Most overlooked aspect of the swing?

[mrodock]

What do you think is the most important aspect of the swing that is not commonly emphasized? The 3 imperatives are not eligible for nomination.

I think footwork and dynamic balance (I think they go hand-in-hand) are often overlooked. I don't think there is any reason for a player not to have excellent, professional quality footwork in their swing. It's easy, just a matter of practice.

Two of the best as far as footwork go in my opinion are Mac O'Grady (look at historicgolf.com) and Steve Elkington.

By the way, if your heel doesn't lead your toes (face-on view) in the first part of the downswing, you probably don't have professional quality footwork. If you are off your heel during the transition of your swing, again, you probably have some room for improvement.

I found out I had an ankle mobility issue that led to coming off my right heel almost immediately. Solution? Practice rolling onto the inside of the right foot, just as Nicklaus did with Jack Grout, hitting balls while not coming off the right heel.

Matt

[bambam]

I think setting up properly so you can get where you want to be at impact is commonly overlooked (outside TGM circles). In particular, getting one's alignments, radius, and head set correctly. You see a lot of people setup too close/too far from the ball, and you'll also see head positions too high or low because players just haven't been taught to go to impact fix. The compensation moves to get to the ball, whether it's bobbing, swaying, OTT, bending the left arm, etc... are killer. The reason I think this is the most overlooked is because you see quite a few really good players, even tour pros with this problem, and it takes no coordination, talent, or physical ability to get right.

[6bmike]

What do you think is the most important aspect of the swing that is not commonly emphasized? The 3 imperatives are not eligible for nomination.

I think footwork and dynamic balance (I think they go hand-in-hand) are often overlooked. I don't think there is any reason for a player not to have excellent, professional quality footwork in their swing. It's easy, just a matter of practice.

Two of the best as far as footwork go in my opinion are Mac O'Grady (look at historicgolf.com) and Steve Elkington.

By the way, if your heel doesn't lead your toes (face-on view) in the first part of the downswing, you probably don't have professional quality footwork. If you are off your heel during the transition of your swing, again, you probably have some room for improvement.

Matt

I always felt balance was a by-product of good mechanics. Important, yes indeed. Most over looked- Start Down.

[cometgolfer]

Discounting the imperatives AND the essentials (of which balance is included), I think it might be the finish swivel. I know I've overlooked it since I started playing and even since studying TGM. My focus was on the FLW and more recently on rhythm.

At my last range session I tried to make sure I "did it" and the results were incredible. Shots went from solid and straight to incredibly solid and straight (and quite a bit longer).

But it's easy "not to do" (for me anyway).

CG

[Yoda]

What do you think is the most important aspect of the swing that is not commonly emphasized? The 3 imperatives are not eligible for nomination.

Recently, I gave my 5-year-old granddaughter, Annie, her first golf lesson. She grabbed hold of a little U.S. Kids 7-iron I had nabbed from the Pro Shop, and at first I could only laugh: She hit ball-after-ball, as many as possible and as fast as possible. I mean, she was basically swinging continuously with her head down and hardly looking up; right foot planted; and left foot totally losing its place and dropping back 'in the bucket'.

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!

Address? Fuggedaboudit!

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!



I let her whale away -- learning to make contact is important! -- during the first 10 minutes or so of our 'lesson'. Then, I went to work:

First, I fixed her Grip a bit, so she at least had a chance. And she learned that word . . . Grip. Next, I showed her how to align the Clubface to the ball. She learned that word, too -- Clubface -- and she learned to check it before she attacked the next one. And I showed her how to put the ball in the middle of her feet.

Finally, we concentrated on Station 3, and Annie learned its name: the Finish. Let the learning begin now! I showed her my own Finish and had her imitate me. I adjusted hers a little here and there, and without telling her, made sure it incorporated the five alignments of the Mechanical Checklist for All Strokes, Section 12 (12-3-12):

"Look like this, Annie. See my back foot? It's off the ground. And see my head? It's looking here! And my hands and club, they're up here. See?"

"Is this right, Poppy?" she said as she lashed the air vigorously and showed me how she could do it all by herself.

"You bet, Annie. Now hit another ball."

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!



"Slow down, Annie. And hold your Finish, like this."

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!

"Annie, I'll buy you a milkshake at Johnny Rocket's if you hold your Finish until I count to five."



Whack!



"Did I do it, Poppy?"

"You bet you did, Annie. Now let's do it again."

Whack!

Fellows, with God as my witness, Annie was posing in the most beautiful Finish you could imagine. And, she continued to do so on shot-after-shot, all hit after taking her new Grip and aligning the Clubface to the ball. Oh, and putting the ball in the middle of her feet. On many of those swings, she made wonderful contact and sent the ball zipping off into the range. Guys on both sides stopped their own practice to watch. And like me, they were all smiles. It was something special to watch.

So, after the basics, what do I think is the most underestimated (and least taught) aspect of the Stroke?

The Finish.

If you know where you're going, you just might find a way to get there.



Oh, one more thing. Not surprising considering all the balls hit, Annie wore a blister. Where?

Her #3 Pressure Point (right forefinger).

This is going to be fun!

[mrodock]

Fellows, with God as my witness, Annie was posing in the most beautiful Finish you could imagine. And, she continued to do so on shot-after-shot, all hit after taking her new Grip and aligning the Clubface to the ball. Oh, and putting the ball in the middle of her feet.

I see a lot of people at the practice range ("grown-ups") that don't seem to have this level of patience or attention to detail.

[cometgolfer]

ROFL.... I can just picture that session! Thanks for letting us sit in.

Priceless.

CG

[Yoda]

I see a lot of people at the practice range ("grown-ups") that don't seem to have this level of patience or attention to detail.

That's because no one has ever promised them milkshakes at Johnny Rocket's!

[Yoda]

ROFL.... I can just picture that session! Thanks for letting us sit in.

Priceless.

CG

ROFL -- Rolling On the Floor Laughing.

Not so Net savvy after all!

But I'm learning!

[cometgolfer]

ROFL -- Rolling On the Floor Laughing.

Not so Net savvy after all!

But I'm learning!

Yoda,

You're plenty net-savvy, and I'm still chuckling at the image of the perfect follow-thru after the "carrot" has been dangled.

CG