Finish Your Golf Swing
Finish Your Golf Swing
Greetings Golfers,
Fall is here.
How fast did that go? Hopefully … we’ll still have great weather for golf before you fire-up your snowmobile.
So let’s talk golf swing. The last few weeks, I’ve heard more people complain about their swing than normal. Maybe I should’ve used the word usual instead of normal.
But you get the point … I don’t want to get hung-up on semantics.
Same with the golf swing … I don’t want to get hung-up on little stuff … I want to focus on the point. Which is: can you hit the ball to your target?
I’m not hung-up on the backswing … but I am hung-up on the downswing (forward swing). That’s how you send the ball to your target.
Are there weird backswings that hit good shots? Yes. Does a good backswing determine a good shot? No.
A good drill is to wind-up and stop. From that stopped position … make a forward swing. And make sure that you make a good, full follow-through. And then hold that follow-through.
Also work on your timing. Let’s say that you use 100% energy on your swing. I want you to make practice swings that feel like 40% on the backswing and 60% on the forward swing.
I see a lot of people quit on the forward swing. They used up too much on the backswing. They think they can hit it farther with a big backswing … but that only works if they have a good forward swing. A weak forward swing is not good.
Here’s a tell-tale sign … a weak forward swing usually finishes low-left. Most people need more of a high-right finish.
Another good drill is to make a figure-8 swing. Don’t take the club back inside … take it back outside (like you’re reaching) … then at the top, drop it down inside … and from there swing it out high-right … and then drop it back inside … and then make the same outside backswing. You will have made a figure-8. It will also give you a great feeling of the necessary transition from backswing to forward swing.
Ironically, as the season goes on, a lot of people lose their rhythm. They get longer on the backswing and shorter on the forward swing.
Then they lose their confidence and start worrying about little details of their backswing … and then they can’t even make a decent golf swing.
That’s why a lot of people are better at the beginning of the season. They aren’t over-swinging. And I mean the backswing.
Good players have a good tempo. Easy backswing which accelerates into a good forward swing. Their backswing may not be technically perfect or even not very good … but they drop the club into the “slot” and then accelerate.
Hitting the ball is the point of the golf swing.
A backswing is just a way to make a good forward swing. The forward swing hits the ball.
Like most things … we miss the point. We get hung-up on meaningless details, trying to be perfect. “Perfect is the enemy of the good.” I know it’s an old saying … but it’s one of my favorites … because it’s so true!
Hopefully we have two good months left to play golf. Don’t quit now. And don’t quit on your golf swing.
Make a great finish!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com