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bobperry22
USA
447 Posts |
 Posted - 09/04/2009 : 08:47:55
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Another great job by the TGGS team on last night's webinar. I think these monthly "meetings" are great. They give us a chance to "see" the boys and get some face to face instruction. It also gives us a chance to get some immediate feedback on specific questions. This is a great enhancement to the video acadamy.
I just wanted to comment on the attention that the lower body has been recieving. I find it amazing that after 5 Plus years on the path, this is the first time I am hearing so much about the lower body movement. In reality, it is PERFECT timing for me. I am finding the there has been a serious lack of full rotation in my hips. Also, I did not really understand what it meant to "hit into my legs". As a result of the no rotation and poor weight shift - I had a "sway" across my downswing that pulled me out of position and off plane. As a result, I was pulling shots. I confused this with hitting over the top - so I kept trying to come more from the inside. As a result, my "good" shots were draws (more like controled hooks).
Withing the past few weeks, through some MIRACLE, I finally am begining to understand the feelings of hitting into my legs and having a "locked in" front leg. This has allowed me to swing more freely and generater more arm/hand speed. When I hit that "locked in" position, I can swing as hard as I want and the ball will not turn over - it goes straight with a VERY slight draw (I suspect a face issue due to grip).
I asked a question on the weight shift drill last night, because for me, the weight shift was the key to understanding the rotation problem. I was really having problems with starting my downswing with my lead hip and knee. I just couldn't get the sequence down. In fact, my attempts were only making the "sway" in my swing worse. One day last week I started my warm up session by just doing some weight shift drills (taken from 7 priciples DVD part 1 or 2). When I started to hits some full shots I tried to incorporate that weight shift into my downswing. What I discovered was that when I focused on shifting wmy weight, as the club continued on the backswing, my lead knee followed the "natural" path of flexing towards my foot and my hips rotated into that "locked in" position. From there I could "swing" my arms - which had dropped onto the plane as a result of my leg flex and rotation - as hard as I wanted and the path stayed good and ball goes straight!!!
What jumped out even more, was that fact that I had been "swaying" past the ball in my downswing. I went back and looked at video of my swing from previous years - it has always been there to some degree. Not getting that lead hip and knee action correct has prevented me from getting the consistancy I have been seeking. I have a long way to go before I can say that I "own" this move - but at least I know what I am trying to do. My next step is to get this on video and then to Todd for a review.
I am writing this to share with all of you that what Todd and Tim said last night is true - getting the lower body correct will not increase your speed or make you hit it "better" - it sets the foundation for the upper body to generate speed and stay on plane. Remember to stay focused on that ultimate goal - stability. My "check" for this "newly found knowledge" is: 1. did my head stay still throughout the swing - not move forward, 2. can I hold a truely balanced position at the finish of my swing until the ball lands? This has been my focus for the past couple of sessions
Keep working and good luck
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Bob Perry |
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edmp
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 11:11:55
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Bob,
Ditto on your sentiments.The lower body (stabilization) move/action is a major breakthrough for me as well.Like you I can't say I have mastered it yet,but when I execute it correctly WOW.
Nice post,
Chuck |
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TGGS
Administrator
USA
2140 Posts |
 Posted - 09/04/2009 : 13:21:20
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As we continue to teach - and have seen 1,000s of students (in person) it has become apparent a couple of issues Natural Golf taught/teaches that are causing HUGE problems with our students who started with NG or worked with NG in the past...
One we have discussed in depth - the palm grip - how the weak palm grip in the lead hand hinders leverage, etc.. (have beat that to death.. can see details at www.moenorman.ORG)
Another is the hip / lower body movement. It is a "very common" theme - those that have worked with NG in the past has been taught a lateral slide with the hips / lower body - not a turn. That is a BIG problem. Moe turned his hips - yes the hips "bumped" forward in the start of the downswing, but as they were rotating - it is NOT a lateral slide.
Here is the "kicker" - the students are doing a great job learning - problem is they were taught WRONG! Moe does not laterally slide without turning his hips - he turned his hips in the backswing and no question that his lead knee and forward hip preceeded / started his downswing.
We have discussed this a lot in the past in relationship to spine angle and the head staying over the trail knee at impact - but it is becoming more and more apparent that we need to relate directly to the hips as so many have been taught an "incorrect" move in the golf swing.
Here is a couple of facts -
1. Unless you turn your hips in the backswing it is impossible to get the club on the correct plane. Doesn't take a lot of hip turn - but the hips must be turned with the shoulders.
2. On the downswing - the lead knee and lead hip start the action - the lead knee sets toward the lead toe as the hips rotate through original set up position and to an "open" position at impact.
3. Yes, the hips are open at impact.
4. To lessen the stress on the back throughout the swing - the hips need to be turned "correctly" - if there is minimal to no hip movement - there will be excess stress on the lower back - especially at and through impact.
Hope this helps a little more...
Tim Graves, PGA
timg@swinglikemoe.com |
Tim Graves, PGA
timg@swinglikemoe.com |
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September 3 Webinar
