Chin Ups
A good shoulder turn is the way we coil our upper body to create
power for the downswing. Positioning our head down inhibits our
ability to swing through the ball. Try this: Take your address
position, keeping your eye on the ball and leaning one foot to the
right then one foot to the left. Were you able to see the ball? The
fact that we can still see the ball in both of these instances
proves we don’t have to bury our head down on our chest to see the
ball.
”
Head down, eye on the ball
”
is a very rigid command to give to your body just before you are
about to begin what should be a rhythmic, flowing motion that must
finish in balance. That being said, one thing that can’t be denied
is that a still head during your golf swing will allow you to
return the club to the ball more efficiently than if your head is
moving.
Chin Ups
A good shoulder turn is the way we coil our upper body to create power for the downswing. Positioning our head down inhibits our ability to swing through the ball. Try this: Take your address position, keeping your eye on the ball and leaning one foot to the right then one foot to the left. Were you able to see the ball? The fact that we can still see the ball in both of these instances proves we don’t have to bury our head down on our chest to see the ball.
“Head down, eye on the ball” is a very rigid command to give to your body just before you are about to begin what should be a rhythmic, flowing motion that must finish in balance. That being said, one thing that can’t be denied is that a still head during your golf swing will allow you to return the club to the ball more efficiently than if your head is moving.
Arnold Palmer’s father taught him to swing as hard as he wanted, but to swing as if his head was held in a vice. Jack Nicklaus’s primary instructor, Jack Grout, used to hold on to Jack’s hair during his swing. Keep in mind that both players’ heads were turned slightly to the right before they began the take-away.
From now on make a conscious effort when addressing the ball to keep your chin off your chest. Try this: Take your club and hold it out about belt high. Make sure your feet are the right distance apart for the club in your hands. Now stand up straight and imagine you have your chin on the top of a fence. Keeping your knees flexed and pointing you club head 90 degrees out from your belt buckle, tilt the fence down until you club head touches the ground. Don’t drop your head, just bend. If you get this right, when you let go of the club with your right hand it should hang naturally in line with where it was on the club.
If you hold the club too high before you start and let go with the right after you bend, it will be closer to your body than your left hand. This means you are reaching for the ball and will have trouble keeping your head still. This set-up procedure works with all clubs and will help you get your chin up and out of the way so your shoulders have room to work. Now when you swing your head will have a better chance of staying still because it isn’t being pushed off the ball during your backswing.
Just a reminder – any police officer, firefighter or active military personnel can play Eagle Ridge GC Monday through Thursday for half price, so please come see us. Eagle Ridge’s Kids Course is open every Sunday at 2 p.m. for kids 12 and under. Cost is $5 for all the holes you want to play. We provide clubs, balls and tees. Have any golf related questions? From rules to club fitting you can call me at 408-846-4531 or e-mail me at [email protected]. If you would like to read some of my past tips, you can do so at www.pinnaclenews.com. And don’t forget, if you’re not having fun playing golf call your local PGA or LPGA instructor, we will help. Golf is more fun when you’re improving. Don’t be afraid to be good.
