The 4th and final influence on the flight of the golf ball is clubhead speed. It is clubhead speed that tells the golf ball how far to go. In order to create club head speed we will have to put the swing in motion. Today I will discuss your back swing. Start with a little more weight on your right side than your left ( right handed golfers ) More of your weight will transfer to your right side in the backswing.We must swing the club back in order to create a coiling of the upper body (while resisting with the lower body) that will allow us change directions and deliver the clubhead to the ball on the proper swing path, with a clubface square to target and delivered at the proper angle of approach as dictated by the length of the club.
It is anatomically impossible to swing the club back on the same plane as the club head. Ideally the club should be swung on a plane about half way between vertical and horizontal. An easy way to find your proper swing plane for your build is to turn your shoulders away from the ball, while swinging the club up with your arms aiming the club to your intended target at the top of your backswing. In your backswing your shoulders do the turning and your arms do the swinging. You can practice this by 1.) addressing the golf ball 2.) turn your shoulders away from the ball so your back is facing the target while resisting with your lower body, keeping your head reasonably still 3.) swing your arms up cocking your wrists and pointing the club head toward your target. Failure to get into this position will have a direct bearing on your swing path. ( refer the exersize that I told you about in the post Introduction to Ball Flight- Golf Club Swing Path ). If your swing is too horizontal ( flat ) your natural swing path tendency will be inside to outside forcing the ball flight to start to the right of target. If your swing is too vertical ( upright ) your natural swing path tendency will be outside to inside forcing the ball flight to start to the left.
Not achieving a good position at the top of your backswing can also influence your angle of approach. A too vertical swing can create an angle of approach that is too steep and conversely swing that is too horizontal can result in an ange of approach that is too shallow. It is well worth your while working on this because until you are comfortable swinging the club to the proper position it does not make sense to talk about reversing directions and swinging the club back to the ball.
Clubhead speed is created by uncoiling the coil of the upper body that you created earlier in this post. It is this uncoiling that creates your clubhead speed. I know to many of you the subjects of grip and setup are probably boring. Believe me when I tell you that when a really good golfer starts to play poorly it most of the time can be traced to a problem with the grip or setup or both. Do youself a favor and practice these things. In the next post we will complete the topic of clubhead speed. Until then, Good Golfing.
