The Golf Instructor
Official Publication of the National Golf Research Institute
A portion of the proceeds are used to benefit junior golf

Golf Essentials

Unfortunately, the obvious solution to the golf swing is to bring the clubhead to the ball with the hands. Percy Boomer, in his book On Learning Golf, wrote an excellent chapter entitled "Golf Bogey No. 1." The following quote sums up learning golf.

Golf Bogey No. 1 is the natural urge to act in the obvious way to achieve the desired result...Frequently the obvious way is the wrong way and unless the urge to follow it can be inhibited the right way cannot be taken.

Giving up the obvious way requires committing to the right way. This list is the basis for the right way.

The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelly declares there are three essentials and three imperatives to a precision golf stroke. They are:

Essentials

  1. A stationary head
  2. Balance
  3. Rhythm

Imperatives

  1. Flat left wrist
  2. Clubhead lag
  3. Straight plane line

Learning Objectives

1. Your objective is to understand these basics and learn to monitor your own performance of these essential concepts.
2. Use drills and training aids to improve your essentials and imperatives. Definitions
Stationary Head
The center of rotation, pivot center, axis.
Balance
State in which all opposing forces cancel each other out. Holding the center of the body inside The Stance without moving the head/pivot center.
Rhythm
A selected pace for the swing that creates a benchmark for shot making.
Flat Left Wrist
An "on plane" relationship between the back of the left hand and the bottom of the club when the wrists are in a cocked position. The Flat Left Wrist should be associated with the clubface's alignment. (See Photo)
Clubhead Lag
Resistance to a change in direction. Clubhead is last to the ball. Clubhead is dragged behind the rest of the swing.
Straight Plane Line
Inclined plane meets the ground on parallel and inside the target line.

Drills

One of the most frustrating aspects of learning golf is not seeing what you are doing. The SwingCheck Mirror is the best product we have ever seen to allow a player to visually monitor his/her progress.
Use the outline of essentials and imperatives and a swing check mirror to check the quality of your basics.

Stationary Head

1. To check if your head stays in the center of your pivot, place the SwingCheck Mirror about two feet in front of the ball and adjust it so you can see yourself. Make sure it is close enough so you must only move your eyes to monitor your swing.

Swing Check Mirror
Power Pivot

Use the line in the center of the mirror to locate your initial head position. As you swing, monitor your head position using the mirror.

2. If your center is reacting to your arms, as opposed to your arms following your pivot, the relative stability of your head is immaterial. You must first improve the connection between your arm movements and your body turn.

There are a number of drills that you can do to get a sense of your pivot. Use Power Pivot to establish a connection between your arms and chest and keep your right knee flexed.

With the Power Pivot on, hit short and pitch shots with your sand wedge, swing back until the shaft is vertical going back and vertical through. Focus on building pressure between your left arm and chest as you pivot to the target.

Note: If you have never used a Power Pivot before, you may feel confined and confused as to how to move your arms. If so, you are realizing through feel that your body has been a spectator to your arm swing. In this case, you need to flip your focus about what is active and what is reactive. The Power Pivot will force you to make the turning center active and the arms reactive. It is the easiest way to build an arm swing that follows pivot.

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