'Spine Angle' Throughout the Backswing

[iacas]

Answer the poll above before scrolling down and reading any posts.

[iacas]

OK, everybody vote. Then discuss second... vote first, then discuss.

[dummyisdumb]

It remains the same?

[JaY_B]

I would imagine that to the naked eye you want the spine angle to stay constant throughout the swing but in terms of the specific degrees of the angle of the spine when compared to the hip it would be impossible to maintain that angle because of the rotation of the hips during the swing.

[flopdarock]

i try my best to attempt to keep it the same... when i feel like i do... i seem to hit the ball much purer...
when i deviate from that... i tend to spray the ball all over the place

[wedge player]

it may sem like its staying the same but it has to change.

[GaijinGolfer]

Everything Ive read or been told my golf pros on TV says that the spin angle should remain the same.

[flatom]

Amateurs' spine angles change all over the place while pros' remain the same.
LOL

[lobsterzilla]

i think a lot of people are confused about what spine angle means.


spine angle related to the hips is different than spine angle related to the ground.

[uttexas]

I've read both that it should remain constant, but I've also read that it changes. If I remember correctly, it extends slightly in the backswing. With some, the spine angles toward the target during the backswing.

[RC]

If you are talking about the complete swing from start to finish, it changes. However, there are times during the swing when the spine (in one plane) is at a fairly constant angle. That is my opinion.

[colin007]

after impact, with the hips continuing to push forward toward the target, and then pushing under the torso to get most of the bodys weight on the left leg, the spine angle becomes more vertical.

[jerry g]

i would say for me i seem to be more bent over at address and during the backswing and my spine angle is more upright during the downswing.

[safetrip]

From address to the finish, of course it should change, otherwise you can't maintain the balance at the finish. I guess what you are asking is the spine angle difference at address and impact.

Since the weight shifts to front prior to impact, the spine angle from 'front view' definitely changes. From side view, the change is more subtle but I believe it's very hard to maintain the exact angle due to the hip slide.

For me, another interesting question related to this is whether the angle between shaft and ground from side view changes between address and impact. You would think/want that your shaft angle at address is reproduced at impact. But due to the spine angle change, the shaft angle is not maintained either, I believe. Just take a look at the photos in this article. http://www.the-efficient-golfer.com/yips.html

I don't buy all of his arguments about centrifugal force causing the shaft angle change and gripper vs. non-gripper categorization so don't bother to read the article. However, I think it's very interesting to look at how much shaft angle changes between address and impact in addition to spine angle change among these top pros.

[iacas]

I guess what you are asking is the spine angle difference at address and impact.

Nope, that's not what I'm asking. In fact, I wish I had just asked about the spine angle in the backswing.

[Phil McGleno]

OK, so obviously the answer is "it changes." It was 25-15 before I threw my hat in the "changes" pool and it probably would have been 40-5 or so if you had only said "backswing" like you said above.

I don't care what swing method you think you're using: your back changes its flex on the backswing. It has to, 100% of the time. If you're making a "proper" or whatever term they used golf swing, that is. Not changing your flex is a 100% guaranteed way to suck at golf.