GOLF
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IN LAST week's article we made a start at the most critical part of the golf swing, the downswing or movement of the club head back to the ball.
Just repeating from last week - when swinging a golf club there are four main 'sections' of the swing, the set up or address position, the back swing (path the club head takes away from the ball), the down swing (path that club head takes back to the ball) and the follow through.
We have covered previously the importance (above all else) of being interested on the ball until you've hit it!
It is critical that you take a moment to take the following in - the set up is important, the back swing is important but ONLY the downswing and follow through are critical.
In order to produce an efficient and effective down swing we first have to accept that the golf club should be allowed to swing on an arc.
Just about everybody takes comfort in straight lines as 'straight lines make straight shots' - this can be applicable to cricket where you are encouraged to keep you bat vertical and the ball will go roughly where you swing the bat.
In golf the club head is only square to the target in one place on the downswing and that is at impact - really unnervin.
Even more unnerving is that the club head should not AT ANY STAGE be swinging down the target line - the golf ball is contacted when the club head is at the apex outside of its arc.
The club head approaches the ball on an arc and contacts the ball before returning back around your body on the return arc.
A video accompanies the online version of this article - it will be very useful in helping you understand this.
So, just giving you a couple of checkpoints to add to last week's advice, you are attempting to let two things happen, both of which simply require you to be relaxed in your hands and arms.
You are allowing the hands, arms and club to fall VERTICALLY downwards back towards your body (ie where they came from!).
The checkpoint here is to feel that your left thumb stays on the top of the grip during the first phase of the downswing.
As that is happening, your lower body (hips and legs) are turning back towards the ball - it is very worthwhile doing this HUNDREDS of times at home.
Although not easy to get your head around, these two combined movements are totally natural as we are starting to trust and go with natural forces rather than override them with force and effort.
The ball responds best to effortless power not powerful effort.
Tony White is the Golf Operations Manager at Gibraltar Country Club, Bowral.
It is very difficult to learn or relearn golf through text but if anything you read in my articles makes you think or question, book yourself a lesson or two as the rest of your golfing days could be made longer and that much more enjoyable.
White can be contacted on (02) 4862 8615 or visit www.gibraltarbowral.com.au .
Why not drop in and talk to him about Gibraltar's 'no catches' two-for-one membership offer or seven day membership from under $145pp through until January 2015.
