Harvey Penick's Magic Move (Video)

This is a decidedly mechanical video, which I typically try to avoid. But Harvey Penick become a mythical trainer, and this video from The Art of Simple Golf does a good activity of explaining this approach. Done slowly as a drill, a mechanical action like this could teach you a simple swing sense.

Whether you lift your lead heel or no longer, let me restate the "Magic Move" so you understand what it's miles:

To start your downswing, allow your lead knee flow back towards the goal so your lower leg -- this is, from knee to ankle -- is vertical. AT THE SAME TIME, swing your trailing arm down so your higher arm -- from shoulder to elbow -- is vertical as nicely. Your trailing forearm will point straight "toward the digicam" from this function.

That is a very technical description, and I don't expect you to swing with any kind of speed while thinking about this complex motion. Rather, the manner to use this is as a sluggish-motion drill. Swing to the top of your backswing, then swing down to the "magic" position very slowly. And I do mean SLOWLY -- Take a 4-rely to do it. This way, you will get used to how your muscles move and your weight shifts without developing a lot of bad habits.

Here's one more thought that will make this downswing drill translate more easily to your actual swing: Don't try to point the club shaft parallel to your foot line, as it appears in the video. At the "magic" position, although your club shaft will be roughly parallel to the ground, it should actually point outward at a 20° to 30° angle away from you. The reason is because, during an actual swing, your wrists will be starting to uncock at this point, so the club will be starting to move down into impact position. By practicing with this slight angle, it will feel more like an actual swing.

Again, that is a very mechanical drill and, if you use it, make the downswing pass very slowly. Some of you might not find a good deal use for it, but it is able to be very beneficial if you're uncocking your wrists too early in your downswing.

Just bear in mind, DO IT VERY SLOWLY. That's how martial artists teach to use unusual moves for speedy motion, and you'll research new movements better that way as nicely.