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image showing improper body movement in backswing

image showing improper body movement in forward swing

image showing proper body movement in backswing

image showing proper body movement in forward swing

All pictures were taken at Trump National Los Angeles, formerly Ocean Trails Golf Club, in Rancho Palos Verdes (Los Angeles, California)

The Upright Swing And The Block

This chapter, in which I discuss and exhibit common faults of the golf swing, is just that, a discussion of faults. Please don't make the mistake of assuming that this is my golf instruction.

The most common thing beginners do when they try to hit a golf ball for the first time is lift the club up high with the arms and then pull steeply back down with the arms. The typical result of this type of swinging motion is a slice, and since most golfers refine this "arm swing" over time rather than learn how to release correctly, it is no wonder most golfers slice.

The ideal golf swing is a motion in which the club, arms, and body all work together in order to produce maximum power and control. The arm swing described above, by its very nature, precludes the body from working correctly. When the arms swing forward in this upright swing plane, the body tends to slide sideways and the arms pull across the body (toward the target). This causes the clubhead to drag through the impact area with an open clubface and the typical result is a slice.

You've probably heard of the term "block", well this tendency to drag the clubface through impact is it. A block is caused by a series of improper movements that make it impossible to "release" the clubhead. Of course, you will rarely see the true nature of a block in a golf swing because golfers who block, which is almost everyone, have to try to correct improper club positions by manipulating the club in order to hit the ball, or I should say, in order not to miss the ball. Essentially, they fake a release. The block and subsequent manipulations are not the ideal way to swing, but it is possible to become fairly proficient at squaring the clubface at impact through the use of manipulations—good players block less than poor players and therefore need less manipulation, so it is much easier for them. The first two pictures show the incorrect body motion that is part of a block.

Manipulations are arm, wrist, and body movements that attempt to correct improper club positions and movements. In other words, they are movements that attempt to counteract the block. They can occur at address—a strong grip; during the backswing—a closed clubface; or during the forward swing—casting, flipping (throwing the clubhead into the ball with the hands), and/or rolling the arms over. All manipulations are an attempt to counteract the block, so they are all movements that try to close the clubface so it can get square (pointing at the target) by the time it reaches the ball. The release that almost all instructors teach is nothing more than a manipulation—a combination of rolling the arms and uncocking the wrists.

A release, as I define it, is the opposite of the block (you either block OR release, you can't have a combination of the two)—there is no tendency to drag the club through impact and therefore the clubface will not be significantly open. It will not be significantly closed either, because with no manipulation, a closed clubface is an impossibility (assuming a neutral grip). Without manipulation, the hands, arms, and body stay relaxed throughout the swing and with no tension the swing is smooth—good tempo and rhythm. Squaring the club at impact with a release is much less dependent on timing than is attempting to square the club with manipulation, which is why a release creates greater consistency and why it holds up better under pressure!

For the minority of golfers who hook, they block too. Their problem is that the manipulations are over done, basically over manipulating so that the clubface is closed at impact. Remember, everyone blocks and it is the motions that cause the block that are the cause of most evil in the golf swing.

I've only seen one player who released correctly with every club in their bag, and that was Ben Hogan. Today's best players on tour can come close to releasing, but they still have some blocking tendencies and have to rely on manipulating their hands and arms to square the clubface. Of course, we're talking about golfers who have smaller amounts of blocking tendencies and who have developed phenomenal timing so they can usually deal with their block in such a way that they can still be fairly consistent (but nowhere near Hogan's level!). As an aside, with his physical and mental abilities, Tiger would be untouchable if he could ever learn to release like Hogan. Fortunately for golf, I don't think it will ever happen.

The last two pictures show how the body must move so it can synchronize with the arms and club, while at the same time create speed and maintain control. It's simple, the body winds and unwinds (also referred to as coil and uncoil). For the body to move this way, the arms must swing more around the body, relatively speaking. This means swinging in plane, the result of which is that the arms have a clear path to swing freely around the body without being "blocked" by the body. The around concept isn't truly correct, but it's a good start for anyone wanting to lessen their block tendencies.

Obviously there is a significant up and down movement to the golf swing because the ball is on the ground, so when I speak of swinging around, my point is that the golf swing has more of an around component to it than people realize. There was an old teaching concept where students were asked to imagine they were swinging in a barrel, which I don't completely agree with, but can at least give you a mental image to help the arms and body move more correctly.

The upright swing plane can have serious consequences to one's ability to improve their golf game, yet it is what most Golf Professionals teach. Good athletes with great coordination (timing) and who practice a lot can play reasonably well with just about any swing, even upright, but they will be limited by unsound fundamentals. These golfers are often called "feel" players because they can play well even though their swings are significantly flawed.

Over the next several pages I discuss some other common swing faults.

Next Page—The Steep Downswing

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