The golf downswing is absolutely and without a doubt THE most important move in golf. It doesn’t matter what goes before it. Nothing else really matters if this part of the swing is not correct. Everything else is a waste of time if this part of the golf swing is not right. Everything we do before we start the downswing (the grip, the stance, alignment, takeaway, backswing) is getting ready for enabling us to make the golf swing as technically proficient a golf swing as possible.
Starting the downswing with our arms/ shoulders is the number one error most golfers make. This will usually cause the dreaded “out to in” swing or more simply “swinging across the line”. The slice is the most common result of this because we have had to open the clubface to make the ball come back towards our original target. If like me your natural swing is a fade/slice you will know how difficult things can get when playing into a headwind or a left to right wind. The other outcome this can cause is if we do NOT open the clubface to compensate. Result. A pull shot to the left.
The downswing should be the very natural result of everything that goes before it. It should start from the ground up. In other words, the first move in the downswing is made by the legs There is disagreement among coaches and swing gurus as to what should move first. The significance of not having too many swing thoughts cannot be stressed enough. We should have one single trigger thought and one single trigger movement and only one.
Golf Tip #1 One of the best trigger motions is to push the right knee towards the left knee and put the left heel flat on the ground. By doing this, the hips will naturally move forward. Let the hips begin to rotate.
Golf Tip #2 Allow your upper body to uncoil as a natural reaction to this trigger motion. If your lower body is moving and turning, your upper body has to also. Let it happen with as little conscious input from you as possible.
Golf Tip #3 It is imperative that you make sure that your shoulders, arms, and hands follow exactly along the same path as you made with your backswing. If you can master this part of the downswing then you will eradicate that “out to in” swing.
Golf Tip #4 You can practice this at home without a ball. Practice pushing the right knee to the left and placing your left heel flat on the ground. Really work at getting the downswing moving along the same line as the backswing. Repeat it until it becomes natural until you don’t have to think about it.
Golf Tip #5 Probably the best advice you will ever get is to swing within yourself. Swing the club at about 85% all the time and with all your clubs. When you do this you will have time to put your new swing into practice and it will help you time the ball much better. You will then hit the ball further and much closer to the target, more often.
Try and stay loose and relaxed. You cannot expect to perform any physical endeavor while you are uptight. Allow your swing to flow Endeavour to have as little conscious input as possible. If you have too much going on in your head, you cannot possibly expect to make a good swing.
If you can get this one part of the golf swing right, getting the rest right will follow.
Be aware that there is much more to the perfect golf swing than just the downswing but mastering the perfect golf downswing will greatly help your game and your chances of getting that handicap tumbling downwards.
Discover how by putting what I have learned into practice, I have cut 8 shots from my handicap without practicing (and I’m still getting better) and how by clicking here you too can see dramatic results in a short time.
