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Graves_Golf_Academy
Administrator
15 Posts |
 Posted - 01/20/2006 : 15:38:10
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Do you push with the lead arm or push with the trail arm during the swing?
To be honest, there is no answer to this. Each person is going to feel this differently. Try both and see what works best for you. Moe felt as though he pulled with the left, but remember, Moe swings from the right, but is left handed (FYI - Ben Hogan described the same feeling and was also left handed).
How far should I swing back on my back swing?
Position is going to vary slightly with differnt golfers builds (arm length, etc..). For most, the correct position is just above the shoulder. The key to a good backswing is not so much in length of the backswing, but obtaining the maximum leverage angle at the top of the backswing. For some, that can be a relatively short/compact type swing. For others, it may need to be a little longer and more "free flowing" type swing. Look at the top of your swing (stop at the top) and look at the leverage angle formed by your trail hand. If the angle formed is at it's maximum leverage angle, this is a good position for you. If you could gain more leverage by taking back a little further, try to reach this position. For most, it is not nearly as far as they think.
What initiates the down swing?
There is a definite initiation of the downswing with a weight transfer to the leading side. But this is a balance issue that actually happens "naturally". We really don't like students to work on this "intentionally" as almost always they tend to laterally slide to far and get their head in front of the forward knee at impact. Let this be a balance issue that happens naturally.
Since shoulder turn is so vital to the swing, what is best way to get maximum turn without "sliding" back?
The best way to turn the shoulders during the swing is to turn the shoulders and arms as one unit. To keep from sliding, keep the trail knee slightly flexed throughout the backswing and definitely at the top of the swing. If flexed at the top of the swing, will give much stronger position at top and will keep from sliding back (reverse weight transfer). Be careful not to confuse the arm generated body motion with an arms only body motion. You see, the arms are attached to the shoulders and the body must move relative to the arms. Arm Generated body motion is a great term developed by Ken Martin. The term means that the arms are generating the movement of the body not vice versa. In other words only move the body if the arms are moving. This is the one piece take away.
How much lead knee flex is appropriate during back swing?
The lead knee will turn back slightly on the backswing. Make sure the lead foot stays on the ground. The best way to keep a solid lead side on the backswing (not too much knee flex, etc.) is to limit the lead hip turn on the backswing. Many turn the lead hit too much and thus the lead knee flexes too much on the backswing, thus loosing the spine tilt on the backswing.
Excuse me if I missed this but Todd you seem to keep the trail foot down after impact.Is this something you took from Moe? How does it effect the lower back?Is it flat at impact?
The foot is down but the weight is on lead leg. The flat foot is a product of proper address and single axis making room for the arms. Back problems are usually because of compression and torque. By addressing the ball properly, you reduce compression and by arm independence you reduce torque. Combination of these is less stress on the back.
Todd,
Can you comment on the importance of a good shoulder turn? I was in Scottsdale over the weekend and played two rounds of golf. The first pretty good with just great long straight drives down the middle. The second day my game went to pot. On the 16th hole one of the guys I was playing with commented that I had no shoulder turn at all. It ocurred to me that on that round I was concentrating on swinging with my arms only and keeping my lower body still. Somehow this translated to no shoulder turn and I hit the ball terrible.
Any time you say things like "arms only" you create a concept. These concepts are limiting and almost always interpreted as many ways as there are readers. In other words, if I said think of a blue car, your concept might be a blue corvette while my blue car might be a chevy impala that my dad once owned. Same CONCEPT, different intrepeteation. This is the same for arms only. Let me tell you that this golf swing is not ARMS only. It can't be. I will tell you that the arms have much to do when it comes to club movement but how can you move your arms if you do not move your shoulders. The simple motion of moving the arms in front of you to grip the club moves the shoulders. Try it. Stand with your arms at you side and then reach toward the ball. Your shoulders move.
And your shoulders will move when you move the arms in the backswing. The question then becomes, how much do the shoulders move and how do the shoulders move.
In Volume 2 of the Seven Principle DVD series, I discuss in detail the shoulder movement and the amount of shoulder turn. We even show a top view of the shoulder movement and what is happening. Here are some critical factors to consdier:
1) keep the lead foot on the ground.
2) allow the hips to turn as the foot is on the ground
3) keep the trail leg flexed but firm
4) Keep the head still
5) Maintain your spine tilt
6) Move the arms correctly (on plane)
These are the things I look for during this movement. The main focus of course is club mechanics. The golf swing is an arm motion where the body follows. This means that the body does move...it just does so in relation to the arm movement. In other words, the "dog wagging the tail" is CRAP! (Just thought I'd throw a jab there for some fun)
Hope this helps.
Todd
Todd:
I have heard that the release happens automatically during the swing, but I have also heard that some folks have to learn the release by releasing their hands (skipping the stone). Is this intentional or subconcious?
One main principle is that the hands work together. By doing this, you learn the relationship of the hand movement to the clubface. The lead arm rotates during the swing, therefore it must re-rotate into impact. At impact you re-form the rod (club and lead arm in a line). When you do this the lead arm rotates ( as the lead hand unhinges) back to impact. This is considered the squaring of the club face.
As described, it is a learned event that happens because of proper grip, arm and hand movement etc. So does it happen automatically...yes and no. When you skip a rock, do you know exactly when you release the rock or does it happen automatically? What does happen is that through trial and error you become aware of the relationship of the hands and clubface. This awareness is learned. Once learned, it is automatic.
Todd
Todd:
How do I fade or draw the ball?
There are three main ways to work the ball....
1) Club Face angle
2) Path of the club
3)Combintatin of both
It is all about spin and how much spin you want to put on the ball. If I am hitting slight fades and draws, I usually just change the path of the club. Remember. I do this by ball adjusting ball position. Forward and inside for a fade, back slightly for a draw. When I do this, I change the path of the club which puts side spin on the ball.
I don't always agree to go for the middle of the green. actually, I hardly ever do. I almost always hit at every flag unless there is no way to get it close by doing so (like hitting a 3 iron to a flag over a bunker. Keep in mind the places where you want to be putting from when you hit your approach shots.
I think you should take is straight at the flag unless there is some wind which will move the ball. Then you should use the wind to move the ball toward the flag.
Todd
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Todd Graves, Tim Graves, Scott Renfrow, Brent Reid |
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