John Lucas
Swing clubs better by following the leader
Published on Wed, Jan 13, 2010 by John LucasRead More Lucas
Let's get your golf swing in shape this new year, shall we?
To continue, think of the left side as the leader (for righties). The left side control begins right at the start of the swing, because one tends to control the forward swing with the side that controlled the backswing. On the backswing, the right arm is simply a support for the left. Your right arm can help you get deeper into the backswing but only by staying relaxed and letting that left arm pace the backswing.
A tight right arm actually shortens the backswing, cutting off the backward motion and forcing you too quickly into the forward swing. When you throw a ball underhanded, you just let your right arm swing around your body, bend, set and throw without a lot of effort. You should do the same thing when you swing a golf club.
When the club reaches the top of the backswing, the speed and weight of the swinging club puts greater pressure on the handle end. Therefore, when the club is started on its return to the ball, it's necessary to exert more pressure with the left hand, simply because it's closer to the handle than the right hand. That is difficult, if not impossible to do, if the left hand and arm are not in control going back.
How many times do you strike behind the ball and hit a fat shot? That's because you have little control with the left side while the right side dominates. This causes hand action to take place too early in the forward swing, the wrists to uncock too early away from the body instead of moving close to it as you swing through the ball.
A good way to get the feel of this action is to take a pitching wedge, take your hold with your left hand and simply grasp all the fingers of your left hand with your right hand. Start by hitting little shots at first, then gradually increase the swing. You easily can sense the left side leading and the right side following this way.
Rules teaser:
In a stroke play event, a player starts with 14 clubs and in anger breaks his putter on the 18th green. He then realizes there is a sudden death playoff and replaces it. In a match play event on another course, the same scenario happens and the match being square, the player replaces his putter for playing the 19th hole. Rulings on both situations?
Answer to last column's teaser:
A player marks his ball and before he can remove his marker, the wind causes the ball to move. Ruling? The ball must be marked or played from the spot the wind moved it to.
John Lucas is the teaching professional at Sky Ridge Golf Course and can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.
To continue, think of the left side as the leader (for righties). The left side control begins right at the start of the swing, because one tends to control the forward swing with the side that controlled the backswing. On the backswing, the right arm is simply a support for the left. Your right arm can help you get deeper into the backswing but only by staying relaxed and letting that left arm pace the backswing.
A tight right arm actually shortens the backswing, cutting off the backward motion and forcing you too quickly into the forward swing. When you throw a ball underhanded, you just let your right arm swing around your body, bend, set and throw without a lot of effort. You should do the same thing when you swing a golf club.
When the club reaches the top of the backswing, the speed and weight of the swinging club puts greater pressure on the handle end. Therefore, when the club is started on its return to the ball, it's necessary to exert more pressure with the left hand, simply because it's closer to the handle than the right hand. That is difficult, if not impossible to do, if the left hand and arm are not in control going back.
How many times do you strike behind the ball and hit a fat shot? That's because you have little control with the left side while the right side dominates. This causes hand action to take place too early in the forward swing, the wrists to uncock too early away from the body instead of moving close to it as you swing through the ball.
A good way to get the feel of this action is to take a pitching wedge, take your hold with your left hand and simply grasp all the fingers of your left hand with your right hand. Start by hitting little shots at first, then gradually increase the swing. You easily can sense the left side leading and the right side following this way.
Rules teaser:
In a stroke play event, a player starts with 14 clubs and in anger breaks his putter on the 18th green. He then realizes there is a sudden death playoff and replaces it. In a match play event on another course, the same scenario happens and the match being square, the player replaces his putter for playing the 19th hole. Rulings on both situations?
Answer to last column's teaser:
A player marks his ball and before he can remove his marker, the wind causes the ball to move. Ruling? The ball must be marked or played from the spot the wind moved it to.
John Lucas is the teaching professional at Sky Ridge Golf Course and can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.
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