Saturday, December 4, 2010

Swing Drill One

A good drill to begin modifying a swing is to use a club that is slightly weighted.  The extra weight will strengthen the muscles used during a swing and train them to remember the motion of the swing.  This drill by itself will not give a perfect swing but will greatly assist in the mechanics.  Using this with other drills will help improve the swing.


Swing Drill Two

Lie a 2x4 on the ground.  Swing the golf club trying to pass the ground close to the wood without hitting it.  This will teach the golfer to come straight thru with the swing. 





Hitting the beginning of the wood will result in a swing that will produce a slice.  






Hitting the end of the wood will result in drawing the ball.





Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Swing Drill Three

It is very important when swinging a golf club, to have a fluent swing.  This drill will help get the swinging motion and your body in sync.  We will not use any clubs or balls for this drill.  We will start standing over an imaginary ball, feet shoulder with apart, head down, and palms together.  Let your hands hang naturally.  


The next step will be to bring our hands back to begin the swing.  Your hands should rotate so the front hand is facing forward.  When holding a club, there is rotation in the wrists that is important to hitting the ball straight.



The next step is to follow through and complete the swing.  Your hands should rotate and your back hand should be facing forward.



It is important to do this drill many times to develop a smooth repetition.  Swinging a golf club demands discipline and little error.  Too much wrist movement, swinging too fast, and not bringing the club head through straight are a few things that will cause a golf ball to not fly straight.  This drill will teach your body to develop a groove and stay consistent.  By repeating this action, your body develops muscle memory for the swing and should refer back to this memory when a club is in the hand.  

Friday, October 1, 2010

Novice Video








Novice video front view.


Novice video rear view.

Expert Video


Expert video front view.


Expert video rear view.


Phase 1 - Address the Ball

To begin our approach you must first grip the club.  Your thumbs should line up with the top of the club.
Novice grip
Expert grip


Step up to the ball aligning it up with the inside of your front foot.  
Novice view
Expert view




Keep your feet shoulder width apart.  The feet, the knees, the hips and the shoulders should in line with the target.   You should lean forward slightly from the waist, and have your knees slightly bent to allow flexibility. Your arms should hang comfortably in front of your body, to be able to swing more freely. The weight of the body should be on the balls of the feet. Both arms should be straight but relaxed.


Scientific Terminology


Stand at the anatomical position
To begin our approach you must first grip the club.
Adduct both sternoclavicular joints until your hands meet along the coronal plane around the anterior posterior axis.. Flex all fingers on both hands. Pronate hands 90 degrees. Adduct both hands towards your anterior until they meet.  
Stand above the ball with it directly in your median plane. Slide your body so the ball moves laterally to the inside of your front foot.
There should be slight flexion in the tibiofemoral joints.

Phase 2 - The Swing

The backswing starts with the initial rotation of your shoulders and hips. Bring your arms and hands back and over your head. Your back elbow should be horizontal with the ground.  The shoulders should turn fully leaving your back facing the target and your weight on the back foot. 
Novice view
Expert view


The downswing begins by pushing your weight from back to front and rotating the body and hips. Your shoulders, arms and hands will follow, powering the club through impact. As the ball is struck your hips are turned with the shoulders parallel to the ball. The movement continues until the whole body is facing the target. The motion should be constant from the start of the downswing to the finish of the follow through. Remember to keep your head down and keep your eye on the ball.

Novice view


Scientific Terminology 
Rotate the hips and shoulder to begin the backswing.  The humeroulnar hinge joints will flex as the club moves up and behind the head.  At the top of your swing, your posterior should be facing the target.  The superior half of the body will twist as the inferior half of the body should remain stable splitting the transverse plane.  Rotate the hips and shoulders forward to begin the forward motion of the swing.  As the club follows thru, extend the humeroulnar hinge joints to strike the ball.

Phase 3 - The Follow Through

As the club strikes the ball, you must follow your swing all the way through.  If you do not continue your swing all the way through you may hook or slice the ball.  Practice these motions till you are fluent.





Novice View
Expert View

Scientific Terminology 

It is important on the follow thru for the front hand to supinate and the back hand to pronate together.  Radiocarpal joint rotation is key to hitting the ball straight. The front foot should remain stable and the rear foot should plantar flex. The head should rotate after the ball is struck as the follow thru of the body will pull it that way.