Lesson 5 - The Down Swing.(Changed -11/11/2025)

 

At the end of the back swing movement because the upper body has been rotated to its maximum whilst the lower body has resisted this upper body movement, the whole body has been formed a fully twisted condition.

However a fraction of a second before the back swing movement is completed, the down swing movement is initiated by forcing the hips to rotate towards the target area and this hip movement forces the whole twisted body to rotate around the axis of the spine and as long as the upper body and the hips move as a solid one piece unit, the hips will be practically facing the target area by the time the hand return to the original address position.

( Get into a habit of making a practice swing so that as you begin the down swing movement the hip movement is exageranted so that you can feel the hips rotating towards the target area before it begin to force the upper body unit to follow its movement - try to create a definate lag.)

 

You have to practice rotating the hips towards the target before the upper body can follow its movement.-- practice, practice practice  - if I can do it at my age, so can you, but you must focus your eyes on the ball and actually see the club head strike the ball.

 

The condition of the upper body unit at the end of the back swing movement where the left arm is close to the right shoulder and the whole body in is a fully twisted condition, must be maintained throughout the down swing whilst the whole twisted body unit rotates around the central core of the spine.

**You must maintain the fully twisted condition of the body throughout the down swing and into the follow through movement **

 

The only thing that changes it that before the ball is struck the right arm is in a bent position and the left arm is straight -- then after ball has been struck, the right arm is fully extended as the left arm begins to fold.

It is a simple action, as the hips rotate the whole twisted body unit rotates around the central core of the spine thus automatically returning the club head to the ball -- an easy one piece movement.

 

The arms remain in a totally passive condition until the ball is struck.

Throughout the down swing, the hip movement  totally controls the rotational movement of the upper body unit

But importantly the hands must not go past the original address position until the club head strikes the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before you start look at this Video -- It shows you how to use your body as you strike the ball.

The aim of the down swing movement is to achieve the perfect impact position --- ( see still photos of top professional golfers.)

*** The down swing movement is a combination of deliberate delayed actions but it is totally driven by the rotational/pivotal action of the hips.***

 

Down Swing Movement.

Remember the upper body unit must be firmly held together as a one piece unit and the arms totally passive to the rotation of the shoulders at all times, thus using the hinging of the wrists to flay the club head into and through the contact area.

 

As the upper body approaches the end of the back swing movement the hips must be forced to rotate towards the target area movement, thus creating a time gap before the whole twisted body unit begins to rotate into the down swing movement.

Therefore after this slight delay the upper body is forced to follow the movement of the hips, and from that point onwards the rotational movement of the twisted body unit is totally dependant on the rotational movement of the hips but the twisted body unit rotates in complete unison with the hips.

 

As the upper body starts to rotate the right elbow must be held close to the waist thus initiating the magic move

Therefore as the right elbow touches the waist line, the hips and the twisted body unit must continue to rotate and turn to face the target area so that the belt buckle is almost facing the target area and whilst the left arm remains close to the right shoulder.

 

As the down swing is performed you must be aware of the position of your hands so that as the club head get near to the impact position the hands are basically held back back from passing the original address position, (albiet for only a millisecond), until the club head strikes the ball, and at that precise point the whole body pivots on the left leg and turns to fully face the target area at the same speed the club head is going through the contact area.

In the mean time as soon as the club head strikes the ball the arms are forced to interact ( right arm forced into the fully straightened position.

At impact the rotational movement of the hips and the fully twisted body are rapidly accelerated to act as a battering ram to strike the ball hard.

As soon as the club head strikes the ball the arms are forced to interact ( right arm forced into the fully straightened position )

 

All of these movement are performed at a very controlled tempo.

At impact the hips are practically facing the target area.

Throughout the whole down swing process the hips never stop turning towards the target area thus forcing the passive compact upper body to rotate into the down swing movement but even more importantly, the hips must not stop rotating as the whole body turns to fully face the target area.

I cannot emphasis too strongly how firmly the upper body must be held together throughout the down swing and into the follow through movement but with the left arm held very close to the right shoulder for the majority of the down swing movement.

At the point of impact the hips are practically facing the target area and right shoulder is beginning to rotate under the chin. ( at this point you are looking at the back of the ball.)

 

However in the down swing movement the arms must only be allowed to move independently of the shoulders when they begin interact with each other as club head strikes the ball.

The speed of the club head is not achieved by the swinging of the arm as such, the speed of the club head is achieved by the combination of the rotational action of the hips and the rotational action of the whole twisted body unit  and the flaying action of the club head, enhanced by the interaction of the arms as the club head swings through the contact area.

(You must maintain the rigidity of the whole twisted body from the moment the down swing begins - right through to the end of the follow through movement, with the only the wrists as the only independently moving parts which are used to flay the club head into the back of the ball whilst the interaction of the arms are taking place. as the club head moves through the contact area.)

It is very difficult to fully explain the down swing section of the golf swing but here goes -- if you hold the body at the end of the back swing movement for a millisecond and then begin and complete the down swing movement with the only hip movement  - but importantly, whilst the compact upper body remains is a totally passive condition, the club head will swing into and through the contact and the ball will go in the direction you area aiming.

Therefore the key to playing accurate golf is holding the upper body in a compact condition and also in a totally passive condition at at times - very difficult to do at first, but with perseverance you can achieve it

 

Back to Top of Page - Lesson 5

---

 

-If you would like to make a donation towards the upkeep of this site, please click on the button below.