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I recently was examining swing
sequences of some of the greatest players in history. Knowing
that some of these players favored a draw as their standard shot
while others preferred a fade, I sought to identify swing features
within each group that would explain their respective ball-flight
tendencies. Something profound emerged that I think will benefit
all golfers, especially those cursed with a wicked slice.
What I found was this: Virtually
every accomplished fader of the ball--from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger
Woods--displayed a straight left arm at the top of the backswing.
Conversely, those who preferred a draw--players like Arnold Palmer
and Bobby Jones--maintained a slight bend at the elbow.
This discovery is great news
for most slicers, as they tend to do by accident what intentional
faders do on purpose. In this article I'll explain why the dynamic
works, and how a simple swing change will make a powerful draw
your standard shot.
THIS IS THE LOOK THAT
FAVORS A HOOK
Forget the adage, "keep
your left arm straight." By creating a slight bend at the
elbow on the backswing, you are in position to swing the club
down from the inside, creating speed with your arms and hands
as opposed to making a ponderous move with your shoulders. The
bend in your left arm allows you to "throw" the club
down with tremendous speed. You also can square the clubface with
little physical effort. The action is much like that of tennis
players executing a two-hand backhand. By keeping the left arm
soft and bent, they can achieve terrific speed and pinpoint control.
GO FOR AN EARLY SET
The trend on the PGA Tour these
days is to create as much width as possible early in the backswing.
Several top players, Tiger Woods included, extend their arms and
club as far from the body as possible (below), to widen the swing
arc and create maximum speed later in the swing.
What works for these fellows
can be disastrous for the slicer. "Getting wide" promotes
tension at the top of the backswing and requires extraordinary
strength and flexibility to begin with. It causes you to start
the downswing by rotating your right shoulder out and around in
an over-the-top motion. Swing back naturally and go for an "early
set." Begin cocking your wrists and folding your right arm
early in the backswing (right). That sets up an easy "throw"--and
a right-to-left ball flight.
AS IN ALL SPORTS, THINK
`TURN BEFORE YOU THROW'
The bent-left-arm method will
work only if the rest of your body is in position to allow the
arms to swing down freely. That means you need to make a full
turn with your shoulders. Rotate the shoulders fully, and you'll
create enough space for the arms to swing down along the correct
inside path.
A full turn is easier said than
done, especially if you aren't supple to begin with. Try this
exercise when warming up: Grasp your left arm at the elbow with
your right hand and turn as far as you can. When you reach your
limit, pull your left arm farther back with your right hand. Do
it gently at first so you don't pull a muscle, then gradually
increase the pressure. Once you've achieved a 90-degree shoulder
turn, you're good to go.
Don't confine this drill to
the golf course. Do it while watching TV or standing around the
kitchen. Your flexibility will increase dramatically within a
week.
HOW YOUR LEFT ARM INFLUENCES
YOUR RIGHT
Although the left arm is the
focal point of my technique, it's important to note that the right
arm plays a key role, too. And the right arm's position at the
top of the backswing, and its subsequent ability to release, is
determined by how straight the left arm is at the top. The two
arms work together.
Let me explain further. The
straighter you keep the left arm, the less your right arm bends
at the elbow. Referring again to Tiger Woods (a fader, remember),
because his left arm is so straight at the top, his right arm
is not bent much at the elbow. That means less of a "throwing"
action on the downswing, and a greater chance of hitting the ball
from left to right--a slice.
What you, the slicer, wants
is greater bend in the left arm at the top. That creates a more
dramatic bend in the right elbow, and a greater ability to "throw"
the arms and club down from the inside. Think of a baseball pitcher:
Before he releases the ball, his throwing arm is bent a great
deal at the elbow. That's closer to what you want in your right
arm.
MASTER THIS DRILL, AND
YOU'LL PRODUCE A DRAW ON DEMAND
The stage is set, and you're
ready to kiss that banana ball good-bye forever. From the top,
simply shift your weight to the left and then throw your arms
and club down into the back of the ball, forgetting about your
shoulders entirely. The first move down should be relatively slow
and relaxed. Don't force the issue. Through impact, let the clubhead
track straight down the target line and let the momentum of your
arms pull your shoulders into a full, relaxed follow-through.
The anti-slice drill pictured
above will help you tie the whole package together. Start by teeing
a ball for a full driver shot. Next, place a second tee in the
ground six inches in front of the ball you've teed. Now take a
second ball in your right hand and throw it at the forward tee.
What happens? The right arm straightens because of the natural
throwing action, and if I were holding the club with both hands,
my left arm would straighten, too. And obviously, I'd be "throwing"
the clubhead straight down the target line, producing a long,
strong draw.
by Johnny Miller
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