Finishing Your Swing

There is nothing better in golf than hitting the ball perfectly solid. The kind of solid where you don’t even feel the ball leave the clubface. The solid shot where you hit the ball and finish your swing in perfect balance as the ball flies exactly where you wanted. I am going to stop now because I can tell that some of you at home are starting to drool.

The point I am trying to make here is that a well struck, solid golf shot and a perfect, well-balanced finish are almost one and the same. It’s really quite difficult to get one without the other and for those trying to achieve the solid ball strike I recommend working on your finish.

In order to achieve a well struck, solid golf shot a person must have lag and must create a ball-first divot. In other words their hands have to be leading the clubhead and must be ahead of the ball at impact in order to hit solid golf shots. I am fully convinced that the two hardest areas to teach someone, is to weaken a strong grip and to create lag in someone’s swing. The reason for the grip is just someone’s feeling, but creating lag is, in my opinion, 99% body motion related. Yes, there are other reasons for people to not create lag in the swing besides body motion, but that’s how strongly I feel that someone’s body motion must be correct to create lag. Body motion, unlike clubface, takes awhile to fix and must be diligently worked on to change. Clubface issues, like hooks and slices, can usually be fixed in one or two swings, primarily because the ball flight tells us and gives us feedback when it is correct. In regards to body motion, this area must be worked on regardless of ball flight and usually requires some assistance to work on because we cannot see ourselves unless we are using a camcorder to help.

Some of the easiest ways to create lag in the golf swing is by working backwards. In other words by having a good, balanced finish. In order to finish with all your weight on your left side you must allow your weight to move to the right in the backswing and then transfer your weight to the left in the downswing and finish in perfect balance with all your weight on your left side. A great drill to make sure your finishing with all your weight on your left side is the Gary Player walk thru drill. Take your normal setup and swing back and through to impact but after impact make sure your right foot comes into the air and steps forward towards the target. This is the proper feeling of getting the weight into the left side. Trust me when I say that if you have a reverse C, a sway, or faulty body motion that this drill will not be as easy as it sounds.

In order to create lag I recommend working on a proper finish with the body to hit those perfect golf shots we strive for. It is impossible to have improper body motion and hit the solid shots like the pros do. Focus on your finish and balance and you will start to see those solid shots are so much easier to come by.

Keep em Long and Straight,

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10 Comments

Clive Says:

Cj,

I love the Power Secrets System . After years of instruction I have freed up my turn for some Power….It’s a new game now

Clive
January 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Dan McDonald Says:

I have started hitting shanks shot alot. What can I do to stop this. It’s really getting in my head.

Thank you,

Dan
January 30th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Mike Says:

Ball position? I am a lefty. if I see the ball forward of the middle of my stance for the wedges thru 7 then move it up to the right a bit for the 6, 5,4, then 21 degree, 19 degree hybrids, my 3 wood looks to be jst inside the right toe, then my driver is outside (or seems outside) my right toe…i strike the ball pretty well.

My question is am I really that far right or up into my stance for the ball or is it really in the “correct’ postiion. If I try to place the ball into the “proper” mid stance, etc position chunck the ball for all of the clubs/

Help?
January 30th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
j Says:

How do I get ride of my chicken wing swing?
January 31st, 2010 at 12:28 am
Robert Murphy Says:

I am a one arm golfer. Swing righthanded with left arm. I am 67 years old and been playing this wonderful game for 55 years, 47 years with one arm. I only get about 165 yards with my driver and it don’t get any better with the other clubs. i think club head speed may be the reason. Got any answers for a faster speed.

Thanks,

Robert
January 31st, 2010 at 8:45 am
CJ Says:

Robert,
I am glad to hear your able to enjoy this game still. One of the members at my club has only his left arm also and I am quite amazed because he can regularly break 80. With one arm only, your fundamentals are even more important. Make sure your grip is in your fingers and practice making L to L swings where you are hinging and rehinging your wrists with the upmost speed. Keep me informed on your progress.
Keep em long and straight,
cj
January 31st, 2010 at 8:15 pm
CJ Says:

J,
First thing you have to do is to understand that the chicken wing swings are caused by the club coming over the top on the downswing. You must figure out what is causing the over the top move and then fix that and that will help. Again, I seem to recommend the L to L swings a lot because your not alone. The key source of power is the hinging and rehinging of the wrists in the swing. As you do this drill with your feet together make sure you pay attention to the finish position. Remember that the finish position your arms should be parallel to the ground for this drill, locked elbows, and wrists fully hinged forming the letter L. You will struggle with this and will notice that your left arm will try to bend. Keep working on this and it will come.
Keep em long and Straight,
cj
January 31st, 2010 at 8:18 pm
CJ Says:

Mike,
You described for the most part the perfect ball position for your clubs. I might wonder about the driver being a bit too forward but you made mention that it seems outside your toes. Check your ball position for your driver, but other than that your on the correct page.
Keep em long and straight,
cj
January 31st, 2010 at 8:20 pm
CJ Says:

Dan,
There are many reasons that can cause a shank and one of them is the open face. Lets keep talking and keep this as simple as we can. First check your setup position. I have given a couple of posture drills in my DVD and I hope you have it. Please rehearse the posture and measure the distance away from the ball with the drill I have given (fist and thumb drill). Second, now that we know your posture is correct and you are the correct distance away from the ball lets assume your still shanking. From here I want you to tee the ball up and hit split handed drills. In other words from address position split your hands about an inch apart. You will feel the crossing over of your right hand through impact which will square the face. Lets start here and see if that fixes the shank. Please keep me informed and I can help with other drills that can stop the shank if that doesn’t work.
Keep em long and straight,
cj
January 31st, 2010 at 8:24 pm
CJ Says:

Clive,
Thanks for the feedback. It makes me happy to hear the successes of my students. Keep me informed.
Keep em long and straight,
cj
January 31st, 2010 at 8:25 pm