Zephyr Melton
Getty Pictures
Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the most effective recommendation stands the check of time. In GOLF.com’s new collection, Timeless Ideas, we’re highlighting a number of the best recommendation lecturers and gamers have allotted within the pages of GOLF Journal. At present we glance again to our April 2013 difficulty for recommendations on energy from Tiger Woods. For limitless entry to the total GOLF Journal digital archive, be part of InsideGOLF at present; you’ll get pleasure from $140 of worth for under $39.99/12 months.
Hitting the ball flush begins earlier than you even take the membership again. To place your self in the most effective place for achievement, it’s crucial you get within the appropriate posture.
Don’t imagine me? Simply have a look at Tiger Woods. Though his swing has modified many occasions all through his profession, one factor has at all times remained fixed: a rock-solid setup.
Again in 2013, we at GOLF Journal printed a function on simply that. Learn one beneath for a breakdown from GOLF Prime 100 Instructor Jon Tattersall on the best way that Woods’ posture places him in place to smash lengthy drives.
Tiger’s highly effective posture
Tiger’s swing has modified over time. A few of the alterations have been made to realize or appropriate a sure ball flight, whereas others have been inserted to accommodate or forestall an damage.
Whatever the state of his swing, Tiger has at all times arrange and swung with nice posture. Remember the fact that correct posture at deal with doesn’t matter until you know the way to make use of it to your benefit. That is the place Tiger excels.
Certainly one of his greatest energy strikes is to extend his ahead bend throughout his downswing whereas elongating his decrease physique. At impression, his hips are increased than at deal with and his knees and ankles are a lot straighter, however his higher physique and head are literally nearer to the ball. Once you hear instructors speak about “leveraging the bottom” to create pace, that is it.
Under, I’ve outlined the completely different parts of Tiger’s posture — and the way he makes use of them to create energy.
Higher physique
An important angle you’ll be able to create at deal with is the lean of your higher physique if you bend ahead. Like all nice gamers, Tiger bends from his hip joints, not from his waist. His ahead tilt has elevated since working with Sean Foley, and consequently, has the lean in his pelvis. Along with bending ahead, Tiger additionally angles his pelvis downward, which helps flatten his decrease again. That is generally often called impartial stone tilt, which is extremely necessary for backbone and hip well being.
Again
Tiger’s higher again isn’t flat (nor ought to it’s), and regardless that he has pulled his shoulders again to widen his chest, his arms hold virtually straight down, leaving a noticeable hole between his proper ear and shoulder. Should you attempt to power good posture by flattening your again, you received’t see as large a spot.
Legs
Sturdy gamers like Tiger change their posture after they swing by pushing off the bottom with their legs. Discover how a lot straighter Tiger’s legs are at impression than they’re at deal with. Tiger’s ankles, knees and hips go from a flexed state at setup to an prolonged state at contact, identical to a basketball participant leaping to throw down a dunk.
Arms
Tiger’s arms hold extra vertically today on account of his elevated ahead tilt. This makes it simpler for him to maintain his arms near his chest when he swings, which negates the necessity to rotate them as a lot as he beforehand needed to. This, plus a stronger grip, are massive causes behind his glorious ball hanging.
Knees
Tiger’s knees are flexed, not bent. An excellent checkpoint here’s a line drawn straight down from the entrance of your proper knee that intersects the center of your proper massive toe.
Good posture at work
Dynamic backswing
Though it doesn’t appear like Tiger’s posture has modified that a lot, it has. On the prime, his left facet (not his chest) is tilted towards the ball and his ahead bend is nowhere close to what it was at deal with. When you might have Tiger’s core energy and adaptability, you’ll be able to pull this off whereas making it appear like you’re winding up with out altering your angles.
“Crunch” it
Whereas Tiger barely will increase the lean in his pelvis going again, he quickly decreases it throughout his downswing (between 5 to 10 levels). His hips stage out and his ahead bend towards the ball is near the place it was at deal with. It’s as if he’s doing ab crunches within the health club. The excellent news? You don’t want Tiger’s six pack to make this transfer.
Roll your weight
Tour gamers roll their ankles to shift weight from the correct leg to the left. Tiger is likely one of the greatest at this, and never solely does he roll, he actively pushes off the bottom from the highest of his swing via impression. This pushing motion is actual — most massive hitters we’ve examined have at the very least a 20-inch vertical bounce.
Zephyr Melton
Golf.com Editor
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com the place he spends his days running a blog, producing and modifying. Previous to becoming a member of the staff at GOLF, he attended the College of Texas adopted by stops with the Texas Golf Affiliation, Crew USA, the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all issues instruction and covers beginner and girls’s golf. He will be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.