L earning how to start the downswing in golf will not only drastically improve your ball striking, but will also lead to increased consistency on the course…
As an amateur golfer, improving your understanding of how to start the downswing in golf can have a dramatic impact on your performances and the consistency of your scoring.
Whether you want to stop coming over the top, generate more power or learn how to create lag in the golf swing, improving your downswing sequence is the place to start.
It may seem obvious, but understanding the downswing sequence is no good if you don’t also learn how to improve things like your set up fundamentals, backswing and position. It’s also worth ensuring you have the perfect golf grip, to make sure you are giving yourself the best chance of creating a successful golf swing.
The biggest difference between club golfers and professionals is the way they start the downswing. The key is for the body to begin to turn and unwind before the club changes direction.
The world’s best players have a beautiful transition, with the lower body starting to recentre and rotate ahead of the club changing direction. The lower body should be leading the charge to activate the downswing and you need to make sure that this happens.
If you wait too long to start the downswing, it normally results in one of two scenarios – either a sideways sliding hip action or a hanging back, over-the-top move that causes a slice.
If you only perform a lateral weight shift, you’ll have excessive hip slide; if you only perform rotation, you’ll be hanging back with too much weight on your trail foot. I use the two drills below to ensure a nice blend of lateral pressure shift and rotation. The key is to identify which you need more of and do the appropriate drill to get the balance right between the two. Pic 1
Pic 1
To improve the rotation of the hips, start by exaggerating your knee flex at set-up, as in a squat. Use a touch of forward shaft lean and put pressure into your lead foot. Now simply make a tiny backswing and then a forward swing. Focus on extending and straightening your left leg, turning upwards like crazy with your hips and chest into a full finish. This will boost power as you push from the ground. Pic 2
Pic 2
To improve lateral weight shift, start with your feet together. Move the club forward to slightly in front of the ball to get some momentum going in the backswing. Swing back, then just before the club reaches the top of the backswing, take a small step on to the golf ball to put pressure into the ball of your left foot. Loading weight onto your left side gets the pressure in the lower half moving more laterally and initiates the downswing nicely. Pic 3
Pic 3
