| Imagine, just for a second that you are a golf swing | | | | shift from the right side to the left side. |
| instructor. And you have made arrangements to | | | | Charlie has a similar problem, yet his ball flight is totally |
| conduct an on course golf swing lesson with three of | | | | different. His weak slider is a result of an open |
| your good clients. | | | | clubface, also an over the top or outside in swing |
| All three are in need of golf instruction and you are | | | | path, but his weight shift is backwards. He has a |
| fully prepared to give them the works today. | | | | reverse weight shift. He goes to the front foot on |
| It's a great day! You feel thankful that you have this | | | | the takeaway and then to the back foot on the |
| opportunity to spend time out on the course. | | | | downswing. |
| That driving range stuff can really get old. | | | | It's an ugly looking thing. |
| And here they come. Three wannabees. The good | | | | Jake is a powerful guy. He hits the ball very hard |
| news is that they are best friends. And they get | | | | every time. It always goes left to right and it travels |
| along with each other very well. So it should be a | | | | a great distance, to the right. Jake takes a mighty |
| really good day. Right? | | | | whack at it. His motion is hard to see because of the |
| Well, let's see what they've got today. You think to | | | | speed of the motion. But it is apparent that after he |
| yourself that you just wish they would get the grip | | | | hits it the clubhead has stayed low and around his |
| right. And the setup. If they could do that it would | | | | body in his finish. And the ball always goes left to |
| sure make your life easier. | | | | right. |
| Your objective today is to compare the three with | | | | This indicates an over the top move and an outside |
| one another. To see if you can find some | | | | in swing path. He has considerable weight on his back |
| commonality in their respective swings. And then, | | | | foot, although not as much as his playing partners. He |
| perhaps, you can streamline a program for all three | | | | still exhibits the symptoms of a poor weight shift and |
| so that when they practice together they would | | | | the classic over the top pattern. |
| have a clue what they are doing and even help each | | | | All three of these guys have a knack of getting the |
| other to some degree or other. | | | | ball close when chipping. I suppose it's because they |
| So here's how it goes. | | | | get tons of practice since they are rarely on the |
| You are all on the first tee. Jake tees it up and rips it | | | | green in regulation. |
| to the far right. That's interesting, he hit it so far | | | | My conclusion to their individual swings and the fixes |
| right that it's in the driving range with about a million | | | | is that they all have the exact same troubles. Even |
| other white golf balls. | | | | though their ball flights are very different. This means |
| Charlie is next and hits a weak slider about 150 yards | | | | that, generally, they can use the same fix to remedy |
| into the fairway. Ok he gets to at least hit the same | | | | the problems. |
| ball again. | | | | The one common problem is poor weight shift. This |
| And last is Kent. He takes about an hour to get set | | | | puts the golfer in a poor position to hit from the |
| up. He fidgets and fidgets. Grips and re-grips. And | | | | inside and so he is forced to throw the club outside |
| then hits a power house snap hook so far left that it | | | | the target line to inside in order to even hit the ball. |
| actually went over the water into the lawn of one of | | | | There is a difference between a reverse weight shift |
| the residences. So I guess Kent can hit it again if he | | | | and no weight shift but not so much that the fix isn't |
| can find a way to get over there. | | | | the same. Sometimes a reverse weight shift is |
| This goes on and on for hole after hole. These guys | | | | caused by the early spinning of the hips in the |
| are having a great time. They don't seem to really | | | | downswing. |
| care much about where they are hitting the ball or | | | | But if we address the weight shift issue it will take |
| what scores they are putting up. Except for maybe | | | | care of that. |
| Kent who is mad as hell that he is hitting a snap hook | | | | Ok. So our boys have a slice and a hook. They all |
| on every shot. | | | | have poor weight shifts. They all have an over the |
| I'm beginning to wonder what I'm doing here. It | | | | top swing paths. What's the fix? |
| would be too bad to insert anything negative to their | | | | A good weight shift will cure most of what ails them. |
| good time. | | | | A good inside swing path will too. |
| But they are paying so I might as well get into it. | | | | I can go to any practice range in America and see |
| Wouldn't you ? | | | | these swings all day long. It is the single most |
| Here is what I see. All three hit the ball differently. | | | | common swing problem in golf. |
| Kent hits a snap hook, Charlie hits a weak slider and | | | | First move down? Bump your hips laterally and drop |
| Jake hits huge slice. | | | | your right elbow to your right side. |
| The interesting thing to me is that their problems are | | | | Get rid of that weak grip and make it more neutral |
| exactly the same although their ball flights are entirely | | | | or a tad strong. Turn your right elbow toward your |
| different. | | | | right hip at set up. ( try that) |
| You see Kent's snap hook comes from closed | | | | Make sure you are set up square or slightly closed. |
| clubface and a swing path that is outside in or " over | | | | Lesson over. |
| the top" and it is compounded by little to no weight | | | | |