A Modern Swing | Some Explanations & Definitions

Below are some of the definitions and terms used in a Modern swing. Please spend some time familiarizing yourself with them. It will help us all start singing off the same hymn sheet. Hallelujah!

TORSO, SHOULDER AND HIP MOVEMENT IN THE MODERN SWING
First off – the shoulders turn in a 3 dimensional way. Which is confusing to many people because (ala keep your right knee flexed BS) it has always been taught in a one dimensional way. Which is obviously turn the shoulders in a rotational manner.

Below are the motions that occur in the upper body of the golf swing:

TURNING/ROTATING IN A CIRCLE
Stand up straight and turn your shoulders to the right and then to the left, so they turn parallel to the ground. This is the rotational or turning aspect to the motion.

FLEXION
In the golf swing we are considered “In-Flexion” when the upper torso is flexed forward from the hips.

We achieve this position when we are in the set-up (address) position, and just before the impact position at p6.

See diagram “D” opposite.

EXTENSION
The opposite to Flexion is extension. This is the straightening of the upper torso from the hips.

We extend our body during the backswing and through impact and follow through.

Again see diagram “D” opposite.

TITLING/SIDE BENDING
Stand up straight and tilt your head and shoulders to the left, but keep your hips in place. This is the LEFT tilting feeling in the backswing.

Again, stand up straight and tilt your head and shoulders to the right, but keep your hips in place. This is the right tilting feeling during impact and follow through movement.

Once you practice these movements independently to build up awareness, it’s easier to combine them all together during the swing. Then, and only then will we produce a centered golf swing which keeps our head nice and steady and keeps our inclination to the ground.

Most of the amateurs that come to see me for lessons understand and produce the rotational aspect of the movement. But unfortunately don’t produce or understand the tilting and extending aspect.

ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS
FO Face-On (view), sometimes called the “caddie view” opposite the chest.

DTL Down-The-Line (view)

INCLINATION TO THE GROUND The term “spine angle” should really be changed to “inclination to the ground”. As mentioned above the spine changes it’s flex throughout the swing. “Inclination” or “Inclination to the ground” is a much better way of describing the action. i.e “You lost your inclination to the ground” instead of “You lost your spine angle”.

PRESSURE POINTS
PP#1 The right heel pad against the left thumb
PP#2 The last 3 fingers of the left hand
PP#3 The first joint/pad of the right hand trigger finger against the side of the handle
PP#4 The upper left arm against the torso
PP#5 The upper right arm against the torso
PP#6 The left foot against the ground
PP#7 The right foot against the ground

POSITIONS IN THE GOLF SWING
P#1 Address
P#2 The shaft parallel to the ground on the takeaway
P#3 Lead arm parallel to ground on takeaway
P#4 Top of backswing
P#5 Lead arm parallel to the ground on downswing
P#6 The shaft parallel to ground on downswing
P#7 Impact
P#8 The shaft parallel to the ground on the follow through
P#9 Right arm parallel to the ground on the follow through
P#10 Finish

NOTE: AT THE TOP OF BACKSWING
– The shoulders should be centered over the hips
– The hips should be centered over the feet (A centered backswing…)

10 WORDS TO TAKE TO THE RANGE
Weight Forward:
The number 1 differential between pros and amateurs is how much weight is forward at impact. Start with a little weight forward and gradually increase the weight under the front foot in a counterbalancing action.

Shoulder Down (left):
The spine tilts, turns and extends. By focusing on the left shoulder moving down to start the swing, you’ll achieve this action easier.

Hands Inward:
The hands have to move inward to start the swing so they can swing OUT at the ball to produce the most amount of power. Think of David Beckham taking a free kick, or a field goal kicker. They run up to the ball at angle not in a straight line. Click here to watch a video I made about it.

Arms Straight:
Yes, there’s obviously a bending of the right arm going back and a bending of the left arm on the follow through. But trust me, trying to keep your arms straight is a great feeling to have. Your right arm will fold naturally in conjunction with your wrist hinge going back, so don’t try and bend it, your arms should feel kinda straight on both sides.

Tuck Hips:
This is essential for the weight to constantly be moving forward in the swing, and produce the tilting and extending of the body into the follow through. Tucking your hips simply means driving them forward and upwards in the follow through.

ONE PLANE SWING DEFINITION
When the left arm and shoulders match the same line at the top of the swing. These golfers swing their hands more inward to start so their left arm is more across their chest and they move their left shoulder down more. Most guys on tour nowadays produce this action and other greats such as Hogan and Snead.

TWO PLANE SWING DEFINITION
When the shoulders have turned flatter and the left arm swings steeper so the hands are higher at the top. Greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Payne Stewart and even today Jim Furyk on the PGA Tour is referred to as a “two planer”.

COUNTERBALANCING
The momentum and weight of the hands, arms and club swinging away from the target (the backswing) will naturally want to pull our body to the right with it. Therefore, there has to be a counterbalancing force to stop this momentum pulling us to the right. This is simply starting with a little weight left and gradually increasing the weight left during the swing.

Setup = 55% weight left
Top of swing = 60% weight left
Impact = 90% weight left

BALL FLIGHT LAWS
TO DRAW THE BALL
The club face and path must be to the right of target – Only the club face fractionally closed to the path.

TO FADE THE BALL
The club face and path must be to the left of target – Only the club face fractionally open to the path.

Your go to/stock shot should be a PUSH DRAW: Below are some illustrations that should help you understand the impact conditions needed.

Face 10 deg open, path 20 In to Out, Weight at impact 90-10 left. Ball flight = Push Draw

MYTH: CURING A SLICE MEANS YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THE FACE AT IMPACT
Most people slice the ball because the path of the club is traveling too much outside to inside through impact. Learn to swing the club more from inside the target line to the outside. At some point (hopefully in the later stages of your downswing), your hands will release. But forcing your hands to flip over and close the face is never a good idea because it leads to inconsistent shot directions and ball flights.

Guys and girls with lots of hand action through impact are usually trying to manipulate the ball flight with their hands. Bad Idea!

Remember – the club face starts the ball…. the path curves the ball.

Which brings me to my next point.

ALIGN THE CLUB FACE WHERE YOU WANT TO START THE BALL
The relationship between the clubface the path and the clubhead direction is ridiculously important to understand. To hit a fade, which starts to the left of the target and curves to the right, you have to align the clubface to the left of the target and swing on a path that’s even more to the left! And, even though the clubface is open to the path, it’s closed relative to the target line!

This is one of the biggest problems most golfers have when trying to shape their shots. We can talk about swing dynamics all day long, but if you don’t know what you’re trying to do with the club at impact – what chance have you got?..

To draw the ball, it’s the same thing in reverse. Start by aiming the face in the initial direction you want the ball to go, which is to the right of the target line, and swing the club on a path that’s even further to the right than the angle of your clubface.

BALL POSITION AND PATH
To draw the ball experiment with positioning the ball back in your stance – this way you’ll strike the ball more on the inside of the arc. Make sure the shaft angle is leaning forward and the clubface is aiming out to the right.

To fade the ball experiment with positioning the ball forward in your stance – this way you’ll strike the ball more on the outside of the arc. Make sure the shaft angle isn’t leaning forward as much and the clubface is aiming to the left.