Coil In the Backswing

[MambaGolfer]

This may be a "controversial" topic, but I know you all can help. One of the things I do agree on with 5SK is the idea of a steady head. I've found recently that I can achieve this by kicking my right knee inward at address (I'm a righty, something I learned in Hogan's book) and brace myself against/coil around a STABLE right knee. I know many of you advocate a straightened right knee at the top, but it has never worked for me. I was taught to keep the backswing tight and controlled, and have a rubber band effect coming at the ball. I'm just wondering if this is a good move to continue doing or if my new thinking is just a quick fix that won't work out in the long run.

[iacas]

  MambaGolfer said:

Originally Posted by MambaGolfer

This may be a "controversial" topic , but I know you all can help. One of the things I do agree on with 5SK is the idea of a steady head. I've found recently that I can achieve this by kicking my right knee inward at address (I'm a righty, something I learned in Hogan's book) and brace myself against/coil around a STABLE right knee. I know many of you advocate a straightened right knee at the top, but it has never worked for me. I was taught to keep the backswing tight and controlled, and have a rubber band effect coming at the ball. I'm just wondering if this is a good move to continue doing or if my new thinking is just a quick fix that won't work out in the long run.

A few quick thoughts.

1. Your right knee probably changes flex. You might think it's staying "stable" but that's unlikely.
2. A 90° torso turn is often not 90° of torso turn and 0° hip turn. It's virtually impossible to turn your hips with your right knee staying in place (given that your right foot tends to stay pretty much in one place).
3. Virtually every PGA Tour player turns the hips and decreases flex in the trail knee.
4. http://thesandtrap.com/t/55080/myth-of-maintaining-address-flexion-in-the-rear-knee/

I'd say it's likely that you're making a limited shoulder turn and this limited range of motion allows you to hit the ball a little more solidly, but really you're simply costing yourself distance and indeed even accuracy in the long run.

That, or you're super flexible like Anthony Kim (one of the only guys who doesn't seem to change his trail knee flex much if at all).

[MambaGolfer]

  iacas said:

Originally Posted by iacas

A few quick thoughts.

Your right knee probably changes flex. You might think it's staying "stable" but that's unlikely.

A 90° torso turn is often not 90° of torso turn and 0° hip turn. It's virtually impossible to turn your hips with your right knee staying in place (given that your right foot tends to stay pretty much in one place).

Virtually every PGA Tour player turns the hips and decreases flex in the trail knee.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/55080/myth-of-maintaining-address-flexion-in-the-rear-knee/

I'd say it's likely that you're making a limited shoulder turn and this limited range of motion allows you to hit the ball a little more solidly, but really you're simply costing yourself distance and indeed even accuracy in the long run.

That, or you're super flexible like Anthony Kim (one of the only guys who doesn't seem to change his trail knee flex much if at all).

I definitely realize this, I guess I didn't describe it properly. My right knee does straighten a bit and my hips definitely rotate (I've actually been working on increasing my hip action lately), I'm just saying keeping it more kicked inward throughout the swing and keeping weight on my instep. I've found that I have MUCH better footwork this way and am keeping my right instep on the ground through impact and generating more power. I tried to clear that up as best I could, let me know if it needs further explaining. I'm just curious as to whether this is yet another "fix" that works wonders for a short amount of time but allows bad habits to creep back in, or if this is something I should continue doing in my swing.

[iacas]

  MambaGolfer said:

Originally Posted by MambaGolfer

I definitely realize this, I guess I didn't describe it properly. My right knee does straighten a bit and my hips definitely rotate (I've actually been working on increasing my hip action lately), I'm just saying keeping it more kicked inward throughout the swing and keeping weight on my instep. I've found that I have MUCH better footwork this way and am keeping my right instep on the ground through impact and generating more power. I tried to clear that up as best I could, let me know if it needs further explaining. I'm just curious as to whether this is yet another "fix" that works wonders for a short amount of time but allows bad habits to creep back in, or if this is something I should continue doing in my swing.

I like the idea of keeping the right instep on the ground longer during the downswing. That's a good move lots of great players make - it is usually better than letting the right knee kick towards the golf ball on the downswing.

It's tough to say without video but if your right hip is rotating back and up (level hip turns aren't terribly common either), then you're probably fine or at the very least it's probably not the highest priority piece at the moment.

Come by some time and get some high-speed video of your swing. See what you're actually doing, and what you can do to get that 13.0 down to a 9.0 or less quickly.

[MambaGolfer]

  iacas said:

Originally Posted by iacas

I like the idea of keeping the right instep on the ground longer during the downswing. That's a good move lots of great players make - it is usually better than letting the right knee kick towards the golf ball on the downswing.

It's tough to say without video but if your right hip is rotating back and up (level hip turns aren't terribly common either), then you're probably fine or at the very least it's probably not the highest priority piece at the moment.

Come by some time and get some high-speed video of your swing. See what you're actually doing, and what you can do to get that 13.0 down to a 9.0 or less quickly.

Yeah, I've been making a conscious effort to push off from the instep if you will. It's been working well from what I can tell, haven't been able to hit many balls though. And the handicap is just an educated guess at this point, I'll get an official one once the season starts and update it then.