Flex your right knee, then coil against it

One of the most common faults I see with players is starting the downswing with their arms and shoulders rather than their lower body. This is often a cause and effect problem with the cause being an out of position right knee. Let me explain.
Regardless of your skill level it is imperative that you coil into the right knee when making your backswing. The right knee serves as the anchor which provides the resistance against the coiling of your upper body in the backswing. If the right knee collapses or straightens the resistance is lost
The two errors are locking the right knee where the left knee moves out toward the ball, and buckling the right knee where the player's weight moves to the outside of the right foot. Both faults lead to a poor turn forcing the player to start down with the upper body.
To correct this focus on flexing your right knee at address then retain the flex all the way to the top of your backswing. A sign that you've done it correctly is feeling some tension inside your right thigh as your trunk coils against it.
A good drill is to turn your right foot in at address about fifteen degrees then make some swings. You'll quickly feel the resistance in your right knee against the winding of your upper body. This in turn creates tremendous power delivered to the club head as your legs and hips unwind in the downswing.

"Hitting from the top"

"Hitting from the top" a fault seen often with higher handicappers is best described as an aggressive or too quick change of direction in an attempt to hit at the ball. Described as "swinging over the top" this jerky swing characterized by an overactive head and right shoulder leads to a loss of power and accuracy. The player lunges forward with their upper body forcing the club to approach the ball too steeply from outside the normal plane often resulting in sliced and pulled shots.

The transition from the top of the backswing into the downswing establishes the rhythm of the swing as is evident when watching a good player. There is no urgency to hit the ball from the top, but rather a smooth coordinated movement of the club and body which allows the acceleration of the club head to peak at impact. Because the lower body initiates the downswing in one synchronized motion it produces a swinging motion of the arms and club which appears effortless.

I would recommend this drill to improve the tempo of your swing during the transition from backswing to downswing. Using a 6 or 7 iron with the ball teed up slightly and your feet only a few inches apart hit a few shots. Swing the club back smoothly and let your lower body unwind to initiate the downswing. Focus on a fluid transition allowing the club to fall before releasing it through the ball. Keep your head steady as your downswing starts which will allow the club to approach the ball from the inside, on a shallower plane resulting in more solid contact with the ball.

After hitting a few balls you will begin to sense the swinging to the club head through the ball rather than hitting at it. Best of all your swing will feel effortless and your shots will fly straighter.

Why Custom Fit Clubs?

Players will often ask me if custom fit equipment will help them play better golf. The answer is always a definite "yes". Consider this example.
Bill and Joe are both wanting to buy new clubs. Bill is 6' 3" tall, has a clubhead speed of 105 mph and is an 8 hdcp. Bill is 5' 8" tall, has a clubhead speed of 83 mph and is a 23 hdcp. There is absolutely no way these two players should be playing the same club. If they are neither player will play up to their potential.
Unfortunately this often occurs because players aren't informed by the sales person that custom fit clubs are available for the same price as off the rack sets. Think about it. You wouldn't purchase a new suit without trying it on first. So why would you invest in new golf equipment without first being custom fit for them?

CUSTOM FITTED EQUIPMENT:

Golf Rx proudly offers custom fit golf equipment from Ping, Callaway, Taylor Made, Adams Golf and US Kids Golf. Steve personally fits each customer to the right specifications to help them play their very best. He determines the correct length, shaft type and flex, lie angle, grip size and set make up for your stature and swing characteristics.
Golf Rx is also an authorized PGA Trade-in Facility which allows you to trade in your old clubs for credit towards your new custom fitted clubs. We also have a great selection of putters and wedges from Ping, Callaway, Odyssey, Taylor Made and Bettinardi as well as bags from Ping and Ogio.
Golf Rx is also a full service club repair facility for re-gripping, re-shafting and loft and lie adjustments.

My Teaching Philosophy

Personally I think many players make the game more complicated than it really is. The only purpose of the golf swing is to move the club through the ball square to the target at maximum speed. How this is done is not that important as long as the method allows it to be done repetitively. This is my number one priority and it is the basis on which I teach the golf swing.

Most players of an earlier era were introduced to the game through caddying. By watching and trying to copy the action of better players they developed their own swing. About the only "static" positions early golf professionals would teach were a proper grip and address posture. The lesson itself was demonstrated in one continuous motion emphasizing a steady head and fast moving arms and hands.

Not until new technology came along were instructors and players able to "freeze" the swing at various not before seen stages and positions. Soon players anxious to improve were pouring over books and magazines attempting to emulate the still positions of touring professionals. In my opinion this is where problems begin for many weekend players attempting to improve their game.

Players should realize the cure is not going to be found in swing “positions”. Rather it is in developing a grip and swing that delivers the clubface square to the swing path at impact. Once players accomplish this their natural adjustments become correct ones. If you do one thing right in the golf swing it will lead to another right thing. Do one thing wrong and it will lead to another wrong

My objective is to help players swing the club head so that at impact it is traveling along the target line and facing the target. Their shots are straight and solid and not a word about “slide the hips”, “stay inside”, “hit late” and so on.

What is a correct grip?

I do not agree with the many books and teachers that suggest there is only one way to hold a golf club. Everybody has a correct grip but it isn't found in placing your hands on the club in a "standard" position. Instead it is finding a grip that enables you to square the club face to your swing path at impact when swinging at normal speed.

The basic grip of placing the hands and fingers in a certain manner became widely accepted because it made squaring the club face to the swing path easiest for the majority of players. This is a good place to start but most players will need to experiment to find the right grip for them. Again, that is a grip that delivers the club face square to your swing path at impact with normal speed.

Start with the "Vs" formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand pointing midway between your nose and right shoulder. If your longer shots curve to the right then your club face is open (aimed right of your swing path) at impact. To square the club face move both your hands further to the right or clockwise. If your shots curve left then your club face is closed (aimed left of your swing path) at impact. To square the club face move both your hands further to the left or counter-clockwise.

You have found the right grip when your longer shots fly straight even though you may still be pulling the ball left or pushing it right of the target. No curvature on your shots tells you the club face is square to the swing path at impact.

Don't be afraid to experiment with finding the correct grip position for your particular physical make up and swing.

If you're confused try two turns and a swing

I often find my students making the golf swing more complicated than it actually is. Although this may sound like an oversimplification the golf swing is really nothing more than two turns combined with an arm and hand swing.

If you're struggling with your game or are caught up in too many mechanical thoughts I would suggest you play your next few rounds based on "Two turns combined with an arm and hand swing".

Rather than thinking of the backswing as a serious of intricate movements consider it simply as the first turn. Focus only on moving your right shoulder out of the way as your hands and arms swing the club back and up. Do the same with the downswing by thinking of it as the second turn. That is simply moving your hips out of the way as your hands and arms swing the club down and through the ball.

As long as you have a correct grip and set up and can swing around a steady head while keeping your feet firmly on the ground in the backswing this simple mental exercise will clear your mind and could dramatically improve your shot making.

You'll also learn that the golf swing really isn't that complicated a movement. The key in the golf swing is coordinating the the turns with the swinging of the club rather than trying to place the club in certain exact "positions" along the way.

You may think of this as an oversimplification but the one thing I have found out through twenty five years of teaching the game is the less you're thinking while making a golf swing the better you'll play.

Tee Shots - Lack of Distance

Obviously length off the tee gives players a huge advantage over their shorter hitting competitors. Longer drives allow you to hit shorter irons into the greens giving you opportunities for more birdies and lower scores. Players often fail to maximize on their distance potential not because of their lack of strength or club head speed, but rather because of their set up with the driver.

In order it hit long, high flying tee shots a player must create a sweeping motion that strikes the ball while the club head is ascending or on the upswing. Unfortunately many players address their tee shots in the same manner as if they were hitting an iron. Their weight is favoring their left side, their hands are forward and the ball is positioned back in their stance. This setup creates a steep, downward angle of attack on the ball in the downswing resulting in a weak glancing blow and a loss of power. Topped or skied shots are often the result.

I recommend making these adjustments in your address to improve your impact and trajectory. Tee the ball higher and more forward so the ball is opposite the instep of your left foot. Widen your stance slightly and put 60 percent of your weight on your right side. Your head and hands will now be slightly behind the ball. Keep your grip relaxed so your arms feel soft and not rigid.

This new set up creates a wide arc and full shoulder turn so that your upper body is fully coiled behind the ball at the top of your swing. The increased coil allows for the natural transition back to your left side and the club to accelerate through the ball on a more ascending path.

Keep your head behind the ball through impact so that you feel you are sweeping the ball off the tee without removing the tee from the ground. Practice this new set up and swing feel, and you'll soon be hitting shorter irons into the greens with more birdie opportunities.