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.