Swing Journal 4.26.17

n the last post I described how my goal with the swing is to develop a low rate of closure and low overtaking rate release referred to as the ‘ Drive Hold Release .’ While it may sound like we are just trying to put my hands in a position of the Drive Hold Release, what we are actually working on are the mechanics prior to the release phase of the golf swing. Those mechanics will make it easier and more likely to execute the Drive Hold Release. Without those mechanics…it’s unlikely I will obtain a Drive Hold Release.

Before we cross on, it?S important to note multiple my ideals through my experience as a purchaser of golf education.

‘ I don’t buy into swing models .’

‘ I don’t buy into ‘swinging your swing.’ The swing is learned and not innate .’

The problem with swing models is that very rarely you spot one person do the whole lot an instructor preference. Let?S say an teacher has 6 key portions to their swing. Usually you may see a high-quality player have 4 or five of these pieces. Or they execute the ones pieces sorta much like what the trainer teaches?However they exaggerate it enough that it doesn?T appearance the identical?But, it?S basically doing the identical component.

Thus, looking forward to me or any golfing scholar to execute the version is likely an exercise in futility and might be very detrimental.

I would alternatively determine out what I do properly and what I do poorly. Figure out what hurts my ballstriking and what does not hurt my ballstriking and then attack the ones weaknesses and try to come up with mechanics which have a few resemblance to what the golf teacher wants to the point in which it is no longer a detriment to my game.

***

I break down Kelvin?S paintings into Upper Body Mechanics vs. Lower Body Mechanics. I?Ve discovered that this allows me apprehend the swing higher and better destroy down matters so I can practice them extra effectively.

I favor to paintings on both just Upper Body or simply Lower Body mechanics if I can. Working on each on the same time may be problematic.

LOWER BODY MECHANICS

Strong Pelvic Rotation at the downswing

Avoid Right Pelvic Tilt too early in the downswing

Femurs will Abduct in transition and then adduct into effect (Sam Snead Squat)

We are looking to get pelvic rotation within the downswing because we don?T need the pelvis to stall in any other case it is going to be close to not possible to attain a Drive-Hold Release. IMO, the gamers that maintain to swing the palms with a stalled pelvis will expand a Roll Release (high rate of closure). Those players that stall their arms with a stalled pelvis will increase a Flip Release (high overtaking charge).

The diagram above is showing the returned view of a human and stepping into right pelvic tilt. The cause we want to avoid Right Pelvic Tilt too early within the downswing is that the pelvis rotation will stall. Right Pelvic Tilt is extra of a ?Sliding? Movement of the hips than a rotational movement.

Here?S a p.C of Dustin Johnson within the downswing. He is in LEFT Pelvic Tilt which aids in him being capable of continue to rotate. You may also see that each of his femurs are in abduction, aka the Sam Snead Squat. Eventually his femurs will adduct and assist preserve the pelvis rotating thru and beyond effect.

As far as ?Weight? (aka Center of Pressure) switch is going, it have to look some thing like this:

You will see that within the backswing Victor receives his weight all on his proper foot.

He then transfers his ?Weight? To over eighty% on his left foot within the downswing.

However, earlier than impact his hips are nonetheless rotating and that reasons his ?Weight? To be nearly 50/50 at effect (absolutely 52% on his proper foot/48% on his left foot)

This is defined as a ?Fishhook? Trace due to how the CoP trace forms a pattern that looks like a fishhook. This is common with the drive maintain release inside the golfing swing.

UPPER BODY MECHANICS

Lumbar Lordosis in Backswing

Lateral Bending of the Spine in Downswing

Rear Shoulder External Rotation

Getting Center of Mass of Club under the Net Force of the Hands

Kelvin describes lumbar lordosis inside the golfing swing on his weblog. That?S generally now not a big difficulty for me apart from I on occasion get ?Lazy? Within the backswing and don?T get into lumbar lordosis and must be reminded to achieve this.

Since Kelvin?S technique focus on rotating the pelvis with little lateral movement (rotational = biased in the direction of a slice), we counter that slice action by means of moving the torso greater ?Under.? Meaning that the rear shoulder actions downward, sorta growing an ?Indirect crunch? In the downswing at the same time as the pelvis is rotating. As Kelvin as soon as told me ?It can also feel such as you?Re making an over-the-pinnacle move together with your pelvis and making a swing to hit a hook together with your shoulders and torso.?

The moves of the upper frame (linear movements) and lower body (rotational actions) no longer handiest counter every different to produce a greater rectangular path, but there is a ?Coupling movement? Within the frame in which the pelvis will rotate *more* while the backbone tilts into to the hips. This is defined on this video via Dr. Bob Olivieri.

Dr. Olivieri is discussing this close to the backswing, but it applies to the downswing as properly.

So?We're looking to rotate the pelvis to create a force-keep release to be able to help manipulate the face and dynamic loft. But, with this rotation of the pelvis it'll additionally help with membership speed. And that?S where lots of Kelvin?S players and Lucas Wald?S gamers hit the ball very long?The rotation of the pelvis supporting create extra membership velocity (all the whilst a drive-keep release supporting manipulate the face and dynamic loft).

So in essence, we're trying to get a number of pelvic rotation with lateral bend (i.E. The oblique crunch).

However, all of this is for no longer if the participant gets into Right Pelvic Tilt too early. The coupling action disappears while the golfer receives into Right Pelvic Tilt.

***

Lastly, the movement of the arms and shoulder joints is essential. I would certainly consider this motion an Upper Body Movement.

The big key is the external rotation of the rear shoulder inside the downswing:

The outside rotation of the rear shoulder helps get the Center of Mass underneath the Net Force of the palms (aka getting 'on aircraft' in place of being 'over the top').

The shoulder joint is also the fastest moving joint in the body so if it is externally rotated in the downswing it will eventually internally rotate with great force. And all of this leads back to the 'Drive Hold Release.'

Here's a good video from Grant Hooper, who never actually took a lesson from Kelvin, but simply read his articles and the progress he made. Not only was the progress amazing, but Grant describes so many of the key pieces such as the lateral bend of the spine, not going into right pelvic tilt (feeling like your rear shoulder and rear hip are going to 'kiss' in the downswing). As well as the external rotation of the rear shoulder.