Weight transfer happens behind you? (shawn clement video)

[PingGKEN]

What are everyones thoughts on Shawns statements in this video regarding downswing weight shift? He says you want to feel as though the weight shift is actually the final part of your backswing and not the start of your downswing? The weight shift happens BEHIND you?

[grantc79]

What are everyones thoughts on Shawns statements in this video regarding downswing weight shift? He says you want to feel as though the weight shift is actually the final part of your backswing and not the start of your downswing? The weight shift happens BEHIND you?

Depends completely on the person, the point is that you have it.

If you have the flexibility to make that happen going backwards and still get a good turn and smooth transition to the ball then by all means do so. The earlier you make that weight shift the harder it is to have a smooth transition and keep everything in line. The easiest move is simply get to the top, slide, and then turn. That said the earlier you make the slide/weight shift the more power you can theoretically create. Just be careful opening that can of worms.

[Zeph]

Very few people do the left heel lifting Shawn Does. If you don't lift the heel, you can't plant it.

The weight shift happens when the left hip moves forward. He moves the hips back, lifts his left heel, then moves the hips forward and plants the heel again. I would suggest you try not moving the hips back, but use the legs to push the hips forward on the downswing.

[grantc79]

Very few people do the left heel lifting Shawn Does. If you don't lift the heel, you can't plant it.

Completely wrong no offense. Proof here, stand with both feet flat on the ground.

Without lifting either foot put 90% of the weight on your right foot and then 90% of the weight on your left foot. Very easy to do and both ways and the weight transfers to the planted foot. Effectively what you are doing, as long as you are actually trying to shift right and left in your swing, is making a plant/post leg. In the back swing you shift weight to your right foot and then turn on it. In the forward swing your weight moves to your left foot AND THEN you turn on it. Most people never understand how to get the weight back to the front foot which means they turn on the back foot. This move leads to a slice which its no surprise that most people do.

[Zeph]

What was wrong? You can't plant the foot, as in moving it from off the ground to the ground, if it never leave the ground. On most swings where the heel is on the ground all the time, the weight shift is more continous, you don't have the planting of the left foot to get it started.

Getting the weight forward from the top of the swing is achieved by shifting the hips forward, moving a large part of the body weight forward. Not only rotating, thought they do rotate pretty much all the way, from 45º closed at the backswing to 90º open at the finish. Most can do this, the problem is getting the weight shifted forward at the same time. By only pushing the hips, they will rotate a lot by themselves.

Shawn says the weight transfer happens behind you, well that depends what you call behind. It is of course the hips and butt that provide the weight needed to get the weight forward.

[grantc79]

What was wrong? You can't plant the foot, as in moving it from off the ground to the ground, if it never leave the ground. On most swings where the heel is on the ground all the time, the weight shift is more continous, you don't have the planting of the left foot to get it started.

I think we are discussing planting as two different things.

What I mean by planting is applying weight to. You can do that without lifting it off the ground. What you mean I'm guessing is moving it from above the ground to the ground which you can actually do without applying much weight to it at all. Weight being applied to it generally requires your body to be moving towards it and especially your hips to be sliding over it. That is a good thing. What I'm stressing is that because your foot doesn't leave the ground doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't slide your hips over that foot and apply more weight to that foot. For golfing purposes in the transition and down swing the lead foot needs to be planted, with weight shifting more and more on to it, with hips sliding over it, to tilt the spine away from it so that an inside path can be made down to the golf ball.

[Zeph]

We are talking about the same thing, just in different terminology. My point was that Shawn has a much more visual hip transfer because he move them back, lift the heel and plant it on the downswing. You can of course transfer the weight without lifting the heel, which is what most does.

This is all just a discussion about what we call the top of the backswing and if we say the hips are behind you or not. Everyone is trying to make the point that the weight must be shifted forward, and that the hips must be used to do it.

[tm22721]

Weight shift plagued me. I could never get into position to hit. The answer came from down under.

The left side must be forced to the target throughout. The right side must be forced to the sky throughout.

Word will spread.

[filthee]

Say what???

[PingGKEN]

Yeah, lol, I'm with you there. Anyways, working on this some more, I think I just need to allow a split second for that weight to transfer from right to left at the completion of the backswing. Not be too quick on the trigger from the top.

For someone that has always attacked the ball from the top down, with an OTT move (divots left, heel contact, etc) it feels like an eternity when I pause to allow this to happen. Just need to work at it.

[kennay92]

Yeah, lol, I'm with you there. Anyways, working on this some more, I think I just need to allow a split second for that weight to transfer from right to left at the completion of the backswing. Not be too quick on the trigger from the top.

think i sometimes have this problem too, i get to quick with the downswing which leads to me not getting the weight shift which makes for inconsistency.

[tm22721]

Say what???

Left side reaches for the target right side reaches for the sky.

[filthee]

Left side reaches for the target right side reaches for the sky.

Interesting. I don't fully understand but I'll work on it. Thanks.

[jkkornman]

I just watched the video again regarding the weightshift and he meant that the weight transfer should be done from behind to avoid casting the club out in front of you with the shoulders and arms. I think this thought may promote a more "sidearm throw motion" which is a good result.