John Lucas
Feet are first in golfing basics
Published on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 by John LucasRead More Lucas
I want to discuss one of the most important fundamentals in the golf swing: footwork.
Improper footwork causes loss of balance, loss of power and also loss of direction because it can lead to an improper shoulder plane (a frequent cause of slicing).
The old pro Jackie Burke said that millions of years ago when the cave men went hunting for food and threw their spears, they finished on their left foot, and it hasn't changed.
Every sport where the impetus of motion is to propel something forward, this front foot action is mandatory. In football, if the linemen can rush the passer so he throws the pass off his back foot, they are just as successful as if they sacked him. Why? Simply because his forward pass will not have the same velocity or accuracy.
Watch a baseball pitcher. His first motion is to his front foot, even while he is still winding up. It then braces him for his follow through. The best example in sports of foot and leg action can been seen in the Olympic sports of the hammer and discus throws. They almost screw themselves into the ground so that they can thrust their bodies in the forward motion by using their feet.
In your own golf swing, attempt this action of screwing your feet in the ground on your backswing, always keeping your weight on the inside of them. Brace your right leg on the backswing by keeping your weight inside. Observe the aforementioned athletes of this very action.
On the start of your forward swing, your weight must go to the front foot and then pivot around it and the front leg. A good drill for maintaining balance is to try to balance yourself on your front foot and try swinging that way, then progress to little swings at the ball and progressing. There has never been an accomplished player who doesn't have this action in his or her swing.
Rules teaser:
In stroke play, a player takes relief from a water hazard and drops his ball two club lengths under the rules, but it rolls three club lengths away. He then redrops the club with the same result. He drops it a third time and it comes to rest within the two club lengths and he plays his next shot. Ruling?
Answer to last teaser:
A player addresses his ball in the fairway with the ball touching his club face. Ruling? No penalty.
John Lucas is the professional at SkyRidge Golf Course and can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.
Improper footwork causes loss of balance, loss of power and also loss of direction because it can lead to an improper shoulder plane (a frequent cause of slicing).
The old pro Jackie Burke said that millions of years ago when the cave men went hunting for food and threw their spears, they finished on their left foot, and it hasn't changed.
Every sport where the impetus of motion is to propel something forward, this front foot action is mandatory. In football, if the linemen can rush the passer so he throws the pass off his back foot, they are just as successful as if they sacked him. Why? Simply because his forward pass will not have the same velocity or accuracy.
Watch a baseball pitcher. His first motion is to his front foot, even while he is still winding up. It then braces him for his follow through. The best example in sports of foot and leg action can been seen in the Olympic sports of the hammer and discus throws. They almost screw themselves into the ground so that they can thrust their bodies in the forward motion by using their feet.
In your own golf swing, attempt this action of screwing your feet in the ground on your backswing, always keeping your weight on the inside of them. Brace your right leg on the backswing by keeping your weight inside. Observe the aforementioned athletes of this very action.
On the start of your forward swing, your weight must go to the front foot and then pivot around it and the front leg. A good drill for maintaining balance is to try to balance yourself on your front foot and try swinging that way, then progress to little swings at the ball and progressing. There has never been an accomplished player who doesn't have this action in his or her swing.
Rules teaser:
In stroke play, a player takes relief from a water hazard and drops his ball two club lengths under the rules, but it rolls three club lengths away. He then redrops the club with the same result. He drops it a third time and it comes to rest within the two club lengths and he plays his next shot. Ruling?
Answer to last teaser:
A player addresses his ball in the fairway with the ball touching his club face. Ruling? No penalty.
John Lucas is the professional at SkyRidge Golf Course and can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.
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