The Basic Steps to Perfect Golf.

By Philip A Gorfett

www.playperfectgolf.co.uk

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Lesson 5 --The Follow Through. (Changed - 06/05/2008)

During the down swing, as the movement of the hips slowly force the twisted body unit to rotate about its axis, thus automatically rotating the shoulders back to the original address position, the weight of the body gradually moves onto the left leg so that the weight is predominantly over the left leg at the precise moment the club head returns to the golf ball, but the weight of the body moves completely on to the left leg as the follow through movement is performed.

 

So to continue from the point where we left off in Lesson 4:-

Notice how the  hips are almost fully facing the target at the precise moment the club head makes contact with the ball.In this sequence the elbows remain held as close together as it is physically possible, thus holding the shoulders and the arms in a totally bonded condition, but importantly I judge the movement so that the arms begin to interact as soon as the shoulders are parallel to the target line and simultaneously as the club head makes contact with the ball.

Therefore as the arms interact, the shoulders continue to rotate but at a much slower rate whilst the right arm is forced into the fully straightened position, thus performing the Key Movement and also swinging the club head to the bottom of the swing arc.

In this sequence, the action of moving the hands towards the target area at the same speed as the club head moves through the contact area is slightly exaggerated, but its an indication of the technique of the Key Movement.

 

It is absolutely vital that the head is firmly positioned so that the left eye remains slightly behind the ball position as the arms interact, thus swinging the club head to the bottom of the swing arc, but importantly, the head must remain in this position until both arms are straight.

In addition, the head must remain in the Fixed Frontal as the movement of the hips force the shoulders to continue to rotate, but importantly, the head must remain in this position until it is forced to move by the forces of nature. In addition, the upper body angles must be maintained so that the right shoulder rotates under the chin as the follow through movement is performed.

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At the impact position, the golfer must ensure that the following things occur simultaneously:-

1) The upper body is in the original address position where the upper body is slightly tilted to the right, the left shoulder is slightly higher than the right shoulder, but importantly, the shoulders are parallel to the target line, but the shoulder/arms-unit is firmly held together as a very compact unit.

2) The hips are partly facing the target area.

3) The hands have returned to the original address position ( But not gone past this position)
( As soon as the club head returns to the golf ball, the hands move through the contact area at the same speed as the club head moves through the contact area. As soon as the both arms are straight the whole body quickly turns to fully face the target area.)

4) The club head returns to the golf ball.

5) The head is positioned so that the left eye is slightly behind the ball and the head in the Fixed Frontal condition.

6) The weight of the body is predominantly over the left leg.

 

THE IMPACT POSITION.

The body has returned to this position be simply rotating the hips in an anti-clockwise motion whilst the whole twisted body unit remained in a totally passive condition.The impact position is simple the original address position, but with the hips almost fully facing the target area, the hips are partly pivoted and the hips slightly swayed towards the target area thus forcing the weight to be predominantly over the left leg, but you will note that the head is positioned so that the left eye remains slightly behind the ball and the hands are in the original address position.

From this position, the shoulder/arms-unit will rotate very slightly whilst the passive arms interact, thus performing the Key Movement and swinging the club head smoothly to the bottom of the swing arc, but as soon as the both arms are straight the movement of the hips will force the twisted body unit to rotate about its axis to the conclusion of the golf swing.

 

As soon as the both arms are fully straightened, the whole body turns to fully face the target area and as long as you maintain the upper body angles, the right shoulder should rotate under the chin.

It is absolutely vital that the shoulder/arms-unit remains firmly held together as a very compact unit whilst the arms interact.

 

 

Therefore it is absolutely vital that head is positioned so that the left eye is slightly behind the ball position and the head is held in the Fixed Frontal condition and also that the upper body angles are maintained until the both arms are straight.

(Notice how the weight of the body is poised over the left leg ready for the body unit to pivot on the left leg and quickly turn to fully face the target area as soon as the both arms are straight, but the head remain positioned so that the left eye is slightly behind the ball and importantly the upper body angles are strictly maintained.)

 

Therefore you must concentrate to ensure that the hands do not return to the original address position until the precise moment the club head returns to the ball position, watch the ball as the club head make contact with the ball, keep the head slightly behind the ball position and in the Fixed Frontal condition and importantly, you must also and maintain the upper body angles to the completion of the golf swing movement.


The main things to focus on as you perform the follow through movement is as follows:-

1) Hold the shoulders back from rotating too fast whilst the passive arms interact - do not try to force the arms to interact - the momentum of the arms will cause them to automatically interact.
( As soon as the both arms are straight, this action will cause the forearms to automatically rotate in an anti-clockwise motion thus closing the club face to the "square to the target line" .)

2) Continue to hold the elbows as close together as is physically possible so that the shoulder/arms-unit remains firmly held together as a very compact unit.

3) Keep the left arm perfectly straight, but with particular attention being made to ensure that the back of the left hand and the left forearm and the golf club remain held in a straight line as the club head swing through the contact area.

4) Ensure that the hands move towards the target area at the same speed that the club head moves through the contact area.

5) The weight of the body remains predominantly over the left leg.

6) Keep the head positioned so that left eye remains slightly behind the ball.

6) Keep the head in the Fixed Frontal condition,

7) Maintain the upper body angles.

 


Before we move into the next lesson, which is the full swing, it is important for you to understand that you must maximise the use of practice swings prior to striking the ball.

There are only two or three basic reasons why you should take practice swings and one of them is to practice the correct sequence of movements that is necessary to strike the ball so that the ball goes in the direction that you desire, one of the other reasons is to practice the action of focusing on the ball and keeping the head behind the ball as the club head moves into and through the contact area.

Tip.

The distance that a ball travels is basically determined by the speed of the clubhead as it goes through the contact area -- distance is not determined by the size of your muscles.

Therefore If you want to increase the velocity of the club head, simply increase the speed of the hips during the down swing and follow through movements, thus forcing the shoulder/arms-unit to rotate faster.


Here is an article courtesy of Leslie King Tuition that you may find interesting.

It is a good way to learn how to use the lower body to control the upper body during the follow through movement.

THE EXERCISE
1. Ground the club as if you were addressing the ball.

2. Whilst keeping the shoulders and the hips as a solid unit, simply use the movement of the hips to force the shoulders to rotate towards the target area thus moving the clubhead forward along the intended line of flight …. But ensure the right heel immediately comes off the ground, and the right knee begins to fold in towards the left. NOTE. Do not allow your body to rise up or move in the direction of the hand and arm swing simply rotate the hips towards the target area!


3. As the hands and arms swing the club up to about shoulder height (Note the blade is dead square), the right heel is well clear of the ground and the weight has moved to the inside of the right foot. The right knee has moved progressively closer in toward the left knee. The player's height has NOT increased!

4 & 5 As the hands and arms swing the club up to a finish, the right foot comes up on to the toe.

6. The finish of the stroke. The right knee is now alongside the left. The right foot is now balanced up on the toe, and the foot is vertical.

The next point is MOST IMPORTANT. -- The player now drops their hands to waist level and checks the blade is still square, as it was at address.


Do this exercise slowly at first, and be sure to bring the right foot and knee into play as soon as the exercise begins. Then, place a ball down, and , taking a short back swing of about two feet, go into the exercise again…..This time striking the ball.


Let us now go on to the Complete swing.


Please Note.

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