How Good Is Your Golf Swing, A Test Of Measurement

Where do we start when trying to find an effortless natural swing, that for the most part you only see on a rare occasion that perfection allows? There are many last minute impressions from each swing you make, but defining what they are and why they happened can become a never ending maze if you let it. So where can we go, that will simplify it to it's most basic premises? Let's start with the absolute fundamentals and build from there. It has been said by some great teachers that the longer you spend in lesson 1 the better student you will be. This means the better understanding and foundation you have built off the most fundamental parts, will inevitably be your greatest asset.

Imagine that there is a circle that your ideal plane is working on, almost like a hula hoop that you are swinging on. As long as you can maintain this plane or come back to it at impact you will hit a flush shot. The more force that is behind the club at impact will directly effect how much power is created (mass x speed = power).

If you can take into consideration that when you rotate (back swing & down swing) your arms (avg. 12lbs a piece, 24lbs total) are moving in front of your body, thus pulling you forwards by the weight of the arms. This also means that if not corrected for, the "hula hoop" will be pulled forwards as well and causing the swing to go out of plane. As a visual you would see the hula hoop going straight into the ground. You can tell that its moving forwards by either the weight shifting to the toes or your front knee moving forwards.

To save the swing at this point you must bring it back into balance or the hula hoop (plane) back onto the path with the ball. This is accomplished by offsetting the pull of the arms. At this point the maximum amount of effort in the swing starts to take place. Every player will start straightening their front leg through impact which is a physiological act of "flexion & extension" to pull back and around. The amount of flexion and extension you have to use the more force it will take you to hit a good shot.

Both of these shots were struck very well but to even the untrained eye you can tell how much more effort it takes for Tiger(above right) to swing than it does Freddie(above left). If you look at a swing like Charles Barkley it becomes very apparent why he would have so much trouble clearing his rotation, because of being so far forwards and having to use a tremendous amount of effort to balance out the forces. The amount of flexion and extension you have to use determines how much force it will take you to reach a certain amount of power.

STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX TO MAKE IT EASIER

The less force that you have to use, the easier it is to create power and remain in plane throughout your swing. Imagine you were going to walk backwards, the first step that you make you will have to make a sub conscience choice to let go of your balance and fall backwards. There is a very subtle sensitivity that can grow out of this, that you can use to balance out the golf swing from the very beginning and find "rotary equilibrium or dynamic balance". If you will let go of your balance backwards at the start of the swing it will give you a completely different sense of freedom in its entirety. Once you start to feel this in your move you will realize when I say that the proper vernacular for a golf swing is a "Gravity Aided Rotary Sling". Don't be afraid to step outside of the box to find something extraordinary!

Golf Instruction DVD
"How It Works & How To Learn It"