There are more theories on what starts the downswing than mitochondria in the gut, and even the saavy mitocondria are a bit confused around the subject. Just check out You Tube. Well, maybe not. It'll drive you nuts, especially when you go to driving a golf ball. Most of us get to the top of the backswing OK. Well, mostly. But when we get there, what then? What starts the downswing. Some say the hips even before the arms descend. Some say the shoulder tilt. Some say the left hip shift. Some say the left knee. Some say the left hip rotation. Some say the hands. Some say the left arm. Some say the left heel. Some say a shift of the weight to the left. Some say think about nothing but keeping the head still and the rest will take of itself. And some say none of the above. OK, so what do I say? (I assumed that's what you were just wondering!)
In a recent visit to my golf laboratory (if you say it like the English, the range will sound more scientific), I found that two movements happen almost simultaneously. Which starts first, I really can't say. I would need a special camera to determine that. But it really doesn't matter. And I'll tell you why. Moving parts of the body forces other parts to move as well. It's called economy of motion, a concept I picked up from a guitar teacher a number of years ago. It works for changing guitar chords and it works for the golf swing.
My swing thought for that first movement has to do with the butt of the left hand pulling down towards the ball after the backswing has put the swing on plane (I've covered that in a prior post) and you've rotated the shoulders as far as your flexibility allows. That will vary with your age and how much you exercise to counteract the effects of aging. But once you judge you are at the top of your backswing (and again that will vary with each golfer), you pull the butt of the left hand (right hand if you're lefty, course) down on the same plane as you went back on in the direction of the golf ball. If you keep the head steady, that will automatically shift and rotate the hips to the left, shifting your weight to the left side which is very important for irons and not quite as important for the driver off the tee. Again, as I've covered before, that allows you to hit down and through for irons and up and away for drives.
So what I'm suggesting, and my own experiments have proved, is that subtle first move of the butt of the forward hand will get the downswing moving, and moving in the right direction and sequence. Your hands and their hold on the grip are the most sensitive parts of your body. Listen to what they have to say and follow their lead.
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Beware the injured, sick, or grieving golfer. Erik van Rooyen was grieving his best friend's prognosis that cancer was ominously spreading through his body and he really wanted to be there visiting with him in hospital instead of playing in the PGA's World Wide Technology Championship this past weekend. Van Rooyen had to consciously stay focused on his golf and not let his mind drift to his friend's condition. He came to the last nine holes trailing Matt Kuchar by several strokes, but the South African proceeded to catch fire and finish birdie, birdie, eagle to win by two. After a ho-hum 35 front, he fired a 28 on the inward nine for one of the greatest finishes ever. It was the 33 year old's second PGA victory, and a case of transforming his grief into honoring and inspiring his friend.