Good rotation is the key
What muscles control certain parts of your body when you do an
athletic task? If you are a runner, your legs; a shot putter, your
arms; a chess master, the brain. The challenge of golf is that all
of these muscles are involved. But what should have the control?
All you have to do is take a 38-inch, 14-ounce golf club with a
2.5-inch club face and try to launch a golf ball, swung at 85 miles
an hour creating 100 pounds of pulling weight that contacts the
face in 0.00037 of a second and needs to launch at a 45-degree
angle to hit it towards your target!
Good rotation is the key
What muscles control certain parts of your body when you do an athletic task? If you are a runner, your legs; a shot putter, your arms; a chess master, the brain. The challenge of golf is that all of these muscles are involved. But what should have the control? All you have to do is take a 38-inch, 14-ounce golf club with a 2.5-inch club face and try to launch a golf ball, swung at 85 miles an hour creating 100 pounds of pulling weight that contacts the face in 0.00037 of a second and needs to launch at a 45-degree angle to hit it towards your target!
Where the hell is my bowling ball?
But when you learn to trust what really governs the golf swing it can and will work better. Everything you do during a day is done with your hands: brushing your teeth, driving your car and so on. But in golf, it is the tail wagging the dog if you rely on your hands. That statement is such a cliche that we don’t visualize what it would look like. (The smallest, weakest part trying to move the heaviest, strongest parts.)
The rotating of your torso should govern your swing. This is your “dog,” and your arms are the “tail.” They can move real fast but they aren’t as strong. Strength supports speed in the golf swing. All your hands should do is secure the golf club to your body.
The next time you are working on your swing make the dog wag the tail but if it gets to be too much you can take Jack Benny’s approach. He said, “Give me my golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep my golf clubs and the fresh air.”
The Welcome to Summer Kids Tournament will be held Sunday, June 25 at 3 p.m. Call or e-mail me for details or to enter your kids. I look forward to seeing you there.
Have any golf related questions? From rules to club fitting you can call me at 408-846-4531 or e-mail me at
sk*****@ea**********.com
. We are beginning our Summer Junior golf programs. We will be offering classes that run from five days a week on down to once a week. Call or e-mail me for more details. 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.
