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The Athletic Motion of The Golf Swing |
by:
John Toepel |
There is really one basic athletic motion which is used in all of athletics. The golf swing is golf's version of this athletic motion. It issame basic motion that is used to hittennis ball, throwfootball, kicksoccer ball, or breakrack in pool.
To describeathletic motion, let's takelook atbaseball pitcher. Whypitcher? You are familiar withpitching motion and have probably thrownball or two yourself. The pitcher does what you asgolfer want to do; throw it fast, accurately and consistently. Asgolfer you want to hitball long distances and downmiddle with consistency.
So just how doespitcher throwball? How do you throwball? It's not complicated. Let's takelook so we can apply these principles togolf swing.
After gettingsign fromcatcher,pitcher begins his wind-up by moving his body so that all of his weight is on his back foot,one onpitching rubber. By doing this, he has causedarm to be flung away, indirection opposite from where he will deliverball. When allweight is onback leg andarm is still going away fromtarget, he reversesdirection ofbody by pushing off his back foot. This causes his body to be pushed towardtarget. The arm was still going away whenbody changed directions. The arm only changes directions when it can go no further back and is pulled swiftly towardtarget byforward motion ofbody. This allowsarm to function with maximum effectiveness, speed, and accuracy. The arm is completely dependent onbody. The arm moves ONLY becausebody moves it -- not becausemuscles ofarm itself madearm move.
Have you ever seenmajor league pitcher stand flat-footed and pitchball?
Of course not.
Any pitcher knows that he will have neither speed nor accuracy if he throwsball flat-footed. To be effective he must usebig muscles (the legs and back) to movebody in order to createspeed and accuracy necessary forgood pitch.
I want you to try to throwball as far as you can, but with different rules. In order to be very powerful, you must holdball as tightly as possible, tightening allmuscles in your arm and shoulder. I want to see allveins popping out; that way I know you are powerful and can throw it far. You know instinctively as you tighten up or quit movingbody that you cannot throwball any distance at all. In spite of this, I regularly see golfers holdingclub so tightly and flexing those shoulder muscles, then wondering why they can't hitball far.
Great muscular effort doesn't dojob.
For confirmation of this, tighten up your arms and takepractice swing. Listen for any noiseclub makes. There's not much air moving, is there? Now try again, this time with your arms completely relaxed. Listen forloud noise ofclub throughair. There is quitedifference, is not there?
In order to havearms and shoulders move at their top possible speed and with maximum reliability, they must be kept relaxed. This is achieved whenlegs, which arebody's real source of strength, causearms and shoulders to move.
Simply stated,feet and legs causetrunk ofbody to move, which in turn causesarms to move. All types of athletics are played withfeet movingbody. It all comes fromground up, never fromtop down.
Forobservation, watch someone throwbowling ball or throwhorseshoe topost. The legs movebody, andarm is completely dependent upon them.
It'ssame in all of athletics, including golf.
Because we are holding this long stick withintention of hitting this little, innocent ball as hard as we can, this is contrary to our golf instincts. Common sense would tell us that in order to end that poor little ball's life (without missingball, of course), we must use those powerful arms - and never look up? Isn't that right? Not so!
There you have it --process through which I developedConcept Golf swing principles that will take your golf game tonew level. Because these ideas are simple, and because there are only five fundamentals, you might be tempted to not give them proper reverence. These principles have been tested and proven by golfers just like you. The new golfer,professional,high handicapper andplus-one handicapper have all profited from these few simple ideas.
The Concept Golf swing principles are simple, logical, easy to understand, and easy to put into action. Everything else ingolf swing isresult of these few fundamentals -- for all clubs, for all shots. They apply tofull swing,short wedge and evenputter. As you understand and accept these ideas and put them to use, you will see great progress in your golf game.
It doesn't have to be hard to discoverPar Golfer within you.
About The Author:
Concept Golf isrevolutionary golf instruction system unlike any other, producing immediate, life-long, dramatic improvements in any golfer from beginners to Pro's. Visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm to learn more.
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