| In Part I we talked about the legs' purpose, function, | | | | knee straightens only after the ball is struck. The legs' |
| and movement during the swing. In Part II we | | | | slide becomes a turn, pulling the left hip off line. The |
| review how the legs work when swinging and | | | | slide, however, takes place beneath a steady swing |
| provide two drills to help improve legwork. | | | | center. This is known as "swinging beneath yourself." |
| Next to your hands and feet your legs are the most | | | | The finish is in balance again, with the club pointing to |
| influential contributors to a correct swing. Using your | | | | the target as your body turns to face the target. |
| legs properly contributes to consistency and power, | | | | That's a quick look at how legs work during your golf |
| and enhances ballstriking. Yet when it comes to golf | | | | swing. Most recreational golfers I see in my golf |
| instruction sessions, the legs don't get much respect. | | | | lessons need to work on their legwork. Here are |
| Teachers seldom talk about them when giving golf | | | | some drills to help you improve yours. |
| lessons. And not much is written about them in golf | | | | The Motion Exercise |
| tips. But understanding leg movement helps cut a golf | | | | This is considered the best drill in golf for developing |
| handicap down to size. | | | | good legwork and turn. If you recall we said that |
| Legwork Mechanics | | | | many weekend golfers fail to emphasize the slide |
| Good legwork is a key to hitting longer, straighter | | | | portion of their swings enough. The Motion Exercise |
| shots. But like everything else in golf, good legwork | | | | restores the balance between the turn and slide. |
| depends doing things right. Let's look at how the legs | | | | First, stand without a club at address. Now, instead |
| work during the golf swing. | | | | of turning as you normally might, swing your left leg |
| The legs at address presage the turn and the slide. | | | | (right-handers) back past your right and then step |
| Both depend on the legs' readiness to move. Dividing | | | | forward with your left foot into the spot you |
| balance equally between the legs helps create | | | | vacated. Do the exercise without a club until it's |
| mobility. Flexing the knees slightly also helps mobility. | | | | second nature. When it is, swing a club while doing it. |
| From address to the point where your club is parallel | | | | Then go to the range and hit balls while doing it. |
| to the ground, leg movement is not significant. The | | | | Return-to-square Drill |
| left knee (right-handers) moves away from the | | | | This drill teaches the proper combination of lateral |
| target slightly to a point opposite the ball. As your | | | | and rotary movement. Stand at address in a |
| weight shifts right, your right knee loses some, but | | | | doorway with your clubshaft flat against the wall in |
| not all, of its flexibility. From this point to the top of | | | | front of you. Make a slow-motion swing back and |
| the slot, leg movement is more pronounced. At the | | | | down, returning the club to the same position against |
| top of the swing the left knee is several inches | | | | the wall as when you started. |
| behind the ball. But your weight never shifts outside | | | | If it's easy bringing the clubshaft back to its original |
| of the right knee. If it does, the swing breaks down. | | | | position, you probably have the proper combination |
| Downswing to Follow-through | | | | of lateral and rotary movement. If your hands and |
| During the downswing the left knee leads in creating | | | | the top of the shaft get to the wall first, you're |
| lower body support for the arms and hands. As the | | | | probably pulling your left hip away from the target |
| arms and hands reach hip high, the left knee is about | | | | line too quickly. If the clubhead reaches the wall first, |
| where it was at address. Together, the knees shift | | | | you probably lack the proper lateral leg movement. |
| the "platform" on which the body rests forward. The | | | | Don't let a lack of discussion about your legs in golf |
| right knee moves back to where it was at address | | | | tips and golf lessons fool you. They are among the |
| and begins to follow the left knew towards the | | | | most influential contributors to a correct swing. They |
| target. The hips and feet press downward and | | | | must work properly during the swing to generate |
| forward. The hips, almost square, start to slide. | | | | power, achieve consistency, and help lower a golf |
| At impact, the legs point toward the target. The left | | | | handicap. |