As I introduce this month's topic on the importance in golf of weight forward at impact, I must reflect back for a moment to last month's topic of the flat left wrist and give credit where credit is due. Along with being a Certified Class 'A' PGA of America member, I also hold Level 1 Certification through the Titleist Performance Institute (T.P.I), which I will address later, as well as Doctorate status (G.S.E.D) in The Golfing Machine. Homer Kelley, the author of The Golfing Machine, is the mastermind behind much of the information that you read from me and hear from me when I am teaching. The flat left wrist is the number one imperative direct from his book and although Homer is no longer with us, he gets full credit for this most important alignment in golf.
In review, the 2012 newsletters are following a set of keys to improve ball striking and scoring. The January tip was short and sweet thanks to Jack Nicklaus, "Practice with a purpose; make every practice stroke count." February began the five keys to ball striking starting with the number one key, flat left wrist at impact. If you still have not had a chance to work on the drill to obtain the flat left wrist, be careful moving on to key number two, weight forward at impact.
Golf is a game played where your target, the hole, is forward of your body 99% of the time. The golf swing is a motor skill that demands proper weight shift in order to promote effective ball striking. Simply put, no matter how much weight you shift away from the target in the backswing, the weight must shift to the forward side of the body at impact to ensure more precise impact alignments and better ball striking. For a right handed golfer, this means you need to shift your weight onto the left side of your body in the downswing, and at impact, you should have more weight on your left than right side. This means more weight forward than back.
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Drill number one highlights my favorite golf stretch, the Pivot Stretch (See Picture #1). Because this stretch can and should be done indoors, my advice would be to perform this drill in front of a mirror. Anytime you can put a picture with a feeling you accelerate learning. Therefore, the mirror acts as a camera and you should see and feel the weight shift performing this exercise.
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Picture 1
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Picture 2
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Drill two, "Address Versus Impact and the Use of the Impact Bag" (See Picture #2). If weight shift is a dilemma that plagues your swing, then an Impact Bag should be a part of your tool box. The idea behind the bag is to promote a quality weight shift to the lead side of your body by the time you hit it. Repetition is the key to transferring this feel into a golf ball.
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Finally, drill three, "Practice on Downhill Lies" (See Picture #3). The downhill lie helps the body move weight towards the target approaching impact.
Hanging back or failing to shift your weight to the lead side of the body during the downswing is the leading cause for hitting the ground before the ball. With a flat left wrist and weight forward at impact, you are on your way to hitting the ball before the turf and improving your ball striking immediately.
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Picture 3
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Good luck with the drills, and if you need an Impact Bag give us a call.
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Ted Frick
2005 Carolinas PGA Section Teacher of the Year
TPI Level 1 Cetified Golf Fitness Instructor
G.S.E.D., The Golfing Machine
Owner / Director of Instruction
Classic Swing Golf School (Located at Legends Resort)
P.O. Box 50955
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-5560
1-800-827-2656
tfrick@classicswing.com
www.classicswing.com
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