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What part of the body contributes the most to generating the maximum speed of the golf club head?

This single answer allowed me to make a huge leap in my understanding of the golf swing, and in everything I had seen and read about the golf swing none of it emphasised it enough.

I carried out a survey on the Internet over several weeks and asked visitors to my web site the question:- What part of the body contributes the most to generating the maximum speed of the club head?

Only 20% got the answer correct – That’s only 1 in every 5 golfers! And these golfers had a wide range of handicaps down to single figures.

Interestingly this figure corresponds to another golfing statistic – Did you know that only around 20% of golfers have a handicap of less than 18? It made me wonder whether the misunderstanding of the fundamental aspect could be the one thing that is holding so many golfers back.

Which part of the body do you think creates the maximum speed of the club head?

Is it:

Shoulders
Arms
Hands
Hips
Legs
Torso
Wrists

The part of the body that generates the maximum club head speed in golf can also be found in other sports such as Tennis, Baseball and Cricket.

In all of these sports the role of the hands or wrists is such that they contribute the most to generating the speed of the club, racket or bat.

When the club reaches the point on the downswing where it is level with the ground notice the position of the shoulders. Then take a look at the point when the club is parallel with the ground again, after the ball has been hit and again notice the position of the shoulders.

Look at how far the club has moved (over 180 degrees) compared to how little the shoulders and arms have moved (around 45 degrees).

So the answer to the question that I posed above is that it is the hands (or wrists) that contribute the most to generating the maximum club head speed. The club is moved through over 180 degrees whilst the arms move through less than 60 degrees – all of the rest of the movement of the head of the golf club is generated by the movement of the hands.

Unfortunately the large majority of golfers think that it is with the shoulders and arms.

So we have shown that the club head travels a long way with very little body movement in the final stages of the swing, and this is how the pro’s generate club head speeds of over 120mph! We have focused on the movement of the wrists but it’s important to point out that the wrists are only really hinges at the point that the two arms meet and are therefore under the control of the arms. At the point we have highlighted in the swing where the club is about to travel through 180 degrees (see images below) the right arm is bent at the elbow and the left arm is straight.

Just put your arms and hands into this position (you don’t need a club in your hands but use one if it helps). Now simply straighten your right arm and allow your straight left arm to move towards the centre of your body (simulating the point of impact).

Can you see how the wrists actually move in response to the straightening of the right arm? This is a key factor as developing the correct swing relies upon you getting your right elbow close to the right side of your body – if you move your shoulders early in the swing you won’t be able to achieve this position.

When you get this move it feels like you are throwing the club head into the back of the ball, which in reality is what you are actually doing and it feels great as you release all that power right into the back of the ball!

Let’s see less emphasis on the movement of the shoulders and more control with the wrists.

This will create a totally different feel to the way you’ve been hitting the ball in the past.

About the Author
Jon Barrett WAS a frustrated golfer who studied the golf swing for 5 years…UNTIL he discovered what only 1% of golfers know. Read about his eye opening concepts: www.golfswingeureka.com

Article source:
80 Of Amateur Golfers Get This Wrong

For beginners there are three tips for playing the game of golf that my instructor gave me when I first started. It has been a real great help for me. With so much equipment available, people offering you tips for free together with the general understanding that you must take it all seriously, beginning in the game of golf can be perplexing.

1. Never Break the Bank with the First Set of Clubs You Have

When you begin, you are not going to enjoy all of the usefulness that you get from the best set of golf clubs. You are not going to have the club head speed or consistent contact that is needed because you are a beginner. What you can do is buy a cheaper set. A better idea would be to get yourself a set that has already been used. Until the time you realize which clubs would best suit you, you may also want to borrow a set from any of your friends who are already experienced players.

2. Take your Instructions from the Right Person

My suggestion is to really understand the rules of the game you need to get your training from a professional. Your relatives, friends and at times even people who do not know you may believe they have the golf tips for beginners that will take care of all your difficulties. It is very true that your friends who are quite good at the game may offer you tips which may help you when you are just starting. But golf pros are experienced in tackling swing problems and explaining things to you in terms of how swing problems may affect ball flight. I believe that even two to three lessons on golf will aid you to establish a strong basis for your game and lessons are available at almost any golf course.

3. Have Fun with the Game

One of the best golf tips for starters is to just enjoy yourself when your out in the field. This may sound too simple, but bear it in mind that considering everything you may not get your PGA card. Remember also that golf is a leisure game. So being competitive is all right and you are of course going to put in effort for improvement. But play it slow and steady and have a good time with your friends too.

The above mentioned tips for golfers who are just beginning can be a real good stimulant. Golf can be one of the ideal ways to spend your free time, given the conditions that you get the perfect clubs to start with, take instructions from the right people, and have fun.

About the Author
Reggie Dunn is a long time golfer and lover of the game. Get more information about golf at his blog, which can be found at golf tip

Article source:
Three Golf Tips For Beginners

You don’t have to understand all the ins and outs of the golf swing in order to play well, but it certainly will help.

A person usually cannot pick up a golf club for the first time and swing it with perfection.

But, the body can learn the correct way to swing a golf club.

One gotcha is to be sure to NOT lift your head to view the alignment of the club face during the back swing and/or downswing.

The best focusing points for a consistent swing are:

1) efficient golf swing mechanics and
2) the body.

By keeping your joints supple and flexible, you could help ensure the length of your golf swing and even your club head speed.

Golf Swing Mechanics and Your Body

In order to learn efficient golf swing mechanics, the golf swing has to match your body’s ability.

The ability to maintain your body in the correct “balanced” position, while going through your golf swing, requires intense neuromuscular control.

Training muscles involved in the golf swing, particularly the lower body and torso muscles, helps to hit the ball a greater distance.

The key is to play with optimal golf swing mechanics to reduce stress on your spine. If you ignore either the body or the mechanics, it would be safe to say that your golf swing and game will suffer.

It is also important to mention that the motion of a golf swing, if done incorrectly, can cause injuries in many parts of the body.

Injuries to the key muscle groups used in the golf swing can be significantly lowered by improving flexibility.

Remember Your Posture

Your posture sets the tone for an unobstructed, free-flowing and uncomplicated golf swing.

Every error in your posture magnifies itself throughout your golf swing, and nowhere is that more amplified than on the backswing.

Look at your posture.

Proper posture allows you to make the golf swing and protect your back. You should focus to physically try to stay in your golf posture until the end of your swing.

Finally, The Swing

Without question the golf swing is one of the most important aspects about the game of golf.

Timing is the key to a great swing.

The set-up is the first crucial part of golf swing timing. If your swing is off, the golf ball could fall too short or go too far.

Allow your eyes to go to the ball to begin your swing. Remember your posture and your stance.

Now the backswing. The backswing does not hit the golf ball, but this does not mean that executing a good backswing is not important.

All of the motion ties into one another. It can be hard to master, as the golf swing is not a natural motion for most people.

But practicing and focusing on key aspects will go a long way to improving your swing.

Remember your body is one of these key aspects.

A strong lower back is critical to making an effective turning motion in the golf swing. And don’t rush into it. Never try to hit a golf ball until your swing is second nature.

Now that We Have the Basics, How to Improve

Practice, practice and more practice. This doesn’t necessarily mean time spent every day, but it does mean to focus on all the key aspects each time you do practice.

Two aspects require tuning and development of you wish to improve the power in your golf swing; timing and form.

You can work on drills to improve your golf swing timing, always remembering to start with a solid setup. In regard to form, powerful abdominals will improve posture at the address and help to prevent lower-back pain associated with the golf swing.

Also, by working on your stance and finishing position, your golf swing is on its way to giving you a perfect game.

Maintaining Power

As time goes on you may be losing your ability to produce power in your golf swing.

An inefficient golf swing decreases the amount of power delivered to golf swing. Great players attest that focussing on proper body stance and a smooth, focused swing maximizes your power and develops an athletic golf swing with perfect balance.

Many things go into playing a great game of golf, none as important as having the proper golf swing and body form.

This will not just increase your ability in the game, but also your enjoyment.

About the Author
Lee Collins is an avid golf enthusiast who has improved his golf game tremendously in a very short time using the “How to Break 90 in 3 Easy Lessons” system available only at http://www.easygolfinstruction.com.

Article source:
Mastering the Golf Swing