms faster, creating centrifugal force, like swinging a rock on a string.
The faster the rock travels, the less the hand moves.
Your left arm, shaft and club head is the string and rock.
The less your body turns (moves) the faster and more controlled you can swing your arms and club, and hit the ball more solid, straighter and longer!
Conventional instruction today teaches that power comes from mostly body turn or rotation, pulling the arms as much as 80% from torso turn and 20% arms.
But swinging in accord with physics of gravity and centrifugal force is less body and more arms to a ratio of arms 80% and torso 20%.
The less your body moves the faster and more controlled you can swing your arms.
And, if you want to get real consistent, the ratio will go to 90% arms / 10% torso.
This is the way I swing, my son, DJ, a PGA Tour player, swings and all my students swing.
All of us hit it more solid, straight and longer and without back stress.
You can learn it without ANY risk (I'll buy it back from you if it doesn't immediately knock strokes off your game or causes you even a twitch of pain) at:
Bottom line:
The limited turn backswing will help you hit it consistently more solidly, straighter, longer and with less stress!
Here's to painless swings and low scores!
The Surge!