One of the most important keys to accurate and powerful ball-striking is to maintain a constant swing radius. Having established the correct setup position with good body angles or shape (pic 1), it is vitally important that the swing radius from this point on in the swing varies little if at all.
The radius of your golf swing is the distance between the clubhead and the centre of your torso during the swing. Maintaining a consistent radius during the swing improves your quality of contact at impact, which, in turn, markedly improves power and accuracy.
Body shape is a major influence on radius. If you set-up in reverse – with bend in your front side creating an incorrect ‘K’ shape – your arms are forced away from your body more in the takeaway (pic 2). This can cause you to drop the club behind your arms when they lift in the backswing, or the arms pull the body so far off the ball that they can’t get back across to a good position at impact.
If, at address, you have too much bend behind the ball with the top of your body (pic 3), your arms and club will tend to swing around your body too much.
For more on Gary's unique sledge hammer tips and drills and other golf instruction tips in the September 2007 issue of Golf Australia magazine.
Gary Edwin was the 2006 PGA Teacher of the Year and is the head pro of Gary Erwin Golf Schools. Visit his website www.garyedwingolf.com.au for more tips and information about lessons at his acadamy at The Glades on the Gold Coast. |
