Back facing the target

I've heard this advice many many times, plus rotate shoulders 90% and hips 45%. But when I look at the pros play with their irons, it actually looks like they keep a lot of things still. In fact, shoulders don't even seem to have rotated 90%.

So I'm wondering, is this advice and many others mainly meant for the longer clubs, or am I looking at the pros swings wrongly?

Hi Simon,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPJtK...%2Dswing%2Ehtm

You will be very suprised how much they rotate, because pros build up so much resistance when they turn back it is only a split second that they achieve full rotation.

Have a look at this clip of Tiger he is 110%


Ian.

Hi Ian,

My main question was, does this apply to the irons as well? I don't seem to see half as much of that kind of rotation when I see the pros play with their irons. I don't know if it's because most of the time, they are already playing 'short' approach shots with their irons, or it's the camera angle or something, but it sure looks as if they are not doing that much shoulder rotation, let alone have the back facing the target?

Thanks!

Hi Simon,

With a very short iron from say 125yds in they do hit a more punchy shot with less shoulder turn, however anything further out I think you may find they do have a full shoulder turn, as all the top pros hit the ball with the body not the arms, this is where the power is created..



Hope this helps

Ian.

Simon:

One thing is certain; the pros do not take the club near parallel on anything less than a four iron. This may give the appearance that the swing is shorter overall but they are getting close to 90' shoulder rotation on most full iron shots. It is clear on the short irons and partial shots that the shoulder rotation decreases but only slightly and is usually just a result of the sorter shaft and subsequent shorter swing arc created by the shorter clubs. I would never consciously think about decreasing your shoulder rotation. This would be a real power leak with any club.

IMO this is an optical illusion created by all good players. Because they are turning and not sliding/swaying then from front on it will appear as if the legs and hips are still. In fact the turning arms/shoulder unit is winding up against the stable base. Most high handicappers front on slide and sway all over the place

Good points there. The pros look really really still, so still that it looks as if they are only swinging with arms. Plus the fact that they usually end up with the shorter irons off the tee, and yep they don't swing back parallel. I guess that just goes to show, if you want to learn golf, don't look at the pros!