| Balance is one of the major factors in a great golf | | | | insures that your swing will follow a path around your |
| swing. Think about it for a moment, the player winds | | | | body that enables you to return to the ball with |
| up his body on the back swing and then unwinds | | | | maximum power. |
| through the golf ball at 90 to 120 miles an hour. It is a | | | | There is a lot of hype these days about "swing |
| wonder that we can even stand up sometimes; | | | | path"; single or dual, inside to out, and so on. There |
| especially if we are playing on uneven ground. Balance | | | | are whole websites devoted to the "biomechanics" |
| is the key factor that keeps the club at the same | | | | of the swing. All of of the major club manufacturers |
| distance from the ball no matter where we are on | | | | have a mechanical robot set up with the "proper |
| the arc of the swing. By beginning our swing in a | | | | swing path" so they can test their clubs. |
| balanced comfortable position we will go a long way | | | | The bottom line is that it is different for everyone |
| toward insuring that we will finish our swing in the | | | | who picks up a club. Shorter players will swing more |
| same way. | | | | around themselves while taller players will have a |
| When I play alone, I make a special effort to take | | | | more vertical swing. The important thing to |
| each shot and concentrate on all the factors | | | | remember is that the swing needs to revolve around |
| necessary to make a great shot. Approaching the ball | | | | the straight axis of your spine. |
| from behind, picking out my long distance target, my | | | | The best visual way to achieve this is to focus on |
| intermediate target and then beginning my setup | | | | the triangle formed by your hands on the club and |
| routine. The main thing I want to emphasize today is | | | | your shoulders. That triangle should never break |
| the whole question of balance. How many times on | | | | down. As you turn into your back swing your hands |
| the course have you seen someone take a swing | | | | should always remain constantly in front of a fixed |
| and almost fall over? | | | | point on your chest. When you reach the top of the |
| When you watch the "Professionals" on TV you will | | | | swing, the triangle will simply rise straight up as you |
| see them finish with this wonderful turn and club held | | | | coil the shoulders to store the power for the |
| high finish. They are perfectly in balance through out | | | | downswing. |
| the entire swing, which gives them the ability to | | | | This focus keeps the swing on the correct path for |
| come through the ball unimpeded or blocked by any | | | | anyone who uses it, short or tall. The best thing is |
| part of their body. You never see them struggling to | | | | that it keeps the elbows from flying out and enables |
| stand up after their swing (unless they are trying | | | | you to apply maximum power to the ball on the |
| something crazy like hitting out of a lake). So, how | | | | downswing. Another tremendous benefit is that it |
| do you find a way to copy those efforts, and make | | | | keeps you from swaying away from the ball on the |
| your finish look and feel that perfect? | | | | backswing which means your downswing is a simple |
| The process begins with the setup. When you have | | | | uncoil through the ball into your balanced finish. |
| decided upon your target and are now establishing | | | | One of the reasons the game of golf is difficult to |
| your body beside the ball to send it on its way down | | | | master is the fact that it is impossible to think about |
| the fairway. After I have insured that I have the | | | | any of the above while you are actually executing |
| proper grip, the next thing I want to establish is the | | | | the swing. It typically takes about 1.5 to 2 seconds to |
| proper distance from the ball. I want my arms | | | | complete the whole golf swing. Any thought that you |
| hanging directly down from my shoulders in a relaxed | | | | try to add to the swing mechanics during the swing |
| position I check to insure that I am standing close | | | | itself is sure to only complicate the swing. |
| without crowding the ball or reaching out for it. | | | | By focusing on the knee bend before the swing, and |
| Now that I have established the proper distance I | | | | the shoulder triangle during the swing the rest of it |
| want to insure that I have good knee bend and | | | | takes care of itself. Try this next time you go to the |
| straight spine alignment. You have undoubtedly heard | | | | course, I am sure you will be pleased with the results. |
| this before but it is critical to the balance process, | | | | When you find that your finish is a posture that you |
| good knee bend insures that you will maintain your | | | | can hold for 5 seconds or more, you have achieved |
| balance through out the swing and the straight spine | | | | the balance that is critical to your success. |