The problem with golf is that it’s so different to other sports; most other sports are a moving, single handed ball sport, where you use the dominant hand to control the movement. The problem with golf is that it requires two hands to be placed on the club correctly and the counter intuitive part is that your weaker left hand should be the dominant lead hand. Totally unique.
The scary thing is that I rarely see a correct grip where both of the hands are put on the club and are able to deliver the club squarely into the back of the ball. So the only parts of the body which have contact with the club, is invariably placed on the club incorrectly, leading to a whole chain reaction of movements during the swing.
The main thrust of this article is to get you thinking about what initiates the movement away from the ball and the importance of as little wrist action in the first third of the backswing.
So, first things first, if you could get a club and put your normal grip on the club, take your address position and then get to the stage where you are about to take the club back. Which muscles are you engaging to get the club moving back? If it’s your hands or wrist it’s not good news. If it’s your forearms or elbows, it’s still not good news. You are losing power along with valuable width.
If you are wondering what the correct answer is, then it should be the shoulders, for the first part of the backswing. Now, if you could go back to the starting position and the millisecond before the club starts its journey away from the ball. How’s your grip pressure? Is it equal pressure between the two hands or has the grip pressure in the right hand spiked as the backswing started?
If there has been an increase in the pressure of your right hand, that would be your dominant side taking control and your swing becoming unbalanced. If you are right-handed you will be losing a lot of width in your swing by allowing one side to become dominant.
So, if you can bear with me, go back to the club and get in front of a mirror (at a safe distance from any breakables, please), face the mirror and start your backswing with equal pressure in your hands, both arms straight, just rotating your shoulders. If you can keep your head still and slowly rotate your shoulders you are on to a winner.
I sometimes use the term “increase your wingspan” for the backswing as it gives the feeling of power and hopefully a gliding sensation without tension. We are going for the effortless power side of the equation, not powerless effort.
What you should find, I hope, is that you can eliminate some moving parts, such as snatching the hands back or early arm break. If you can reduce the amount of moving parts, the machine will work more efficiently because there is less to go wrong.
The other side of the equation, is that with less pressure through the hands the club will move more freely and faster because there will be more ‘give’ in the hands. If there is tension from the grip pressure, the wrist movement will be blocked and this tension will go all the way up to the elbows and then the shoulders.
It really is a disabling habit and one of the most easily fixed, if you just take the time to become aware of the tendency, you can then make the transition from amateur to player, where you swing the club instead of hitting the club at the ball.
I hope this article has been of interest. If you feel that a lesson would be of use please contact us at the Golf Integrated Academy - 912 263 555.