Lesson 5 - The Down Swing.(Changed 21/04/2025)

 

Basically the down swing is all about using the pivotal/rotational action of the hips to force the whole twisted body to rotate around the axis of the spine whilst the upper body held as a one piece unit -- and carried out as a single movement., but importantly, the down swing is performed at a ridiculously slow pace until the ball has been struck and at that point the club head is whipped through the contact area.

The condition of the upper body unit at the end of the back swing movement, where the left arm is close to the right shoulder and the whole body in is a fully twisted condition must be maintained throughout the down swing and until well into the follow though movement.

The only thing that changes it that before the ball is struck the right arm is in a bent position and the left arm is straight -- then after ball has been struck, the right arm is fully extended and the left arm begins to fold.

It is a simple action, as the left hip begins to rise, the whole twisted body unit rotates around the central core of the spine thus automatically returning the club head to the ball -- an easy one piece movement.

Throughout the down swing, the hip movement is in complete control over the movement of the upper body unit, but importantly the hands must not go past the original address position until the club head strikes the ball and at that exact moment the whole body turns as a one piece unit to fully face the target area.

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The down swing is a very simple action - the hips both pivot and turn simultaneously, which forces the compact upper body to rotate around the central axis of the spine, and as the shoulders get near to the original address position the arms are used to accellerate the club head into and through the contact area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Down Swing Sequence.

***The upper body must be held at the end of the back swing movement for a millisecond whilst the hip begin to rotate/pivot towards the target area and then as the movement of the hiups causes the upper body to follow, the hips and the twisted upper body unit rotates in synchronisation however there is a further slight delay before you begin to swing the arms/club head into and through the contact area ***

*** The down swing movement is a combination of deliberate delayed actions.***

 

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Before you start look at this Video -- It shows you how to use your body as you strike the ball.

The aim of the down swing movement is to achieve the perfect impact position --- ( see still photos of top professional golfers.)

 

At the end of the back swing movement the full rotation of the shoulders has caused the muscles of the whole body to have been wound up to its maximum, and the body is in a fully twisted condition, however at this point you must create a very slight pause before you begin the down swing movement.

 

Down Swing Movement.

I hold the upper body at the end of the back swing movement for a millisecond whilst I force the hips to rotate/pivot towards the target area thus creating a high torsion of the muscles between the lower part of the body and the upper body as the torsion reaches it maximum it forces the whole twisted body to rotate into the down swing movement.

The hips are now in complete control over the movement of the upper body unit.

 

After a delay of a milli- second, the action of pulling my right elbow closer to my waist line initiates the magic move,

Therefore as the right elbow touches the waist line, the hips continue to pivot and turn to face the target area thus continuing to force the whole twisted body to rotate around the central core of the spine so that the belt buckle is almost facing the target area and whilst the left arm remains close to the right shoulder.

The whole upper body must be held as a solid one piece unit whilst the hips rotate/ pivot, thus forcing the whole twisted body to rotate around the central core of the spine, and as the whole body rotates the arms can be forced to swing the club head into and through the contact area, but importantly the hands must not go past the original address position until the club head strikes the ball and at that exact moment the whole body turns as a one piece unit to fully face the target area.

All of these movement are performed at a very slow speed.

 

Throughout the whole down swing process the hips never stop rotating/ pivoting/ turning towards the target area thus forcing the upper body to follow.

*** It is important that the hips are fully pivoted so that the left hip is in the fully raised position before the club head strikes the ball

I cannot emphasis too strongly how solid the upper body must be held together throughout the down swing and into the follow through movement.

 

However in the down swing movement the arms must only be allowed to move independently of the shoulders is when they begin interact with each just club head strikes the ball.

The speed of the club head is not achieved by the swinging of the arm as such, the speed of the club head is achieved by the rotational action of the hips, which forces the rotational movement of the solid upper body unit, the flaying action of the club head and the interaction of the arms as the club head swings through the contact area.

(You must maintain the rigidity of the whole twisted body from the moment the down swing begins - right through to the end of the follow through movement, with the only the wrists as the only independently moving parts which are used to flay the club head into the back of the ball whilst the interaction of the arms are taking place. as the club head moves through the contact area.)

 

 

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