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Graves_Golf_Academy
Administrator
15 Posts |
 Posted - 01/20/2006 : 15:28:49
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1.DISTANCE FROM THE BALL(toes to ball). When measuring the distance Moe was from the ball, from toe lie to ball with a driver is 36 inches. Many might think this distance will change with height, etc.. but to be honest, it really doesn't vary much as it is a variable of height vs. arm length. For those between the height of around 5'6" and 6'4", this distance is a good reference point. Moe continually states he feels "the club swings underneath him" and as most who study the single axis swing, realize at impact, Moe is facing the ball (both feet on the ground), one must have enough distance to the ball to clear the arms without having to spin/twist the body.
If you don't have enough distance to the ball you will have difficulty facing the ball at impact, and for many, you will see toe (yes, toe) hits. Reason is as you pull out to create the distance needed as the lead arm straightens at impact, the lead shoulder will pull out, thus creating toe hits.
2. DISTANCE HIPS FROM HANDS (at set up). When measuring the distance in Moe's swing, it was calculated at 17 inches from his hips to knuckle of his right index finger. The main issue here is that as you set up, the shaft of the club should run up the lower half of the trail arm. If you hands are too high or too low at set up, the club will not run up the appropriate part of the trail arm and thus your release and potentially leverage angles will be hindered.
If you don't have enough or too much distance from the hips to the trail hand or the club does not run up the lower edge of the trail arm, check your grip. Chances are the club is toward the life line of the trail hand and not the palm.
3. BEND AT WAIST. This position varies with one's physical make up. To put it as clear as possible, the bigger the "waist line" (politically correct), the more one is going to bend at the waist.... The best examples are to look at Moe vs. Todd. Or recent pictures of Moe and old pictures of Moe (when he was very skinny). You will see slightly more bend at the waist to get the clubs in the proper positions with the increased "waist line".
4. KNEE FLEX. This may be the most important issue for stability in the golf swing. Many interpret Moe's set up as very straight legged (which it is), but notice as he takes a backswing, he produces definite knee flex for his great stability. One should set up with enough knee flex for one's maximum stability. We like to call it a "linebacker" position. As you watch linebackers in a football game, you will see they stand in position with knee flex to maintain maximum stability in the swing.
If you don't have enough/proper knee flex throughout the swing, chances are you will have alot of difficulty facing the ball at impact. The body will compensate for improper balance in the swing, and will "pull out" of the shot before impact as the body will sense you are falling over. This "pull out" is also known as coming across the ball.
5. LEAD ARM VS. TRAIL ARM. One of the biggest mistakes we see in golfers who have problems in their takeaway is their lead arm is not above their trail arm at set up. When looking down the line (good check to look in mirror), you should see your lead arm above your trail arm. In other words, if you lay a club across the inside of your elbow of your trail arm, the club should point to at least the middle of the inside of your lead elbow. If the club points above your lead arm, check your set up. Chances are you have grip issues, improper spine tilt, or most often seen, shoulders are open at set up. One other issue to check to get to this proper position is that the trail arm is relaxed at set up. If the trail arm is too tense, it will get above the lead arm at set up and cause the shoulders to be open.
6. PROPER SPINE TILT. The estimate for proper spine tilt (angle upper body is leaning back at set up) is around 5* back (when standing straight up is 0*). Do not over complicate this issue. It is a fairly simple procedure that many try to make too complicated. First, hold the club in front of you with both hands together. Now lower the trail hand to the proper grip position. (Will give you a slight spine tilt). Now keep the straight line from the club head to the lead shoulder (if club against the ball at set up, the butt end of the club will point to your left side, if club behind the ball a distance, make sure straight line is maintained). Keeping this straight line at set up and the trail hand being lower than the lead hand will give you the proper spine tilt.
7. LEAD FOOT. This position will probably lead to the most controversy. The lead foot should be turned out slightly for the maximum stability at set up. Moe's is turned out about 15* (sometimes up to 20*) at set up. Turning the lead foot out will allow for a full and stable release and we believe will help the lead knee to be flexed and stable at impact. If the lead foot is straight forward, or for some, slightly turned in, it puts too much stress on the lead knee at impact and the body will compensate by straightening the lead knee prior to impact.
Todd,
Is it possible to be too wide with your stance, and if so, how do you know you are too wide? Conversly, how do you know you are too narrow?
Yes. You can be too wide. It changes the club fitting. In other words, you get closer to the ground which changes your arm to the ground distance.
There is definitely an ideal stance...it is based on stability. Obviously the Driver is the widest...and you swing it the fastest. The wedge on the other hand will be more narrow.
This is the reason that Club fitting and instruction go together. YOu can hardly get a fitting without an educated eye seeing your swing unless you are following the principles of the model.
I recommend the shoulder width as a minimum and the driver will be the widest which is when the feet are slightly wider than the inside fo the feet. You can widen the driver more because the ball is on a tee and lie angle is less affected.
So, wide for the driver, shoulder width with the shorter clubs and all other clubs in between.
Todd
Todd,
Is your lead knee supposed to break towards your trail knee on the backswing? I think my knee may be causing my hips to rotate too far on the backswing. I believe that you are just supposed to rotate your upper body around your spine, not realy letting your knees break or bend durring this loading of your upper body, correct?
Is there a drill to help me learn to keep my knee from flexing so much, or just conciously work on it until it becomes subconcious?
Your lead knee should move toward your trail leg because of hip rotation. There is hip rotation in the backswing. The lead hip rotates..and the upper part of the lead leg moves. When this happens the knee moves toward the trail leg. IF you are rotating too much, there must be a problem with your trail leg and you might be lifting your lead foot. Also, check your spine tilt.
Work on Hip rotation and spine tilt in the backswing. Make sure your lead foot is on the ground.
Todd
Distance from the ball - (Etip from Swinglikemoe)
If the distance from the ball is 36 inches from the toe line to the ball for Moe (and Todd) what is the distance for other clubs? Distance for other clubs (for comparison): (toe line - lay club down in front of toes) Driver (45.5 inches long): 36 inches from toe line to golf ball - 5 iron (38 inch): 27 inches - 7 iron (37 inch): 25 inches - 9 iron (36 inch): 23 inches
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Todd Graves, Tim Graves, Scott Renfrow, Brent Reid |
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Set-up FAQ
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