By Brent Morrison
While out on the course, players should ideally be concentrating on how they are going to get the ball to the hole and focusing on their target rather than swing mechanics. Realistically though, most golfers don't have the luxury of putting in the time required to improve their skill level to a point where this can easily happen! To ingrain good habits that translate to your game, I suggest working on your positions and developing muscle memory over the winter months.
Ensuring you are in the correct positions during the initial 3 feet of your swing will eliminate a majority of the flaws that typically occur for most players. To begin your backswing, start with the initial takeaway (checkpoint #1). Once you have this mastered, continue with checkpoints #2 & #3.
Checkpoint #1:
Initial Takeaway
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Upper body rotates the club away, ensuring the club is balanced between your arms. When your hands are opposite your back knee, the club should be balanced between your arms, grooves on the clubface pointing to your back foot and your back arm should be comfortably bent.
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Compare yourself to one of the best!
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Checkpoint #2:
Partial Rotation
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Once you are comfortable with Checkpoint #1, continue to rotate into this position. Right elbow is down and the front arm is parallel with your toe line.
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Compare yourself to one of the best!
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Checkpoint #3:
Full Rotation
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Right elbow down, club on plane with a square clubface.
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Compare yourself to one of the best!
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Using a mirror as you practice will help you check these positions. I suggest you follow this drill for 15 minutes a day, 4 days a week throughout the winter until you become comfortable with them without looking in the mirror. By doing shorter, more frequent practice sessions, you will gain the necessary muscle memory required for playing your best. Muscle memory will occur when a conscious effort is put forth regularly to put the body in these positions. Once this happens, you will play golf focusing on your target rather than technique ... and a better score will result!
The Brent Morrison Golf Academy is located at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, 1025 Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1M5. (250) 752-8786. For more information on instruction programs for adults and juniors, contact the Academy office.
