Left knee for right handers

Wow what a nice site.....

here is my question

the position of the left knee on the backswing (takeaway as well)


2nd question................i know it all depends on who you hear it from and i know there are many answers, but i want one (please) to try

how or what is the best way to start the downswing

thankyou

howard.. hjack

Hi There:

The left or front knee should remain flexed, it will naturally pull in a little towards the back knee as you get to the top of your backswing.

Your downswing should start with a gentle transference of weight to your front leg, it's just the same as walking. Try this drill to help you get the feeling:

Address a 7 iron with your feet close together and the ball just ahead of your lead foot. Swing the club to the top and just before it gets there take a step to the left with your lead foot then begin your down swing. Do this as smoothly as possible a number of times so that you pick up on the steady transfer of weight as the club gets to the top.

Hope this helps you.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

Hi Brian

thankyou for your help

how do i keep the body from going past the ball, when i shift step forward

i know its not an actual step...but i'm afraid of moving past ball

thankyou

howard

hi howard
welcome to GTO
can you clarify your query?

Sure

Brian posted a drill for me to try as for the downswing

and i was asking , how i do it without going past the ball before contact

H

howard.
i will wait till brian chimes in with a reply on your query but have a look at this anyway have a feeling its very similar.


greg willis's walking drill, do a search on the site it will be posted somewhere

Left knee:
Like Brian said you ideally want to maintain your knee flex. If you left leg straightens in the back swing it will throw off your balance, timing, and ability to rotate (your hips) in your backswing. As for how much if any it moves to your right side in the backswing is dependent on the width of your stance, your amount of left foot flare, and your amount of hip rotation. Some pros have it move quite a bit, some hardly at all, and some show differing amounts depending on what club he/she is swinging (longer clubs = wider stances = less movement).

Downswing:
As for the downswing there are a lot of theories on how it starts, and in some ways it depends on the type of swing you have as to what is the best way for you to start down.

People who arrive at the top of the swing with their arms significantly higher than their shoulders (termed as such swings as the arc, two place swing, classic swing, and nickalus style swing) often prefer to start with a lateral movement toward the target (the rear hip bumping, hip sliding, etc toward the target) which provides for the arms to drop down at the start.


People who have their arms on the same plane as the shoulders at the top of the swing (sometimes classified as the modern, one plane, leverage, or mechanical swing) prefer a more rotational move to start the downswing (left knee rotating behind, left hip rotating behind, torso, and/or left shoulder rotating behind).

Steve Elkington liked to settle his weight and then rotate his abs.

Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, and Byron Nelson talked about starting down with the right arm dropping to the right side/hip and the left shoulder separating from the chin.

The books Physics of Golf and Newton on the Tee talk about how in physics when force moves something in motion in one direction it will continue in that direction until it is acted on by another force, and they advocate starting down by moving the left shoulder toward the target.

The Swing Like a Pro (biomechanics/swing photos of pros based book) and other pros (Butch Harmon, etc) suggests that the downswing begins with the lower body (hips) making a slight move toward the target, and then rotating.

Finally there are some people who feel that if you get a proper coil and resistance in the backswing a proper downswing will be started automatically.

Chances are that one thought or key may work for a while, but because we don't consistently setup and swing the same way day after day (and swing after swing) that you may find another though works better another day.

gosh you went way out of your way on that one.....thankyou so much.....

ok.....1 last ques...till the NEXT ONE

I SEEM TO MOVE AS I BEGIN THE BACK SWING......move as in shifting.....i went outside and tried....taking it back...and not shifting until i HAD to.....felt very relaxed.....and easier.....Im not sure im right...but im 6'3 225....and the body seems to want to take off back

i started my arms back and as other parts were needed., they seemed to just follow.....am i making sense?? gosh i hope so, if not please give me an easy takeaway

thanks
howard

ps...................................i am a 3 handicap....................for every 3 holes

h

Hi,

This is a drill that helps you pick up on the transfer of weight from the back to front leg to start the downswing, you would not actually do it in your game but allow the same feeling to happen.

The idea is that you are stood with your feet together and both just behind the ball. As your club is almost at the top of the backswing you take a step left (not forward) with your left foot only so that it is placed just forward of the ball, then continue with the down swing. This replicates the same feeling of shifting your weight as in the proper swing.

As I said previously, starting the downswing should be just like taking a step when walking, the weight is gently shifted from one foot to another. The best ball strikers start the weight transfer just before the backswing is completed.

I hope this is clear now, if not please ask again?

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

There is nothing wrong with thinking of the backswing in the way you described, and you will find support for that method by some of the tour pros. Both Bobby Jones and Nick Price both talked about in their books how the clubhead had the farthest to travel, followed by the hands, shoulders, and finally hips. Nick Price said (page 107-108 The Swing) that in his backswing (with a driver) the club head travels 14-15 feet, the hands 6 feet, the shoulders 8 inches, and the hips 4 inches. Given those stats its not difficult to see how a smooth progressive backswing might be beneficial. It may also be beneficial to your rhythm and tempo as well.