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Shoulders at Address - Rounded or Back?


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Why do most pro's tell people to have a straight spine?
Why don't they stick to the old way of swinging?

My Clubs
Driver - LV4 10* R flex
Wood - sam snead persimmon 2 wood (for windy days)
Hybrid burner tour launch 20* stiff flex.
Irons - Tour Mode 3i,4i stiffIrons - FP's 5-PW R-flexWedge - spin milled 54.14Wedge - spin milled 60.07Putter - Victoria Lowest round 2010: 79 (par 70)Latest rounds at...

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Why do most pro's tell people to have a straight spine?

Why do most pros believe the wrong ball flight laws?

Why do most pros think that you maintain your spine angle? Why do most pros think that you release the club to hit a draw? Why do most pros say that to hit a draw you should stay behind the ball? C'mon, you're not new here. You've seen my posts. Half of them dispel myths that have, for some infuriating reason or another, become common and widespread despite the fact that they're flat out wrong. Again, modern instruction has gotten away from some of the things that actually happen in the golf swing.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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Why do most pros believe the wrong ball flight laws?

Sorry about going off-topic.

But don't all pro's have to do a course? Doesn't that course give them a model to teach by?

My Clubs
Driver - LV4 10* R flex
Wood - sam snead persimmon 2 wood (for windy days)
Hybrid burner tour launch 20* stiff flex.
Irons - Tour Mode 3i,4i stiffIrons - FP's 5-PW R-flexWedge - spin milled 54.14Wedge - spin milled 60.07Putter - Victoria Lowest round 2010: 79 (par 70)Latest rounds at...

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But don't all pro's have to do a course?

Yes and no. All PGA members have to undergo testing, but most of that deals with stuff like "golf cart fleet management" and very little to do with the golf swing. And some parts of that are provably wrong - like the ball flight laws.

But to be a pro all you have to do is say "I'm a pro" too, so those people have NO training at all.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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  • 2 years later...

I believe your shoulders should be back. However there should be no piching sensation. If you stand straight and relaxed your arms will hang at your side. If you bend at the waist and begin to assume your golf posture and relax your shoulders, your shoulders will "round". Now if you keep your shoulders relaxed and round and stand back up you will notice that your arms and hands are no longer at your side but in front of your body. This causes seperation of the arms from the body on the takeaway. This is the exact opposite of what Ben Hogan taught in his book. My theroy is when you stand straight and relaxed and begin to take your golf posture, keep your arms at your side then grip the club. You will take the club back with your shoulders, and not your amrs. Also your shoulders will stay on a much better plane and make it easier to turn.  Just my opinion

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Originally Posted by bt10

I believe your shoulders should be back. However there should be no piching sensation. If you stand straight and relaxed your arms will hang at your side. If you bend at the waist and begin to assume your golf posture and relax your shoulders, your shoulders will "round". Now if you keep your shoulders relaxed and round and stand back up you will notice that your arms and hands are no longer at your side but in front of your body. This causes seperation of the arms from the body on the takeaway. This is the exact opposite of what Ben Hogan taught in his book. My theroy is when you stand straight and relaxed and begin to take your golf posture, keep your arms at your side then grip the club. You will take the club back with your shoulders, and not your amrs. Also your shoulders will stay on a much better plane and make it easier to turn.  Just my opinion

Probably better to move this discussion over here: http://thesandtrap.com/t/56069/good-golf-posture/ .

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Note: This thread is 4067 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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