This video from the SirSwingsAlot channel on YouTube offers a simple thought for maintaining your spine angle throughout your swing.
This thought of swinging your trail shoulder under your chin through impact is something that may or may not come easily to you. It requires you to be aware of how your body is moving when you swing. But it's a useful way to feel that your spine is holding its angle to the ground without becoming too hung up on swing mechanics.
But if you're having trouble finding this feeling, here's something that might help: In order to swing your trail shoulder under your chin without straightening up, your weight will need to shift slightly to your lead foot and leg. This is actually something you do naturally when you turn to the side under normal circumstances; it's only when you start thinking "oh my, I've got to swing this golf club" that you start hindering your natural movements!
So if you think of swinging your trail shoulder under your chin and ending up balanced on your lead leg, there's a good chance you'll find this move pretty easy to do... and pretty easy to do consistently as well. Try it with half-speed swings at first and, once it starts to feel comfortable, start working your way up to full speed. Staying level during your swing may be easier than you expect!
Keeping the spine angle so constant, that does not look athletic.Many players/ teaching pros eg Shawn Clement say that we can/ should allow some extension in backswing and squat in transition & again extend.
ReplyDeleteI realize it doesn't look particularly athletic, Alfred -- and I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to do it if it hurts them to do it -- but if you swing your trail shoulder beneath your chin, it does tend to create extension in your followthrough. Your chest moves upward a bit as your trail shoulder moves beneath your chin.
DeleteSounds weird I know, but you can feel the extension if you try it. But again, if it causes discomfort in your lower back, I'd give my standard advice -- the golf swing shouldn't hurt. If it does, ignore this drill and move on to something else.