No Backswing Golf Swing
The No Backswing Golf Swing. What the heck? I thought the Stack and Tilt Golf Swing was the new, whiz bang golf method taking the golf community by storm. Is golf now getting like dieting? There’s a “new way” every week.
This no backswing approach is one that’s been used as a golf drill by golf instruction professionals for years, so it’s kind of comical this is the new craze in golf swing improvement.
It has a lot of merits to consider. The short backswing makes your transition and sequence of motion in the downswing much easier. It enhances solid ball contact which maximizes distance; so what you think you might lose from backswing coil, you gain in ball/clubface contact.
Unfortunately the negative is the golf swing requires a take-away. This no backswing golf swing removes that, so you might have a difficult time carrying over from the drill to can actual swing from address.
This may or may not be an issue, but I think doing the No Backswing Golf Swing is worth a shot. Who knows…you may dramatically improve your golf swing consistency and mechanics.
Full Shoulder Turn Golf Drill
You’ve heard it before. You MUST have a full shoulder turn for maximum clubhead speed, power and distance. I want to briefly explain that a full shoulder turn does not mean your golf club has to get high at the top of your backswing. So many golfers are worried about getting the club shaft parallel to the ground at the top.
This is not so! It’s becoming more common to see the touring pro’s not reach parallel at the top, even with their golf driver. As long as you get a 90 degree shoulder turn with about half that in hip turn, you will have maximum clubhead speed, and better yet, more control over your golf swing.
I want to show you a drill you can do in your home, garage, office and of course on the practice tee.
See the club I have on the ground to the left of my right foot? See the club across my shoulders?. Match those up and you know you’ve made a full shoulder turn on your backswing.
Give it a try!
Monday’s With Morrie
We are on Week 9 of our 10 week golf swing transformation with Morrie. Morrie had a frustrating week of golf, but we got him straightened out, and his spirits are back up. We’re on my main blog here, and unfortunately it does not allow comments, but I know your thoughts are with us.
The course and the greens look kind of trashed, but for some reason the video is doing some of this. The greens are much better than the video shows. Do I sound like I’m defending my course <grin>?
The Power Golf Swing Trainer we had Morrie try turned out so good for him, that he bought one right here on the site, and here’s what he had to say about it:
“Mike let me try his Power Golf Swing Trainer the other day…..and wow! It keeps your triangle and right arm in tact all through the swing. I added imediate distance and I could get through the ball with out trying to steer it. I ordered one for my self!
Many of you have been following “Mondays With Morrie” I’m Morrie, and this simple comfortable trainer worked for me in just a few swings I could see the triangle. Check out
my next episode tomorrow….you’ll see some mighty powerful results.”
Golf Swing Transition
Your golf swing transition is one of the MOST important aspects of your golf swing. Many golfers (including me sometimes) get this wrong. The sequence of motion that occurs from the top of your backswing going into the downswing is critical to maximizing optimal golf swing power and distance.
As seen in the picture above with Ben Hogan, you can see a big emphasis on the lower body from the top. I don’t really like the angle of his shoulders in the second picture, or his right elbow so “stuck” to his right side, but I think you get the idea.
Many golf swing faults like over the top (slice), casting and a “hit” mentality are a result of an improper transition from the top of your golf swing.
One very important move is the transfer of weight from the right side at the top to approximately center very quickly. This is nearly a 50/50 balance of weight at this point. As you can see with hogan, there is not a big lateral slide of the hips from the top, but a little bump and then an aggressive rotation of the left hip to get out of the way so the right side can fire as hard as it wants coming into impact.
This golf swing transition move is one I work on daily in front of a mirror, and still have a hard time doing it correctly on the course.
Early Mistakes That Lead To High Scores
Every spring golfers flock to shops like ours set on making this the year that they shoot the lights out. They’ve done their homework over the winter and have all sorts of preconceived ideas as to what combination of equipment will yield the best results. I thought we’d take a look at some of the common mistakes I see customers make when shopping for equipment at the start of the season.Don’t make your buying decisions based on the first few swings of the year…
I know this one sounds really basic but it’s amazing how many people buy clubs before hitting the range for the first time. People have to remember that they’re buying clubs that will perform during the most important shots of the year… not clubs that will fit their worst swings of the season. Go knock off the rust with a few trips to the driving range and then look at new clubs. Look back on last season and think about what kind of shots you were hitting. These shots will eventually find their way back into your arsenal unless you took a bunch of lessons in the off season. I see a lot of low hooks early in the year and some golfers figure that their slice somehow disappeared over the winter. Don’t fool yourself… if you sliced all of last year, you’ll probably slice this year too. Buy accordingly!
Add a few MPH to your early season swing speed…
Kind of a basic one but an important one to remember. We measure a lot of swing speeds at the start of the year as people look to fine tune their new purchases. It’s important not to underestimate your swing if you are buying early in the year. Focus less on the swing speed reading that you get early in the year and think more long term. I find most people will swing 5-8 MPH faster as the season rolls on. If you’re on the “swing speed fence” and have to choose between shaft flexes… it’s something to keep in mind.
Don’t commit to a golf ball right off the bat…
Choosing the right golf ball is vital and it’s a decision that doesn’t have to be made before you step onto the tee for the first round of the year. Buy a few different sleeves and take them out to test before deciding on your ball for the year. Find one that works well and stick with it… your swing will probably never be consistent but at least your golf ball will be…
Buy now and fit later…
Unless you spent your winter golfing, you’re probably best to use your new clubs before getting them fit. It’s not a huge deal to change lie or length down the road. Focus on shaft flex and grip size when initially purchasing clubs, go use them for a while and then look at getting them fit. Fitting someone early in the season is a fun time… we can fit one swing but it can get a bit tricky when you throw three or four different ones at us! Most shops have no problem fitting down the road… just remember to hang onto your receipt.
Sometimes the best purchase is the one you don’t make…
I know that the equipment companies don’t want to hear this but it’s true.
If everything was working well last year then you’re probably best to stick with it for a while. The start of a new season doesn’t mean you have to buy new gear. New clubs will still be there over the summer if you really get the urge to change it up. You might find that some new grips and spikes are an inexpensive alternative to dropping the big bucks.
Think of the course before buying the equipment…
Play the same course all the time? Have you ever stopped and looked at your bag to see if it matches the types of shots you see on a regular basis? If you play a really long course… load up on hybrids and/or fairway woods. Is your home course shorter? Lose a few long irons and add some wedges. Take notice of your turf and sand conditions… these are important when selecting the proper bounce on your wedges. Find a putter that suits the speed of your greens. Invest in a light stand bag if your course is hilly and you want to walk. Make sure you have the right tools. Everyone is all about distance at the start of the year but they often don’t realize that the little things will probably make more of a difference. An important tip if you’re moving to a new course this year!
Be sure to swing by SirShanksAlot.com for all you golf club reviews, golf news and golf rumors!
Right Hand Release For More Power
There is so much conflicting information out there for getting more power. You know me by now…I am a firm believer in working on the machine via golf fitness to improve the body’s ability to produce more power, but there are other ways to help with this power leak in your golf swing. One way is to release the club through impact. This release can cause a wicked hook if you overdo it, but with a little practice, you can get your release to impart a ton of power into your golf ball.
Golf Tips ~ Do They Help
Golfers yearn for golf tips! It’s like dieting in the weight loss industry. People keep looking for the magic bullet, so they go on every diet that comes out. Is that the way to success? I don’t think so. The way to success is to analyze your specific situation, rather it be playing better golf or losing weight, and target the exact issue causing your lack of success.
I know that sounds like a “duh” statement, but only a small percent of people do this, and that is why most golfers are not successful improving their scores and performance.
Stay focused on your specific task until it is solved!
Do You Consider Yourself A Bad Golfer
I woke up this morning thinking about golf as usual (I know get a life right?) and was thinking about all the frustrated golfers who have the mindset they are a bad golfer.
It got me to thinking about the outcome of these golfers with this mindset going into every round. It is not a pretty picture and one that can be improved very quickly if you get out of your own skin and make some logical assessments of your game.
Many of these golfers will try golf tips at will. Anything they hear they will try. Does that sound familiar? I know I have been there. Do you think that approach has worked? I don’t since they say the USGA handicap has not improved in over 30 years, even with equipment and technology.
It is time to make a change, and take a different approach.
For more information on the bad golfer,check out our golf tips section of our main site.
Secrets Of Golf - To Play Better
Is there real secrets of golf we need to know? I was thinking today about the never-ending pursuit of a better golf swing and game. I can honestly say on the cover of almost every golf magazine states the secrets to a powerful swing.
Or…the secret you need to know or you will never improve your game…right? Isn’t this just all hype and marketing? If you have played much golf, you know there is no secrets. There might be things you need to understand. Is that then a secret to you?
The magazine writers get paid to GET YOUR ATTENTION!
If you really want to know the secrets of golf, visit the Golf Tips section of the main site.
Golf Drills Can Eliminate Swing Faults
I don’t know about you, but isolating your swing fault with a golf swing drill is one of the most effective ways to eliminate a swing fault.
I came across a golf drill site that is one of the most comprehensive sites pertaining to golf drills I’ve ever seen.
The teaching pro behind the site is Duncan McGillivray.
I’m proud to say we will be having Duncan post some of his valuable golf drills on this blog, and I am fortunate enough to do the same for him at his blog.
If you’re dealing with a swing fault that you just can’t correct, I strongly suggest you go over there and take a look.
