Position 4 in the series

Swing Position 4: The Top

This is the fourth of a series of key swing positions that allow you to match your swing to the swing model to see how it stacks up. The model assumes a right handed golfer who is hitting a straight shot.

Swing to the top of your swing and pose in the mirror – this is what you should see: Your head in the center of the shoulders with the left shoulder under the chin and the right shoulder behind the neck. Check to make sure your left arm is across the shoulder line with hands extended away from the head.  The face of the club is square to the back of the left hand which is square to the left forearm.  The shoulders have coiled twice as much as the hips with the right knee flexed and the left knee turned in pointing toward the ball – both knees are level.  The guiding thought here is coil with the goal of a 2 to 1 ratio, 90 degrees with the shoulders/ 45 degrees with the hips creating a ratio called the X FACTOR.

The club shaft with the longer club such as the driver is parallel with the heel line whereas with the shorter irons do not reach parallel. At the top your lead hip is lower than your trail hip and your spine is tilted a bit toward the target with the weight favoring the rear foot.

 

The role of the back swing is to put the angles of power in place while also keeping the clubface square to the swing arc. Coil results from spine rotation primarily in the middle of your back in an area called the thoracic spine. If you are to improve your coil it will come by maximizing your flexibility in this region. Here is a drill to help you maximize your # 4 position.

Drill: Take your address position using a driver then put the club behind you so it lies across your shoulders [see photo.]  Then coil around your spine until your front shoulder is under your chin and your back shoulder is behind your head. This is a full “two-shoulder turn” initiated and controlled by the thoracic spine.

Be careful not to put pressure on the shaft or it might snap. You can use a broom in place of the club to protect the shaft if you need to. As always check with your Doctor before you do this.

Position 3 - Key Swing Positions

 

This is the third of a series of key swing positions that allow you to match your own swing to the swing model to see how it stacks up. The model assumes a right handed golfer who is hitting a straight shot.

Position 3:

When your lead arm is parallel with the ground and across the middle of your chest you have reached the number three position just after the takeaway has been completed.

 In position 3 your head has swiveled slightly, but still remains in the center of the shoulders.  The Shoulders have rotated and tilted a bit as a result of the tug of your lead arm.  The lead arm itself is straight and parallel with your heel line while the trail elbow has folded into a 90 degree angle.  Your left wrist is flat [in line with your forearm] and cocked at a 90 degree angle. 

In number three you must accomplish three important mechanics: [1] for the right-handed golfer the wrists are fully cocked with the left wrist cocking and the right wrist hinging [left side leverage]. [2] With the fold of the trail elbow, the right side leverage is in place. [3] The club is on the correct swing plane as evidenced when the shaft points at the target line 

The controlling thought in position 3 is to correctly set the wrists so that the club remains on plane. [see photo] The wrists set the club up while the body rotates the club into the depth dimension. 

Concept expansion:  “Swing plane” is a general term used to describe the overall tilt of the arc of your swing. The plane changes with the club -- nine irons are swung on a more vertical arc and drivers on the flattest arc.

 

With all that’s happening you can see the importance of position three so take some time to work on this position in the mirror until you match the model without thinking about it – then you’re ready for Position 4.