Maintaining spine inclination through finish!

[Limpinswinger]

Yesterday, I was watching some slow motion analysis of Hunter Mahan's swing at Congressional and marveled at his ability to maintain such a steep spine inclination through contact to his finish.  I know that I don't maintain my spine inclination very far past contact, and in fact, my spine is virtually vertical shortly after ball contact.

Later in the afternoon I went to the range to work on my S&T; technique and was having a tough time with my long irons.  I was hitting a combination of pulls draws, push fades, thin, fat and everything in between with no predictability.

At that point, I remembered Hunter Mahan's finish and decided to focus on maintaining my spine inclination through my finish as well as my flexibility would allow.  This is something that, in all the time I've played golf, I've never thought much about, and have never been advised about by any golf pros I've taken lessons from.  I'm sure my spine inclination was not as steep as Mahan's, but, the effect was immediate.  Suddenly I was , with my 4, 3 and 2 irons.  (My goal is to be able to reliably and consistently hit a push draw with every club).  It was a very strange feeling to be bent over on my finish and look at the ball flight from that position.  I did feel some strain on my back.  I foresee some stretching in my near future.  But, the results were very promising and I'm looking forward to continue developing this skill.

Here's a video of Hunter Mahan hitting is driver:

[iacas]

[Limpinswinger]

Hey Erik,  Thanks for the stills.  Is that your commentary underneath?  If so, are you saying Mahan's increased spine inclination is intended to compensate for a minimal hip slide?  Not that I could tilt that much if I wanted to, but, I don't think my hip slide or spine inclination at and after contact is as much as it should be.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Limpinswinger

Hey Erik,  Thanks for the stills.  Is that your commentary underneath?  If so, are you saying Mahan's increased spine inclination is intended to compensate for a minimal hip slide?  Not that I could tilt that much if I wanted to, but, I don't think my hip slide or spine inclination at and after contact is as much as it should be.

Not necessarily; I'm saying that's part of how he manages the path and sends it left.

[Limpinswinger]

Originally Posted by iacas

Not necessarily; I'm saying that's part of how he manages the path and sends it left.

Why do you think that focusing on maintaining my inclination at, and after, contact, helped resolve the inconsistency I was having that day?  It wouldn't surprise me if my adjustment was not as drastic than it felt.  But, even if it was a minor change, it had an immediate effect on my ball striking, initial direction and ultimate direction.

[Mr. Desmond]

Thanks, Erik!

I'm working on maintaining downswing inclination, too (or the right tilt before straightening up). An odd feeling when it occurs ... because it hasn't occurred

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

Thanks, Erik!

I'm working on maintaining downswing inclination, too (or the right tilt before straightening up). An odd feeling when it occurs ... because it hasn't occurred

For you, it's likely a matter of managing the proper hip slide in the proper dimension(s). That's what creates the secondary axis tilt, and when you're rotated from A7 to A8/A9, the secondary axis tilt at A7 becomes inclination at A8/A9.

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by iacas

For you, it's likely a matter of managing the proper hip slide in the proper dimension(s). That's what creates the secondary axis tilt, and when you're rotated from A7 to A8/A9, the secondary axis tilt at A7 becomes inclination at A8/A9.

Crap - now I've got to research what you said...

:-)

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

Crap - now I've got to research what you said...

:-)

OK - got it.