Pelvic Thrust, an important key to starting your downswing correctly!

Here is something for all you players out there to think about. The “pelvic thrust” is a huge dynamic factor in the efficiency of your swing whether you are a scratch player or a high handicap beginner. It is without a doubt one of the most important elements of the swing that produces power and accuracy when executed correctly.

The following article is from Golf Magazine. The topic is “the pelvic thrust”. Read it. It may be the most important information about your golf swing you will receive this year!

“When amateurs release their pelvis on their downswing, if at all, they tend to thrust straight out toward the ball or simply turn in place. These moves are big time no nos. Good players release their pelvis on their downswings by firing to the right of the target, approximately 15 yards to the right of the flag on a 150 yard shot, and then halting this action until momentum drags the pelvis to the left of the target. When seen in regular action, this movement gives the impression that good players only “turn” from the top.”

When using V1 video analysis with my students, they become aware that the downswing does not include a continuous rotation of the hips on the downswing as deceiving as this might be. When students become aware of the correct motion, their ability to strike the ball really improves. If you are consistently topping shots and slicing the ball, you may not understand how to begin your downswing correctly.

Please think about a visit to the Golf Center at Sports Ohio in Dublin for a quick video review to start the season right. Call me, Keith Haley, PGA teaching professional, at 614-738-1851 for more info.

Always remember to practice any new positions or movements in your golf swing slowly and deliberately.

 

7 parts of a great golf swing – IMPACT

Finally, the moment of truth. Regardless of what different mannerisms good players might have in the prior 4 parts of the golf swing, all good players have the following factors present at impact. You should be able to demonstrate a quality impact position with all types of swings, from driver to chipping stroke. Have a good look at the pictures below.

On the left is Rory Mcilroy and on the right is a generic depiction of impact that I use every day with my students. Years ago I created a word device that helps my students understand what qualities a great impact position contains. HIPS-HEAD-HANDS, also known as the 3 H’s. if you reinspect the pictures you will note the following: 1. Hips are pushed out to a 45degree open position to the target line, 2. Head is back, 3. Hands are in the right wrist bent position, both prior to impact,(left), and post impact, (right). Sometimes if my students are really struggling with their ball striking it is a good thing to go back to pitch shots and the “line” drill to reacquaint themselves with the 3 H’s. after some quality time spent on this important drill, (see the training video), students always comment that impact is better and easier. Below see a depiction of practicing impact with the Amazing Angle, the beat way to practice impact indoors!

Please practice slowly and deliberately ! Merry Christmas and A very Happy New Year from Keith Haley Golf. In the next post, we take on the issue of “straightening our angles”

 

7 parts of a great golf swing – part 4 “lagging the club to impact “

It would be a great idea to review part 3 before beginning part 4 !

Look at the 2 pictures below which depict the club dropping as the “inside” unwinds.

You can clearly see what I have referred to as the “bump” of the hips and knees, which continue to move through the yellow line and begin to rotate. This movement shows how the “inside” (body), moves the “outside (hands, arms, and club, and the movement clearly begins from the ground up. Unfortunately, for most golfers that don’t play well, this movement occurs in reverse. The “outside” (hands, arms, and club) moves first, from the top down. We refer to this as being “over the top”, which can include a “casting of the club” and is a devastating power destroyer and precipitator of unpredictable ball flight direction.

Please note that “lagging” the club is represented by the arms dropping and the angle between the arms and club shaft is maintained. Follow the continuation of the body unwinding in the pictures below.

Notice how in these pictures, that the hips are rotating out. Here is one of the most interesting movements of the downswing. Appreciate how the head moves down and stays back. In a centrifugal force system, the swing center (inside), must stay centered which speeds up the (outside). The head moves slightly downward because the lower body is moving forward prior to rotation. These days, the body’s ability to rotate successfully is a hot topic. Athletic trainers believe that most golfers, especially poor players, may not be strong enough in their core muscles and hips to execute this action. Certainly if you are a “slicer” or if you don’t hit the ball as far as you should, this issue should be addressed!

The picture above shows how you can practice your downswing and perfect your ability to “lag” the club to impact with the Amazing Angle, anytime and anywhere. Be sure to return for the next post addressing the all important “impact” position. Practice slowly and deliberately!