Squeezing knees together at address

I was messing around a bit at the range tonight and could feel myself swaying rather than turning

So i tried a few things and ended up trying a wide stance at address really squeezing my knees together (almost touching). I found from there I could really coil going back *really* feeling it and then hit some lovely shots as I relaxed that squeeze as I turned my hips from the top

Looked weird but wondering if theres a reason this would not be a good idea (before I resort to it in a medal when all else is failing ) . I know the ball between the legs idea would promote something similar but this more extreme !

hi Pnearn
Mindy Blake system you have you right knee pushing to your left and your hips a little more to the left to and it stops any sway on the back swing and your already getting into position on the downswing.
i have started doing that with my Trevino swing and it really works.
here is some pics of Richard Wax and you see what i mean about the hip being pushed to the target before the swing starts and how the right leg is set to stop any back sway.
cheers
bill

Attached Images

Richard wax.jpg (330.6 KB, 23 views)

As you've found bracing the lower body will discourage lateral movement in the swing. Aside from Arnold Palmer putting I don't know of any pros who has used the type of lower body posture you are writing about.
A number of pros have said they feel like they have a feeling like their thighs are pulling in and pushing out at the same time.

Bill, I find that if I push my left leg or knee towards the target as I swing back I tilt too much and reverse pivot. This way I could really stretch the shoulder turn and feel the arms extend knowing I couldnt slide laterally - I also felt all the weight on the insides of my feet

hi
sounds like you have a nice firm balance the way your doing it.
if it works then stick to it.

cheers
bill

I think the ball between the knees drill creates the opposite effect. It should create a squat type stance that slightly lowers the centre of gravity, more like the style of Sam Snead:

Brian, wouldnt trying to keep a ball between your knees mean you had to pinch your knees/thighs in to keep the ball there, at least thats the feeling?

Er! Yes but No but

The knee pinching would only be to hold the ball, the desired effect is to create a squat look in the downswing that assists with stability and balance.

The following sequence of someone swinging in a barrel from David Leadbetter shows this effect in the bottom left image where the downswing starts.

hi Brian
i thought that the swinging in a barrel was more about hip rotation than slid.
in the Leadbetter clips you have shown there is quite a large hip slid to the left and i was always led to believe that was one thing you did not do in the barrel type swing.if the clips were him using say a 7 iron the his belt buckle would be in line with the ball but at impact it would be his right hip was was in line with the ball thats about a 6 inch slid, seems a lot for a "in the barrel" type swing.
cheers
bill

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Bill,

That's not the point I was referring to, it was in respect to creating a swat position as the hips squared. The pictures are from Leadbetter and I think should be used as imagery on reducing sway in the swing but I would suggest that the hips would be in an open position at impact with the belt buckle pointing around 20/30 deg past square.

hi Brian
yes i agree with you and your point about sitting or squatting position and its gives you a much more powerful swing as you legs and hips come into play much more.
what i meant was in the clips the swinging in the barrel is just the same swing as if you were not in a barrel as there is a lot of hips sway, i thought swinging in the barrel was to reduce the sway to almost nothing and it was more about turn.
i use my right elbow close to my right hip and that my sort of check when swinging and i do get into the position in picture 5 with maybe a bit more turn but i do slid my hips to the target more than most i do tent to lean more to the left like your hogan picture and have my right leg stiffer on the backswing to stop swaying back.
i think backward sway and not have that tension in the thighs to stop it does kill a lot of swings..
i do sometimes feel my knees and thighs are pulling towards each other when playing a chip or a pitch when i want little body movement.
cheers
bill

__________________
ping zing2 metal driver
ping zing2 metal 3 wood
ping eye2 1 iron
ping zing2 3/9 irons
ping ist 47% wedge
ping zing2 52% s/wedge
ping mb 56% wedge
ping c10 G2I broom handled putter
top flight "T" golf balls
white ping bag