When Does the Backswing End and...

the downswing start?

Obviously, it's useful to know when your backswing ends for the  simple reason that you'll then know when the downswing starts. That transition may well be the most important component of a golf swing. And we often launch into it too fast and without much awareness of when and how it happens. It's actually the last opportunity to be conscious of a part of your swing before it's over. It's my only swing thought and sets me up for a swing speed that even for slow swingers like myself, is fast (just imagine going 70 mph in a car!).

Since the hips turn and the shoulders rotate going back, I use the point when the left shoulder touches my chin as the top of the backswing. You may have a different trigger. Whatever works. Just note it in your mind and commence the downswing. I've chosen the shoulder and chin because I can easily see this happening instead of imagining the right hip turning to the right, for example.

At that point there's no time for another swing thought. Gravity mostly takes it from there along with the pace of your swing. Your goal is direct and solid contact of ball to the sweet spot of the club. Touching the chin to the shoulder, helps keep the head steady and the body on plane at the start of the downswing, which are critical. My models include Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Lydia Ko, Minjie Lee, and Nellie Korda.

Try it out and let me know how it works for you.

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My favorite basketball player happens to be a pretty darn good golfer as well. The Indiana Fever's WNBA Rookie of the Year phenom Caitlin Clark will be displaying her golf skills at Annika's Pro-Am on November 13.  In fact, she'll be playing along side Annika and Nellie Korda. Not sure if the pro-am will be televised but assuming CC's popularity, I'll bet it will.

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I am one who usually does not bring politics into these pages, but when Arnold Palmer is mentioned in a crude and crass way by a presidential candidate, I feel compelled to respond. Donald Trump said this at his rally in Pennsylvania recently as reported by CNN: "Arnold Palmer was all man, and I say that in all due respect to women, I love women… This man was strong and tough, and I refused to say it, but when he took showers with the other pros they came out of there, they said ‘Oh my god. That’s unbelievable." It's quite obvious what part of the body Trump was referring to.

Arnold was a hero and role model of mine when I was a kid. He was kindhearted, honest, generous,  and a golfer of exceptional integrity, honor, courage, compassion, courtesy, perseverance, and skill--all much more indicative of masculinity than what Trump implied. The memory of Arnold Palmer must not be besmirched by crude remarks from an unhinged candidate who will use crass misrepresentations of "The King."

That's just one of the reasons (in 2015, he said only the rich, elite should be permitted to play golf, that "it should be something someone should aspire to") I dislike Trump. If you have any inclination to vote for this low-life, I urge you not to do so.

BTW, Golfweek reports that Trump International golf resort in Scotland has lost about $20 million over the last 11 years since its inception.

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Congrats to Tim O'Neill,  winner of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic on Sunday, to my knowledge, the first African American to win a Champion's Tour event. This tour is one of the most competitive in the world, and one of the toughest to obtain and maintain a card. When asked, after his 64 final round what came to mind with the word perseverance, O'Neill said, "You're looking at him." Keep an eye on this talented 50 year old for more wins.

And speaking of African Americans and golf, I once saw Charlie Sifford hit a huge drive to clear the creek on the first hole at Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia, a great muni where I learned the game some 60 years ago. The course is undergoing an extensive renovation, funded in part by contributions from Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth. It's expected to reopen next year some time.