Swaying too far off the golf ball toward your back foot in the backswing is one of the most common ways that amateurs lose power. 5-time Re/Max World Long Drive Champ Jason Zuback demonstrates the proper way to create power through coiling correctly to maximize tension in the backswing. Think “Turn”, NOT “Sway”.
Stick 2 club shafts in the ground vertically just outside the balls of your feet. On the backswing, your knee might touch the shaft but should not push on the shaft. On the finish, your front leg should contact the shaft to ensure you’ve transferred the majority of your weight to your front foot which maximizes your power.
Tim Mahoney, Director of Education for Troon Golf, gives a golf instruction lesson on having the proper ball position to executing accurate drives. If the golf ball is placed too far back in your stance, you will leave the ball out to the right, while a ball played too far forward will promote pulls.
When competing and the pressure is on, you need a golf shot that you can confidently hit into the fairway to help take off some of the pressure and improve your ability to score consistently. If you can regularly hit a 10 yard fade, then play that shot, even if the fairway lines up for a draw shot. Play to your consistent strengths to help you relax and don’t try to hit shots you aren’t confident with.
One of the most exciting and talented young players on Tour, Sean O’Hair also has one of the best golf swings around. Check out his move with the 3-wood, which is nearly perfect, and you too can learn to hit it long and straight.
Golf Follow Through - Mechanics
Now, let’s move on to the job of the body from impact to the finish.
At the moment of impact the knees are in the same position as impact. Yes, the left knee moved away from the golf ball towards the center of your stance and now it is moving back to the original position (#66). At this moment the left hip has moved towards the target an inch or two and is turning back and out of the way.
Left Knee Returns to Address
As the arms and hands pass the middle of the right leg, the right knee will begin to move parallel to the target line and the right heel is beginning to turn up (#67).
Right Knee is on the Move
When the club reaches the point after impact where it is parallel to the ground and pointing parallel to the target line, the left hip is behind you, the left knee is almost fully extended and the right knee has passed where the golf ball was on the ground. At this position, the body is moving at maximum speed and it will soon begin to slow down as it approaches the finish.
When the golf club passes through the 9:00 position the upper body will begin to straighten out with the right shoulder turning to the top and the shoulders will soon become level to the ground.
From the moment of impact, the top of your belt must remain level to the ground all the way until you have reached the finish. The shoulders will react the same way from the moment of impact all the way to the finish. The feeling you want is for the right shoulder to remain an inch higher and when turning to the finish, level to the ground.
Face the Target at Follow Through
When the golf club and your body has stopped turning your right heel is pointing toward the sky, your right knee is pointing to a parallel line with your target, your belt buckle will point towards the target and level to the ground, your body is tall and the shoulders are level to the ground. If your upper body is facing left of the target that is acceptable.
Golf Follow Through Instruction
The one thing you have to keep in mind is from the top of the backswing to the finish is a non-stop fluid motion. When the golf club starts down there is no slowing down or stopping of the club head. Many things take place during the downswing and they all have to be in sync with one another to make for solid impact.
The Follow Through is a Result
Ninety-five percent of the final part of the swing (moment of impact to finish) is a result of you swinging the golf club from the address position to the top of the golf swing correctly. If you get the golf club in the correct position at the top of the backswing, you will up your chances of hitting a solid golf shot.
Let’s take some time and discuss what takes place from the moment of impact to the finish. I will break it down into two sections. First, what happens to the golf club and secondly, what happens to the body.
Golf Club Position at Impact
At the very moment of impact, the clubface should be one or two degrees closed (#64). The clubface was square at address and as the golf club swings back to the top of the backswing, the clubface rolled open.
Clubface 2 Degrees Closed
As the golf club swings back down, the clubface has to swing back to square. It will begin to roll closed and continues to close until the toe is pointing up, when the shaft is pointing parallel to the target line (#65). As the arms and hands swing the club from the parallel position up to the finish, the club continues to close.
Clubface Continuing to Close to Finish
Let me share something with you right now. If I asked you what you think you have to do to hit the golf ball further I am afraid your first response will be the same as most of the golfing world. Swing harder. Yes, that is a start, however; the clubhead speed must be properly applied.
The ability to have the clubhead make solid contact with the golf ball with maximum speed is the combination of the golf club, arms, and hands moving in concert with the upper and lower body. This combination is referred to in golf as “timing”. Simply put, the most abused word in golf. Everybody uses it and not too many people know how to do it.
