Swing taughts to start downswing

Danny dyers double

Since iv start playing 2+ years iv been a hands and arms player . While iv certainly improved since I started I'm hoping to put real effort in this Summer and really kick on .

I understand the downswing starts from ground up and iv watched countless utube vids over the last few days . Can't swing a club at the minute due to a back injury . But have been trying out some of the drills at home and I find by pointing my toes on my right foot into ground towards the target seems to be the best trigger . I'm dying to get hitting a few balls to put this theory into practice .

So my question is lads what is your swing taught or feeling you have to trigger your downswing ??

John Divney

The Trillion dollar question. I'm trying to move onto my left foot by rotating hips with the left hip high right hip low, and trying to get the elbow tucked in tight before bringing the upper body through.

The other way is to slide onto your left side before rotating the hips, and then unwinding everything over the pivot point of the left foot.

I think this is a hard thing for handsy players to get used to, because you really have to delay the upper body which would feel like and eternity to handsy players. You have to try a load of different swing thoughts to get one that fits.

A popular one in squashing a coke can with the left heel to start the downswing, another one is to bump hips laterally and feel the arms drop, then rotate.

Uncle Ben

I think it was Graham McDowell who said 'do you think which way you move your tooth brush when cleaning your teeth?'
Far too many people he believes are trying to disect their game and their swing instead of just playing to their strengths and practicing their short game and putting.

yettie1701

Uncle Ben wrote: »

I think it was Graham McDowell who said 'do you think which way you move your tooth brush when cleaning your teeth?'
Far too many people he believes are trying to disect their game and their swing instead of just playing to their strengths and practicing their short game and putting.

Couldn't agree more with this poster. Golf is a slow game so it's analysed to death. Never heard so much sh1t been spoken about a sport like golf. I doubt Henry Shefflin had too many swing thoughts as he lined up a penalty. We are all sold a pup IMHO when it comes to golf swings. I would say to OP try have as few thoughts as you can because they only complicate things. Pick a target stand in and hit the ball quickly before that dangerous weapon called a brain starts to fill you with fear.

Fergus_Nash

While I think golfers shouldn't have any swing thoughts, if the OP wants to change their swing, then swing thoughts are necessary, just limit it to one at a time and to practice rounds or the early season.

If you don't want to get lessons, try some of the things suggested and stick to one that works. Just make sure to use clear ideas/images like pointing your toes or crushing a can, rather than the first two paragraphs of John's post which are difficult to read, never mind think of them while hitting a ball at 100mph (I know John isn't suggesting these as swing thoughts).

John Divney

Uncle Ben wrote: »

I think it was Graham McDowell who said 'do you think which way you move your tooth brush when cleaning your teeth?'
Far too many people he believes are trying to disect their game and their swing instead of just playing to their strengths and practicing their short game and putting.

Yep, but the OP is not Graham McDowell, he wants to go from a handsy swing to a more ground up body swing.

You have to think about it until you find something that works, then learn the move.

THEN you can be all Gmac and free to swing, but it's just not the same for every golfer and many need to build the swing up. To do something unthinking, you need to know how to do it first.

I mean look at Ben Hogan, he analysed his swing better than any other player in history, and that was in the 50's.

Uncle Ben

John Divney wrote: »

Yep, but the OP is not Graham McDowell, he wants to go from a handsy swing to a more ground up body swing.

You have to think about it until you find something that works, then learn the move.

THEN you can be all Gmac and free to swing, but it's just not the same for every golfer and many need to build the swing up. To do something unthinking, you need to know how to do it first.

I mean look at Ben Hogan, he analysed his swing better than any other player in history, and that was in the 50's.

I think McDowell was aiming his comments at the 20 handicap player who is standing on a coke can with his toes buried into the ground whilst his in to out over the top chicken wings elbows lateral hips are pointing square to the target line..
Just hi hit the ball.

Danny dyers double

I think iv been slightly misunderstood . With my current all arms with pulling club down I can just step up and just hit . But I'll have in consistent ball striking and lack of distance .

I'm now trying to learn and master the correct golf swing . From ground up . So I have been doing certain drills without hitting any balls and the feeling I'm getting is by turning or pushing away with my right big toe is what triggers the whole motion .

So I was just curious as to what other golfers used as triggers or feelings to start their downswing

Norfolk Enchants_

Danny dyers double wrote: »

I think iv been slightly misunderstood . With my current all arms with pulling club down I can just step up and just hit . But I'll have in consistent ball striking and lack of distance .

I'm now trying to learn and master the correct golf swing . From ground up . So I have been doing certain drills without hitting any balls and the feeling I'm getting is by turning or pushing away with my right big toe is what triggers the whole motion .

So I was just curious as to what other golfers used as triggers or feelings to start their downswing

Conventional wisdom says the downswing starts with a little bump of the left hip (for right handed golfer) towards the target, other that that there is a million and ones ways of describing it and its a case of finding what works for you.

spacecoyote

Uncle Ben wrote: »

I think it was Graham McDowell who said 'do you think which way you move your tooth brush when cleaning your teeth?'
Far too many people he believes are trying to disect their game and their swing instead of just playing to their strengths and practicing their short game and putting.

McDowell would have gotten it from his work with Karl Morris as that's one of his ideas alright.

Basically that if you tried to break down the action of brushing your teeth in the same way as the swing then it would be a ridiculously elaborate list of motions & that the aim would be to try something similar with your golf swing as it should be a natural motion.

whizbang

Some folk here actually have to learn how to swing a club properly. We didn't pick it out of a field when we were 7 years old. If all potential golfers were to just 'grip it and rip it', there would be a very poor standard of golf.

It should be just the weight and rhythm that controls the downswing.

Having said that, tips that worked great for me;
When the shaft gets to the vertical in the backswing, throw it up in the air, and let go.
as it falls back, catch it, and pull it through the forward swing.

Another one: hold the club vertical as before, but hold it so your little finger is off the grip. Balance it vertical on your little finger, with no grip pressure. Then as you bump your left hip out, the clubhead will naturally fall away from you. Then just drop and follow through.

John Divney

spacecoyote wrote: »

McDowell would have gotten it from his work with Karl Morris as that's one of his ideas alright.

Basically that if you tried to break down the action of brushing your teeth in the same way as the swing then it would be a ridiculously elaborate list of motions & that the aim would be to try something similar with your golf swing as it should be a natural motion.

I think when you learn the game before you are ten like these lads. you only have to think when you are going through swing changes and on the range to work on something that has got a bit sloppy.

Most amateurs take the game up in their 20's, and the time to ingrain natural movement and speed has passed, so unless you are particularly gifted, you basically have to fight against the idea of 'natural' and train a good pivot, train your right wrist not to flip etc, train how to let the club flatten.

You also have to learn how your body works, which takes a load of trial and error. Full time Athletes know their body movements and their positions instinctively, whereas people taking the game up haven't got a clue.

That's why a transition trigger is really important to find. I think for simple ideas Monty Scheinblum is excellent.

His best four are imo

1. 'Bump Dump and Turn' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HmT4LN--3g
2. 'Lead with the right elbow' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS_ijg82Ogg
3. 'Zipper Away' drill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXoW93m2HcY
4. No Turn cast drill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgwNEpvQQqE

See what works, use a video camera to see if they improve transition and lag.

Montgolfier

John Divney wrote: »

I think when you learn the game before you are ten like these lads. you only have to think when you are going through swing changes and on the range to work on something that has got a bit sloppy.

Most amateurs take the game up in their 20's, and the time to ingrain natural movement and speed has passed, so unless you are particularly gifted, you basically have to fight against the idea of 'natural' and train a good pivot, train your right wrist not to flip etc, train how to let the club flatten.

You also have to learn how your body works, which takes a load of trial and error. Full time Athletes know their body movements and their positions instinctively, whereas people taking the game up haven't got a clue.

That's why a transition trigger is really important to find. I think for simple ideas Monty Scheinblum is excellent.

His best four are imo

1. 'Bump Dump and Turn' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HmT4LN--3g
2. 'Lead with the right elbow' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS_ijg82Ogg
3. 'Zipper Away' drill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXoW93m2HcY
4. No Turn cast drill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgwNEpvQQqE

See what works, use a video camera to see if they improve transition and lag.

I do my learning at the range and enough repetitions to ingrain the swing. On the course I get out of my own way and let it happen. I only focus on the target. Read bob rotella book "the unstoppable golfer"