| The other day I was at the range. Where else? And | | | | Oh what to do !! |
| I was watching and listening to a very capable LPGA | | | | The question is whether to stick to the accepted |
| Golf Instruction giving a golf lesson to an older lady. | | | | swing rules as to sequence. Is it absolutely necessary |
| This lady was obviously an athlete. She has very | | | | to start this swing with a hip bump? Does this player |
| strong legs and was slight of build. | | | | need to start her swing from the ground up. |
| And it appeared that she had some golfing | | | | Or can there be a compromise that would work? |
| experience. | | | | What creates this spine angle change in the first |
| The lesson was more advanced than most I see on | | | | place? We know it's the movement of the hips that |
| our range. Our LPGA gal was talking about swing | | | | occurs without the needed upper body movement. |
| sequence and the need to start the swing with a | | | | That is the torso and shoulders. And subsequently, |
| bump of the hip and dropping of the right elbow all in | | | | the arms. |
| one move. Good stuff. | | | | If they all moved in proper sequence there would be |
| She was also talking about maintaining the proper | | | | no spine tilt. The spine angle would be maintained and |
| angles in the swing ( I love angles) | | | | the up swing would be a downswing. Then the thin |
| So all seemed to be going along well. But the student | | | | and blocked shots would go away. |
| was having trouble hitting a clean solid shot. Lot's of | | | | What if we have the student start the swing with |
| thin and blocked shots. It appeared as if she just | | | | the upper portion of her body, arms more or less |
| couldn't get back to the ball well enough to deliver | | | | first, on plane and in the downward direction to the |
| the clubhead solidly. | | | | ball, from the inside? |
| Our golf instructor also noticed that the students | | | | This is exactly what our teaching pro did. The results |
| spine angle was drifting backwards on the | | | | were simple amazing. |
| downswing. This change in spine angle is a major | | | | Now the student was starting her swing with her |
| mistake for a good player. It indicates that perhaps | | | | shoulders, keeping them perpendicular to her spine |
| the hips and lower body are not in sequence with the | | | | and dropping her arms into the " slot" |
| arms and shoulders. | | | | This delayed, ever so slightly her hip turn and got her |
| Or that there is too much spinning of the hips or | | | | into perfect sequence to attack the golf ball from |
| turning, with out the needed bump or lateral | | | | the inside. |
| movement. | | | | The change was hardly noticeable. The sequence of |
| The result of this spine angle change is a tilt of the | | | | events in her swing looked almost exactly the same |
| spine away from the target. | | | | as before. But now the club was arriving at the ball |
| When this happens it makes it impossible to hit down | | | | with a descending blow. A divot was taken with each |
| on the golf ball. It actually causes one to hit up on | | | | shot. And the shots were crisp and solid. |
| the ball. In addition it makes it harder to square up | | | | This is a great golf lesson. It is not always " by the |
| the clubface so that, often, you get a blocked shot | | | | book" that good results are obtained. |
| to the right. Weak and ugly. | | | | Dare to try something different. Experiment with |
| Ok that is what I saw and heard. | | | | your own swing a bit. Learn how it should work and |
| Our resident LPGA teaching pro was doing some | | | | then if it won't, change the sequence a little to see if |
| serious thinking about this. As she was pondering, her | | | | it makes a difference. |
| student continued to hit balls with the same move, | | | | The swing thoughts that reside in your mind are not |
| over and over. | | | | always what you get. Learn to be more innovative |
| The swing actually looked pretty good. But once you | | | | when trying to improve. |
| began to pick it apart piece by piece it was obvious | | | | No two people are the same, go back to basics |
| that things were not as they seemed. | | | | when you are having troubles. |
| The move she was making is one that is hard to fix. | | | | This LPGA teaching pro used a great technique to |
| It requires some innovation in the swing and it's | | | | cure the swing for this gal. She bent the rules to fit |
| sequence. | | | | the student. She did not bend the student to fit the |
| There are some drills that could help. Toeing in your | | | | rules. |
| left foot sometimes will give you the correct feeling. | | | | This is as it should be! |
| But, although this is a good drill it does not actually | | | | Send me your swing in a video, let's see if you have |
| correct the spine tilt in your normal swing. | | | | issues or not. No fee, it's free. |