The Secret Of The Golf Downswing Explained

Most golfers from low to high handicappers do not grasp the significance of the golf downswing. Justifiably, they focus on the set-up, grip, stance etc without putting sufficient importance on how they perform the downswing. When all is said and done, it is during the downswing that the two things every single golfer strives for, power and control, are produced. Power and control is the result of good timing and this can only be produced if you have an proficient golf downswing.

There are five main areas on which to concentrate:-

• Initiate the downswing by planting your left heel firmly on the ground.

• This will help drive your lower body in a forward direction.

• Start to turn your hips and allow your upper body and shoulders to follow naturally

• Keep your head down and behind the ball with your chin up slightly to allow your shoulders to rotate freely.

• Clear the hips out of the way to create space for the body to finish the swing.

The downswing should always start from the ground up. The left heel is pushed firmly on the ground to initiate the downswing, followed by the knees, hips, upper body, shoulders and arms. Initiating the golf downswing with the feet and legs permits the hips to turn and move out of the way and the shoulders should then be permitted to follow spontaneously.

If you can imagine that your spine is a metal rod. Then visualize that your body turns around this rod. Provided the position of the spine and the spine angle don't change too much, you should have a pretty good mental picture of what a good downswing should look like. The more you can let this golf downswing sequence progress without conscious interference from you, the more chance you will have of returning the club back to the ball with power and control.

One point to really focus on is keeping your head down. By this I mean, try and keep yours eyes focused on the back of the ball until just after impact. This should also help you keep your head very slightly behind the ball. This in turn should prevent your hips and shoulders from sliding too far forward.

Remember to lift your chin slightly throughout the golf swing. When your chin is virtually resting on your chest, it will impede your shoulders from having a free rotation and will cause tension. The swing can flow much more freely if you raise your chin slightly.

Rotating your hips properly is the real secret to power and control. The largest muscles used during the golf downswing are in and around the hips. Therefore, it makes sense that to maximize power and control, you must ensure that these muscles are performing optimally. If you can focus on the correct rotation of the hips and simply allow shoulders, arms and hands to follow naturally, you will be a long way down the road to having a powerful and controlled golf downswing.