downswing?

[miche_4]

in my downswing should I use the muscles in my arms or use my legs?

[MPS67]

I'm not a great golfer by any means so you should take my advise with a grain of salt. Anyway, I've learned to hit better by pushing off with my the inside of my right foot, so I would say that using the muscles in the legs to initiate the swing is good. And then follow up with a combination of legs, shoulders, and arms.

[Ben]

According to some guy named Ben Hogan, your left hip initiates the downswing.

To find some real detail, I STRONGLY recommend this book .

[countjyro]

I agree with Ben, reading Mr. Hogan's book will give you all the information you need. It is very informational and is a good read.

[fusioncal]

in my downswing should I use the muscles in my arms or use my legs?

None of the above. Like Ben said, you use your hips and the rest of upper body follows. On the contrary, backswing begins with the upper body then hips.

[allin]

Experiment to find the way you can swing with rythym. Most swings start with a slight push or roll of the back foot followed by a slight hip bump and then the hips and body turn aggressively. Flat swingers don't really use the arms, just allow them to turn and release at the right time. More upright swingers use their arms more aggressively especially from hip high through the ball. You don't conciously do most of this, just try to be aware that it happens in the right order and again with rythym.

[brookpe]

People talk about lag to create power.

They are talking about the lag in your hand release.

To me, real power comes from lagging your shoulders to your hips.

Try to build your swing over tension in your right knee/quad and fire off of it. Clear your left hip like Jim Furyk or Johnny Miller. Fire before you reach the top of your backswing.

Loosen up your back good-- preferably on the ground.

[Ringer]

Answer: Both.

[bwinger79]

Personally, I like to harness the power of my teeth on the downswing, but thats just me.

The correct answer......BOTH. The body needs to work in sync to hit a proper golf shot. Arms, legs, torso, hands must all work together .

[Ringer]

Quick explination of my observations.

It starts close to the axis, and moves out along the swings radius...but ALWAYS on plane.

You start the clubs motion with a slight tug on the body started by the legs and hips. This STARTS the swing on a particular plane. It is then up to the shoulders and arms to continue to apply force ON THAT PLANE.

It IS POSSIBLE to do it with only arms and no lower body, however it is not as powerful.

[supercow]

Quick explination of my observations.

No doubt... I recently started playing golf again after a bit of a break and for the first few holes could only hit drives about 200 yards because I was nothing but arms. I realized what was happening after the second hole and then regained 60-70 yards...

[gbk56]

I really do not think much muscle is involved in your downswing. You are really getting most of your power from the torque you have created by twisting your body and weight shifting from your right side to your left side left (if you are a righty). You may be pushing off some with your right side in your follow thorugh and might be able to feel like you are pulling the club through with your left arm but these things are pretty minimal at best. Otherwise, I think any muscle you do use is just to keep the club in position.