Downswing

[lhagsjr]

I hope everyone is doing well and their golf games are improving! Even though its cold here in Philadelphia I have been putting in a ton of work.I have made very small strides in my game but strides nonetheless. I feel like I can narrow my issues down to 2 although they are big ones. If the pros could correct me if I am wrong regarding the downswing:

1.) First you shift your weight to start downswing. Everyone does this differently. Firing hips, bumping hips, firing/bumping left knee, lets hands drop,etc. No matter how you do it, this is step #1 correct? I have tried various ways to do this and Im struggling on this aspect. Any suggestions are welcome

2.) After shifting weight come down from an inside path. Again, I don't even know if I am doing this or not.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

HAGS

[saevel25]

For me it is primarily keeping pressure on the lead foot. I don't have a specific feel for weight shift. I really don't feel the hips.

To me people who struggle with weight shift is because they get way too early extension and lose their spine angle way too early.

I would look for Key #1 videos on the forum if you are struggling with the weight forward at impact.

[MrDC]

I like to feel my arms fall first, and then clear the hips, if I make the shift before my arms drop my spine angle gets wacky and a flip happens, a good swing is all about tempo and for me I like the feeling of arms falling, then get the hips moving, boom, it's syncs everything up well for me.

[jclark]

For me it is primarily keeping pressure on the lead foot. I don't have a specific feel for weight shift. I really don't feel the hips. To me people who struggle with weight shift is because they get way too early extension and lose their spine angle way too early. I would look for Key #1 videos on the forum if you are struggling with the weight forward at impact.

I agree. This can also cause a lack of coil and overswing. Atleast for me anyway

[Fried Egg]

For me it is primarily keeping pressure on the lead foot. I don't have a specific feel for weight shift. I really don't feel the hips.

To me people who struggle with weight shift is because they get way too early extension and lose their spine angle way too early.

I would look for Key #1 videos on the forum if you are struggling with the weight forward at impact.

I assume you mean Key #2.

For OP, you do need to feel a forward lateral shifting of the hips towards the target before you feel the rotation kick in. When I hear fire the hips, I think rotation. Maybe its just me. If this happens without the lateral, your weight won't get far enough forward and may even fall back.

[joekelly]

I've seen guys falling back after hitting the drive 230 yrds.  Damn good for a duffer, age 64. So, IMO, falling back is not the principal culprit in crappy strikes.  Sure, not falling back may improve the drive for that bloke, but at what cost?  Revamping the entire swing?

And Saevel25, the 'lead foot' would be your left foot?   Are you  keeping pressure on that foot all the time or only during the downswing?   And 'too early extension' refers to the arm extension?  Some pros, encouraged by teachers, advocate full arm extension (full stretch) all the time, in order to increase the swing arc and clubhead speed.

[saevel25]

I've seen guys falling back after hitting the drive 230 yrds.  Damn good for a duffer, age 64. So, IMO, falling back is not the principal culprit in crappy strikes.  Sure, not falling back may improve the drive for that bloke, but at what cost?  Revamping the entire swing?

And Saevel25, the 'lead foot' would be your left foot?   Are you  keeping pressure on that foot all the time or only during the downswing?   And 'too early extension' refers to the arm extension?  Some pros, encouraged by teachers, advocate full arm extension (full stretch) all the time, in order to increase the swing arc and clubhead speed.

Depends on the person. I don't have to feel much weight forward for me. Someone who is constantly hitting from their back foot or doesn't keep their head steady might feel like they need a lot more pressure in the lead foot and early. So it depends.

Early extension would be not having too turn rates in the downswing. The weight is not forward, hips moving towards the ball.

Full arm extension isn't early extension. The left arm usually stays straight, and the arms will extend fully, usually post impact for irons.

[jclark]

Early Extension, as in standing up in the swing, or breaking posture. What it simply means to me

[chspeed]

1.) First you shift your weight to start downswing. Everyone does this differently. Firing hips, bumping hips, firing/bumping left knee, lets hands drop,etc. No matter how you do it, this is step #1 correct? I have tried various ways to do this and Im struggling on this aspect. Any suggestions are welcome

2.) After shifting weight come down from an inside path. Again, I don't even know if I am doing this or not.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

HAGS

I'm working on this as well. The instructors here prefer to describe the action as "sliding the hips forward", while keeping the upper body still. This will create a tilt, and will move your weight forward so that most of it is on your front leg at impact, but so you can still keep your head still. Take a look at this thread: http://thesandtrap.com/t/54115/weight-forward-and-secondary-axis-tilt