The record for winning Open Championships is six, held by Harry Vardon. But four players are tied with five, one of whom is the late Peter Thompson. So it's appropriate to share some of his swing tips this week.
Since he made this his #1 tip, Thompson clearly felt that hip turn was a crucial part of the golf swing. It was a forgotten fundamental for a while. Players tried to keep their lower bodies almost locked in place, attempting to create more power in their swing. That back-wrecking maneuver is finally being replaced by common sense, but some teachers like Thompson never forgot it.
The keys to note here are that when Thompson's hips turn, the trailing hip actually moves toward the target, not straight back. This causes the trailing knee to straighten during the backswing and then stay pretty straight during the downswing. You often see it in the swings of legends like Arnold Palmer.
This move isn't for everybody -- not all players are comfortable straightening that trailing knee -- but why might you want to try it?
If you have a problem with a sway in your backswing, or if you tend to reverse pivot during your downswing, this more extreme hip turn might help you. Both of those faults happen because you move away from the target and shift too much weight onto your trailing leg during your swing. Thompson's turn forces you to brace that trailing leg, stopping any movement away from the target.
You might think that straightening your trailing knee would steal some power from your swing, but power players like Palmer prove that's not the case. So this is something you might want to try it you're fighting a sway or a reverse pivot. If you'll pardon the pun, winning five Opens certainly gives this tip some legs!
[UPDATE: Well, I guess the joke's on me. I got a note from SJ letting me know that this isn't the Peter Thompson I thought it was, but that it was a good tip nevertheless. I didn't realize I pulled up videos from BOTH Thompsons when I did my YouTube search.
At least it was a good tip. ;-)]
Showing posts with label swaying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swaying. Show all posts
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Saturday, July 8, 2017
John Richman on Weight Shift VS Pressure (Video)
I want all of you to watch this short GC video. GCA instructor John Richman may be the first instructor on TV I've heard make a point of differentiating between weight shift and "pressure."
Richman is talking about how to create more torque when you aren't all that flexible. That's a problem everybody has as they get older, and many of you younger players have the problem as well.
When you turn during your backswing and downswing, you don't have to move sideways to create pressure. In golf, we tend to use the terms weight shift and pressure interchangeably, because they feel the same. When you move your weight toward one side or the other, you increase the amount of pressure you feel in your leg and foot on that side. But you can increase the pressure WITHOUT moving your body to one side or the other. Richman demonstrates this in the video.
How does this happen? When you turn, the leg on that side has to resist your body's attempt to slide over that leg. And since you have to "dig in" with that foot to stabilize yourself, you increase the pressure you feel in that leg. Years ago I used this 2011 post to link to a drill called Body Movin', and I recommend you use that post to go to the drill. I summed up some points in that post you should take notice of, plus I included a photo there that no longer shows up in the article I linked to. (Why has it vanished? I don't know... but it's still in my original post and I've included a large, albeit blurry version above.) Using that drill will help you feel the pressure without sliding your body from side to side.
Likewise, this post about Paula Creamer's anti-sway drill will also help you feel the move that Richman is talking about. It's a different approach that may work better for some of you.
My point is, Richman is trying to get you to turn without sliding and swaying. If your flexibility is limited, that's the only way you'll create any serious clubhead speed without sacrificing your accuracy.
Richman is talking about how to create more torque when you aren't all that flexible. That's a problem everybody has as they get older, and many of you younger players have the problem as well.
When you turn during your backswing and downswing, you don't have to move sideways to create pressure. In golf, we tend to use the terms weight shift and pressure interchangeably, because they feel the same. When you move your weight toward one side or the other, you increase the amount of pressure you feel in your leg and foot on that side. But you can increase the pressure WITHOUT moving your body to one side or the other. Richman demonstrates this in the video.
How does this happen? When you turn, the leg on that side has to resist your body's attempt to slide over that leg. And since you have to "dig in" with that foot to stabilize yourself, you increase the pressure you feel in that leg. Years ago I used this 2011 post to link to a drill called Body Movin', and I recommend you use that post to go to the drill. I summed up some points in that post you should take notice of, plus I included a photo there that no longer shows up in the article I linked to. (Why has it vanished? I don't know... but it's still in my original post and I've included a large, albeit blurry version above.) Using that drill will help you feel the pressure without sliding your body from side to side.
Likewise, this post about Paula Creamer's anti-sway drill will also help you feel the move that Richman is talking about. It's a different approach that may work better for some of you.
My point is, Richman is trying to get you to turn without sliding and swaying. If your flexibility is limited, that's the only way you'll create any serious clubhead speed without sacrificing your accuracy.
Friday, February 24, 2017
"Feel" Fred Couples's Swing for 38 Seconds (Video)
The Champions Tour posted this video of EVERY full swing Fred hit on the back 9 at the Chubb Classic on Sunday. If you want to get a good sense of how smooth his swing is, this will definitely help.
Bear in mind that Fred hits the ball a long way WITHOUT shoving his hips way out ahead of his upper body. His spine doesn't bend backwards at impact. And he never looks to be straining.
Want to hit the ball better? Copying the rhythm and tempo of Fred's swing is a good place to start.
Every full swing from Fred Couples' Sunday back nine at the @ChubbClassic. pic.twitter.com/4WrmQeLxMq— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) February 23, 2017
Bear in mind that Fred hits the ball a long way WITHOUT shoving his hips way out ahead of his upper body. His spine doesn't bend backwards at impact. And he never looks to be straining.
Want to hit the ball better? Copying the rhythm and tempo of Fred's swing is a good place to start.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Paula Creamer's Anti-Sway Drill
Paula Creamer posted this on her Instagram account a couple weeks back. I actually found it through this Golf Digest article, where they (with help from instructor Jason Guss) tried to figure out exactly what she was trying to learn with it.
The whole idea of standing on an unstable surface to improve your footwork and balance is nothing new, of course; you can find any number of such drills from various instructors. But you don't often hear players say that they're doing these drills to improve their shoulder coil. (Note Paula's hashtags #thatshoulderturn and #thathipturn.)
The nice thing about this version of the drill is that it's a really cheap version. Many folks have (or know someone who has) extra bits of 2x4 laying out in the garage. And if not, a 2x4 is extremely cheap at a building supply store.
So here's yet another version of the balance drill you can add to your practice arsenal.
The whole idea of standing on an unstable surface to improve your footwork and balance is nothing new, of course; you can find any number of such drills from various instructors. But you don't often hear players say that they're doing these drills to improve their shoulder coil. (Note Paula's hashtags #thatshoulderturn and #thathipturn.)
The nice thing about this version of the drill is that it's a really cheap version. Many folks have (or know someone who has) extra bits of 2x4 laying out in the garage. And if not, a 2x4 is extremely cheap at a building supply store.
So here's yet another version of the balance drill you can add to your practice arsenal.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Butch Harmon on Getting a Bigger Turn
Here's a quickie tip from Butch Harmon on how to get a bigger turn, courtesy of Golf Digest. I'll add a couple of thoughts after the video:
First of all, "right pocket back" is clearly a thought for right-handers. I'd amend it to say "trailing pocket back" since that's good for lefties as well.
And second, there's an added advantage to turning that trailing foot outward a bit. I know you keep hearing how it increases your ability to turn, and it does. But it also does something else -- it helps overcome a sway.
Forget golf for a moment and just think about how you keep your balance. If you start to lean a bit forward, you can stabilize yourself by merely putting a bit more pressure on the balls of your feet. It allows you to "push back" without a lot of tension in your legs and hips.
The exact same thing happens when you turn your trailing foot outward a bit at address. When you begin your turn away from the ball, you can stop a sway by simply pressing down with the ball of your trailing foot, and it works without having to tense your lower body -- especially your trailing hip -- so much.
Give it a try if you're fighting a sway. You might be surprised at how much it helps.
First of all, "right pocket back" is clearly a thought for right-handers. I'd amend it to say "trailing pocket back" since that's good for lefties as well.
And second, there's an added advantage to turning that trailing foot outward a bit. I know you keep hearing how it increases your ability to turn, and it does. But it also does something else -- it helps overcome a sway.
Forget golf for a moment and just think about how you keep your balance. If you start to lean a bit forward, you can stabilize yourself by merely putting a bit more pressure on the balls of your feet. It allows you to "push back" without a lot of tension in your legs and hips.
The exact same thing happens when you turn your trailing foot outward a bit at address. When you begin your turn away from the ball, you can stop a sway by simply pressing down with the ball of your trailing foot, and it works without having to tense your lower body -- especially your trailing hip -- so much.
Give it a try if you're fighting a sway. You might be surprised at how much it helps.
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