Position #11 Finish

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

The Finish:

The gymnasts call it 'sticking' your finish and when you stick your finish in golf, good things will happen.  Here is the anatomy of your Kodak moment [KM]. 

1] Your weight is balanced on the front foot, with the back foot acting as a rudder

2] Your hips are perpendicular to the target line

3] Your shoulders have rotated past perpendicular with your right shoulder in advance of the left.

4] Everything you own – your nose your belt buckle, your right knee etc. is pointing at the target.

Hall of Farmer:  Patty Sheehan

   But while this template is the same for all Kodak Moments there are variations caused by your body type i.e. how you're built, your strength and of most importance, your flexibility.

The Arc Player

Sheehan is an Arc player and finishes in the reverse "C" position. Her arms are in a high position over her left shoulder and her body is bowed, with her head over her right foot.

The Leverage Player

                 The Leverage - Side-C

                A  Leverage player should finish with the upper body tilted a bit to the right and
                the right shoulder slightly lower than the left (a sideways “C” or bow) ala
                Keegan Bradley.

The Finish of the Width Player

   

If you are a Width Player like Daren Clarke the finish is erect, in straight up "I" position, with your shoulders level to the ground. Your head should be over your left foot with no bend in your back. 

The Pose Drill

No matter which finish your body dictates, you can memorize it by repeating the “posing drill.” Close your eyes, swing the club, and pose in your finish for a slow count of three.  Open your eyes and make certain you match your prototype. This is your swings' Kodak Moment, and it should be your goal to nail this position for every swing.

To find out which swing you should use take the LAWs test at www.tjtomasi.com

Position No. 10

  

POSITION 10 – Pre Finish

The pre-finish position is an indication of what went before. The guiding theme during your swing is to allow the right shoulder and arm to chase the left. The arms reverse their bend – at the top of your swing the left arm is straight and the right is folded while at the pre-finish the left is folded and the right arm is straight. And here is the key to #10’s importance: If you screw up your shoulder action it’s reflected in your pre-finish. Here’s how it works.

Your trail arm is only so long and it effectively shortens for the worse when your back shoulder loses pace during the race to impact. Held back by the retarded shoulder your back arm will reach its full extension too early transferring so much force to the left elbow that it must collapse resulting in a broken right arm at the pre-finish. In the good swing the trail shoulder keeps moving allowing your arm to “stay long” because there is no pressure on it to collapse.

This pro is in perfect position at the top to perform ‘the chase’ where her right side tries to catch her left.

Things to watch for in your mirror pose: The head swivels and arranges itself in the middle of the shoulders.  The right shoulder is in advance of the left and slightly higher.  The spine is in a side C, tilted slightly towards the target line.  The core is pointed at the target and the left wrist beginning its cup.

The right arm is straight and the left arm bent just the opposite of the previous photo.