Golf Master Tips, Professional Golfer Downswing Pivot Action - The downswing pivot action starts from the ground-up and the pelvis must preferably move first, and the upper torso must preferably move secondarily.
Many golfers have difficulty initiating the downswing pivot action with a hip shift-rotation movement, and I will discuss a number of optional techniques that a golfer can use to start the downswing with a lower body movement.
A common reason why certain high handicap amateur golfers have difficulty starting the downswing with a pelvic shift-rotation movement is due to the fact that they didn't rotate the pelvis in the backswing.
If a golfer has a static pelvis in the backswing (keeping the pelvis square to the ball-target line) and if he only rotates the upper torso in the backswing, then it becomes very difficult to initiate the downswing with a pelvic shift-rotation movement.
If the pelvis is square to the ball-target line at the end-backswing position, then the only lower body movement that a golfer can easily perform to start the downswing is a left-lateral sliding of the pelvis towards the target.
That causes the pelvis to "lock-up" in a position that is too far left-lateral of the left foot and the golfer cannot easily rotate the left buttocks rearwards towards the tush line (left hip clearing action).
If a golfer has a static pelvis in the backswing (keeping the pelvis square to the ball-target line) and if he only rotates the upper torso in the backswing, then it becomes very difficult to initiate the downswing with a pelvic shift-rotation movement.
If the pelvis is square to the ball-target line at the end-backswing position, then the only lower body movement that a golfer can easily perform to start the downswing is a left-lateral sliding of the pelvis towards the target.
That causes the pelvis to "lock-up" in a position that is too far left-lateral of the left foot and the golfer cannot easily rotate the left buttocks rearwards towards the tush line (left hip clearing action).
Oliver Heuler demonstrating a pelvic over-slide movement - from reference number [5]
Note that Oliver Heuler has slid his pelvis too far left-laterally towards the target, and the excessive sliding movement of his pelvis "locks-up" his pelvis and prevents him from being able to execute a left hip clearing action (rotation of the left pelvis back towards the tush line). This problem predisposes a golfer to pushed/push-sliced shots because the golfer cannot continue to pivot-rotate the upper torso around to the left post-impact.
It is therefore very important that a golfer rotate the pelvis to a certain degree in the backswing - preferably by approximately 45 degrees.
A golfer's technique of starting the downswing pelvic movement is also significantly affected by a golfer's degree of hula hula flexibility. The term "hula hula flexibility" refers to a golfer's ability to rotate the lumbar spine and pelvis without simultaneously rotating the upper thoracic spine and upper torso.
Belly dancers have a large amount of hula hula flexibility and that biomechanical fact allows them to gyrate their pelvis while keeping their upper torso and head stationary.
Belly dancers have a large amount of hula hula flexibility and that biomechanical fact allows them to gyrate their pelvis while keeping their upper torso and head stationary.
In my swing video lesson, I demonstrated a simple test that a golfer can perform to roughly assess his level of hula hula flexibility. Basically, if a golfer can rotate his pelvis >20 degrees at the start of the downswing, while keeping the shoulders back, then he has a large amount of hula hula flexibility.
If he can rotate it 10-20 degrees, while keeping the shoulders back, then he has a moderate amount of hula hula flexibility. If a golfer can only rotate the pelvis <10 degrees, while keeping the shoulders back, then he has a small amount of hula hula flexibility. If a golfer cannot keep the shoulders back, and the shoulders turn instantaneously when the pelvis starts to rotate, then the golfer (like the author) has zero hula hula flexibility.
If he can rotate it 10-20 degrees, while keeping the shoulders back, then he has a moderate amount of hula hula flexibility. If a golfer can only rotate the pelvis <10 degrees, while keeping the shoulders back, then he has a small amount of hula hula flexibility. If a golfer cannot keep the shoulders back, and the shoulders turn instantaneously when the pelvis starts to rotate, then the golfer (like the author) has zero hula hula flexibility.
If a golfer has a moderate-large amount of hula hula flexibility, then he may prefer to start the downswing pelvis shift-rotation movement during the late backswing - while the club is still moving to its final end-backswing position.
Starting the downswing in this manner has the advantage of a smooth transition between the backswing and downswing. However, it is only possible to start the downswing in this manner if a golfer has a lot of hula hula flexibility.
The pelvic movement consists of two components - a "falling" onto the left foot (which is significantly unweighted by the end of the backswing) and a pulling back of the left pelvis towards the tush line (left hip clearing action).
The pelvic movement consists of two components - a "falling" onto the left foot (which is significantly unweighted by the end of the backswing) and a pulling back of the left pelvis towards the tush line (left hip clearing action).
You can see Tiger Woods' pelvic motion in great detail in this swing video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wxn0sIkJH8
Note how Tiger Woods starts his backswing by rotating his pelvis against a braced right leg, which prevents any swaying of his pelvis right-laterally away from the target. Note how the left pelvis moves away from the tush line in the backswing.
During this process, note how the left knee moves rightwards and slightly outwards (towards the ball-target line) and this is due to the fact that the left leg is becoming progressively more unweighted during the late backswing - even if the left heel remains in contact with the ground.
Note how Tiger Woods reverses this "pelvic movement" process in the early downswing - note how the left knee moves back to the left and note how his left pelvis gets pulled back towards the tush line. Note that there is no deliberate sliding of the pelvis left-laterally towards the target. Once the left pelvis gets pulled back towards the tush line, the left hip clearing action continues uninterruptedly in a continuous motion.
There is a moment-in-time when Tiger Woods' pelvis is square to the ball-target line, but that moment-in-time is really only perceptible when viewing a swing video in slow motion. In reality, Tiger Woods' downswing pelvic motion is really a continuous pulling back of the left pelvis towards the tush line as recommended by Ben Hogan in this diagram from his book [3].
During this process, note how the left knee moves rightwards and slightly outwards (towards the ball-target line) and this is due to the fact that the left leg is becoming progressively more unweighted during the late backswing - even if the left heel remains in contact with the ground.
Note how Tiger Woods reverses this "pelvic movement" process in the early downswing - note how the left knee moves back to the left and note how his left pelvis gets pulled back towards the tush line. Note that there is no deliberate sliding of the pelvis left-laterally towards the target. Once the left pelvis gets pulled back towards the tush line, the left hip clearing action continues uninterruptedly in a continuous motion.
There is a moment-in-time when Tiger Woods' pelvis is square to the ball-target line, but that moment-in-time is really only perceptible when viewing a swing video in slow motion. In reality, Tiger Woods' downswing pelvic motion is really a continuous pulling back of the left pelvis towards the tush line as recommended by Ben Hogan in this diagram from his book [3].
Ben Hogan's elastic strip idea - from reference number [3]
During the backswing, the elastic strip becomes stretched when the left pelvis moves away from the tush line. Then, during the early downswing, the left pelvis gets pulled back towards the tush line as the elastic strip snaps back.
Note that there is no deliberate sliding motion of the pelvis left-laterally towards the target - the pelvis only moves a few inches leftwards when the left leg becomes progressively more weighted during the early downswing. Note that left leg primarilygets weighted on the left heel, and not the left forefoot, during this left hip clearing action - when the left buttocks gets pulled back towards the tush line.
Note that there is no deliberate sliding motion of the pelvis left-laterally towards the target - the pelvis only moves a few inches leftwards when the left leg becomes progressively more weighted during the early downswing. Note that left leg primarilygets weighted on the left heel, and not the left forefoot, during this left hip clearing action - when the left buttocks gets pulled back towards the tush line.
Consider again this swing video of Tiger Woods' pelvic motion in the downswing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wxn0sIkJH8
Tiger Woods at impact - capture image from his swing video
Note how open Tiger Woods' pelvis is at impact. It is very similar to that diagram from Ben Hogan's book. An open pelvis at impact is very characteristic of a golfer who starts the downswing with an assertive pelvic shift-rotation movement.
Unfortunately, there is a potential downside complication that is causally associated with an assertive downswing pelvic shift-rotation movement. If a golfer has a large degree of hula hula flexibility, it is possible for the pelvis to easily outrun the upper torso and arms in the early downswing and that phenomenon can cause the golfer to get "stuck".
Tiger Woods discusses this problem in his Golf Channel video presentation with Butch Harmon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PplQjd6ZP88
If you watch the entire 8 minute video segment, you will appreciate how easy it is to get "stuck" if the lower torso outraces the upper torso/arms in a golfer who has a moderate-large amount of hula hula flexibility.
Tiger Woods demonstrating his "stuck" position - capture image from his swing video
In this video, Tiger Woods demonstrates how he can easily get "stuck" in the mid-downswing when his pelvis outraces his upper torso/arms. Tiger Woods always has to concentrate on avoiding this problem by ensuring that there is a greater degree of synchronous coordination between the movement of his torso and his arms during his downswing.
Here is another video presentation, by Shawn Clement, on how to start the downswing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSHqnYNijw
Shawn Clement talks of "falling" onto his front foot as the first action that occurs in the downswing. At the end of his backswing, his weight is mainly distributed over his right heel and to a lesser degree over the left forefoot.
He then "falls" onto the left heel and that action starts the downswing action. This verbal/visual golf instructional presentation by Shawn Clement may resonate with certain golfers, because it may help them learn how to transfer their weight to their left foot at the start of the downswing action via a "correct" pelvic-shift rotation movement.
He then "falls" onto the left heel and that action starts the downswing action. This verbal/visual golf instructional presentation by Shawn Clement may resonate with certain golfers, because it may help them learn how to transfer their weight to their left foot at the start of the downswing action via a "correct" pelvic-shift rotation movement.
I personally find Shawn Clement's pelvic "falling" motion too exaggerated, and I think that amateur golfers should preferably emulate golfers who have a much "quieter" lower body movement.
I think that Stuart Appleby is a good role model for beginner golfers who are trying to improve their downswing's initiating pelvic action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jqJ9R2LypY note how Stuart Appleby's pelvis moves in the early downswing.
Stuart Appleby's downswing action - capture images from his swing video
Note that Stuart Appleby's pelvis only shifts a few inches to the left during the downswing. From a biomechanical perspective, it is not a left-lateral pelvic slide movement, although it can appear to occur in that manner when viewing his swing from a face-on view.
What is really happening is that the i) left pelvis is being pulled back to the tush line while ii) the left leg becomes progressively more weighted (creating a firm/braced supportive left side). The fundamental biomechanical mechanism is identical to that occurring in Tiger Woods'/Ben Hogan's swing, although the entire lower body movement appears to be much "quieter".
What is really happening is that the i) left pelvis is being pulled back to the tush line while ii) the left leg becomes progressively more weighted (creating a firm/braced supportive left side). The fundamental biomechanical mechanism is identical to that occurring in Tiger Woods'/Ben Hogan's swing, although the entire lower body movement appears to be much "quieter".
Here is another superb golfer, who has a very "quiet" lower body movement - Mike Finney -http://homepage.mac.com/brianmanzella/.Movies/mikestlocdriver05front.mov
(The swing video is an AppleQuicktime movie and requires an Apple media player).
Here is a third example of a golfer who has a "quiet" lower body shift-rotation action - Geoff Ogilvy.
Note that Geoff Ogilvy simply pulls his left buttocks back towards the tush line at the start of the downswing. Note that there is only a very small amount of left-lateral movement of the pelvis in the downswing, and that it is due to re-weighting the left leg, which then becomes progressively straightened/braced during the early-mid downswing.
The golf instructor, Brady Riggs, also emphasizes "quiet legs" in this swing video lesson - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzx0tLOckiY
If a beginner golfer wants to see many examples of very good downswing pelvic movements in professional golfers, then he/she merely needs to watch a LGPA event, because many lithe, flexible women golfers have wonderfully fluid downswing pelvic movements - that are very similar to Geoff Ogilvy's downswing pelvic action.
Finally, there is a less optimum method of initiating the downswing's pelvic shift-rotation movement, which is most suitable for golfers who have zero hula hula flexibility. If a golfer has no/little flexibility of his lower thoracic and lumbar spine, then his right shoulder is going to start moving as soon as the inflexible golfer starts moving the pelvis.
During the hip squaring phase of the downswing's pelvic action, the left pelvis is getting pulled back to the tush line while the right pelvis rotates slightly away from the tush line. This pelvic motion occurs mainly in a horizontal plane, and it is easy for the right shoulder to move too horizontally if the right shoulder tends to move as soon as the pelvic shift-rotation movement is initiated at the start of the downswing - due to the golfer's lack of hula hula flexibility.
To prevent that phenomenon from happening, it is possible for a discerning golfer to start the downswing with an active right shoulder downplane thrust action. That action will transmit a force down the inflexible spine, which pushes the lower lumbar spine and pelvis left-laterally. As the lower lumbar spine and pelvis shifts 1-2" left-laterally against the resistance of a braced left leg (adopted at address), the golfer will develop an increased degree of rightwards spinal tilt (secondary axis tilt). That makes it easier for the right shoulder to continue to move downplane during the remainder of the downswing - because the shoulders/upper torso naturally tends to rotate perpendicularly around the rightwards tilted spine.
During the hip squaring phase of the downswing's pelvic action, the left pelvis is getting pulled back to the tush line while the right pelvis rotates slightly away from the tush line. This pelvic motion occurs mainly in a horizontal plane, and it is easy for the right shoulder to move too horizontally if the right shoulder tends to move as soon as the pelvic shift-rotation movement is initiated at the start of the downswing - due to the golfer's lack of hula hula flexibility.
To prevent that phenomenon from happening, it is possible for a discerning golfer to start the downswing with an active right shoulder downplane thrust action. That action will transmit a force down the inflexible spine, which pushes the lower lumbar spine and pelvis left-laterally. As the lower lumbar spine and pelvis shifts 1-2" left-laterally against the resistance of a braced left leg (adopted at address), the golfer will develop an increased degree of rightwards spinal tilt (secondary axis tilt). That makes it easier for the right shoulder to continue to move downplane during the remainder of the downswing - because the shoulders/upper torso naturally tends to rotate perpendicularly around the rightwards tilted spine.
Whatever technique a golfer uses to initiate the pelvic shift-rotation movement, the correct kinetic sequence requires that the lower body move before the upper body. The degree of delay in movement of the upper body depends on a golfer's degree of hula hula flexibility and his adopted technique of starting the downswing's pelvic movement.
It is important to realise that although the pelvic shift-rotational movement initiates the downswing, it doesn't power the swing. It simply initiates the optimum kinetic sequence, and it is the rotating upper torso that primarily powers a left arm swinger's swing action - by inducing the release of PA#4. In my downswing chapter (and some other review papers) I described how the entire power package gets pulled down intact towards waist level by the pelvic shift-rotation action.
To keep the power package intact, a golfer also has to i) actively adduct the right arm towards the right side of the torso so that the right elbow can be actively driven to its pitch position in front of the right hip, and ii) actively drive the right shoulder downplane so that the distance between the right shoulder and the hands doesn't increase in the early downswing.
If the "right shoulder-to-hands" distance remains relatively constant, then it means that PA#4 is still loaded. At a certain time-point in the mid-downswing, the shoulder (upper torso) rotation slows down and the left arm is blasted away the chest wall in a downwards-and-forwards direction towards the ball. That represents the active release of PA#4.
The amount of energy (derived from the pivot-drive action) used to unload PA#4, and release the left arm, should be sufficient to allow the left arm to freewheel through impact to the end of the followthrough - it should "feel" like the motion of throwing a frisbee backhanded. The pivot-drive action does not need to supply additional swing power energy during the latedownswing, and a golfer should feel that the left arm is simply freewheeling through impact.
A golfer also needs to "feel" that the release of PA#2 (uncocking of the left wrist) and release of PA#3 (rolling of the left hand into impact) occurs passively/naturally. A left arm swinger does not need push-power from the right arm/forearm to actively induce the release of PA#2 or PA#3. It will happen automatically/naturally/passively if PA#4 is released with enough energy by an efficient pivot-drive action.
It is important to realise that although the pelvic shift-rotational movement initiates the downswing, it doesn't power the swing. It simply initiates the optimum kinetic sequence, and it is the rotating upper torso that primarily powers a left arm swinger's swing action - by inducing the release of PA#4. In my downswing chapter (and some other review papers) I described how the entire power package gets pulled down intact towards waist level by the pelvic shift-rotation action.
To keep the power package intact, a golfer also has to i) actively adduct the right arm towards the right side of the torso so that the right elbow can be actively driven to its pitch position in front of the right hip, and ii) actively drive the right shoulder downplane so that the distance between the right shoulder and the hands doesn't increase in the early downswing.
If the "right shoulder-to-hands" distance remains relatively constant, then it means that PA#4 is still loaded. At a certain time-point in the mid-downswing, the shoulder (upper torso) rotation slows down and the left arm is blasted away the chest wall in a downwards-and-forwards direction towards the ball. That represents the active release of PA#4.
The amount of energy (derived from the pivot-drive action) used to unload PA#4, and release the left arm, should be sufficient to allow the left arm to freewheel through impact to the end of the followthrough - it should "feel" like the motion of throwing a frisbee backhanded. The pivot-drive action does not need to supply additional swing power energy during the latedownswing, and a golfer should feel that the left arm is simply freewheeling through impact.
A golfer also needs to "feel" that the release of PA#2 (uncocking of the left wrist) and release of PA#3 (rolling of the left hand into impact) occurs passively/naturally. A left arm swinger does not need push-power from the right arm/forearm to actively induce the release of PA#2 or PA#3. It will happen automatically/naturally/passively if PA#4 is released with enough energy by an efficient pivot-drive action.
Many high handicap, left arm swingers have a very inefficient pivot-drive action and they do not release PA#4 with sufficient power in the early-mid downswing, and the left arm slows down too much before impact. Those golfers can sense that the left arm is moving too slowly in the late downswing, and they tend to use anactive right arm/forearm push action in the late downswing as a compensatory action.
This is a major swing fault, because the over-active right arm push action in the late downswing may i) push the hands too fast into impact and/or ii) interfere with the centrifugal release of the clubshaft (release of PA#2) and/or iii) over-roll the left hand during the release of PA#3. A better choice for a left arm swinger would be i) learning how to improve the efficiency of the pivot-drive action, or ii) choosing an alternative swing style if the pivot-drive action continues to be insufficiently effective.
This is a major swing fault, because the over-active right arm push action in the late downswing may i) push the hands too fast into impact and/or ii) interfere with the centrifugal release of the clubshaft (release of PA#2) and/or iii) over-roll the left hand during the release of PA#3. A better choice for a left arm swinger would be i) learning how to improve the efficiency of the pivot-drive action, or ii) choosing an alternative swing style if the pivot-drive action continues to be insufficiently effective.
0 komentar:
Post a Comment