Full Swing Analysis What are we trying to accomplish? Core Competencies in the Full Swing Full swing technique is a pillar of a solid overall game. The following 4 core competencies are strong predictors of success in ball striking. The ability to set the club in a functional position at the top of the backswing (backswing) The ability to initiate the downswing with the lower body first (transition) The ability to coordinate lateral, rotational and vertical movements of the body with the swinging action of the arms, hands and wrists (impact/release) The ability to maintain easy balance in the finish position (finish) Corrective and developmental measures should always focus on improvement within these core competencies. Identifying Areas of Improvement: Movement & Positions, Ball Flight and TrackMan Data Improvement opportunities in the core competencies are identified and addressed through observation of club and body positioning throughout the swing and through analysis of ball flight characteristics and TrackMan data. Key Positions in the swing provide reference points to guide our efforts: Start (address) Takeaway Top of Backswing Impact Finish Practical application of TrackMan Data provides objective feedback, helps us understand the cause/effect relationships behind ball flight and facilitates self discovery: Club Speed, Ball Speed and Smash Factor Dynamic Loft Attack Angle Relationship Between Club Path and Face Angle The purpose of full swing instruction and training is NOT to achieve perfect positions or TrackMan numbers, but to develop functional athletic movements that enable golfers to improve their ability to execute the core competencies. The foundation of functional, athletic movement: Skill Development Athletic movement and the ability to execute the core competencies results from the development and application of a set of 5 fundamental skill areas. Grip Posture, Stance & Balance Weight Transfer & Pressure Control Path, Plane & Face Angle Timing & Coordination These skills apply to golfers of all ability levels and can be adapted to suit any situation encountered in play.
Key Positions in the Swing Reference Points to Help Focus our Efforts Efforts to create functional, athletic movement tend to be more effective in the presence of fundamentally sound club and body positioning throughout the swing. The following points represent a somewhat generic overview of a textbook swing. Their primary purpose is not to serve as a how to swing checklist, but rather to provide a template to help highlight areas where faulty positioning might be incompatible with the desired movement pattern. 1. Start Position (address) Proper golf posture seldom feels natural at first, but the effort invested in developing it is worthwhile. Tilt forward from the waist/hips, maintaining a neutral pelvic orientation. Engage the core muscles to keep the shoulders back and head in line with the spine. Keep the legs straight and tall but not locked, with just enough knee flex to provide suspension. Hands should be set slightly ahead of the ball so that the club shaft tilts slightly toward the target. Width of stance, alignment and ball position can and should vary depending on the shot at hand. 2. Takeaway The club should be taken away from the ball in strict form. Strive for a one piece takeaway that emphasizes moving the triangle formed by the arms and shoulders as a single unit. Excessive rolling of the forearms/wrists is not necessary. At the point where the hands have reached about waist high, the club should align with the target line with the club face angled very slightly toward the ground. 3. Top of Backswing Common postural flaws include straightening the body, dipping or swaying off the ball laterally. The bend at the waist (spine angle) created in the start position should be maintained at the top of the backswing. The head should be held steady and the front shoulder should feel as if it has turned underneath the chin. Strive to transfer weight via shoulder rotation. Use a combination of lead wrist hinging and trail elbow folding to set the club and maximize extension by keeping the lead arm reasonably straight and the lead wrist flat. 4. Impact Textbook impact positioning features: maximum pressure under the front foot; a straight lead arm; a flat lead wrist; and trailing wrist in extension. Strive to maintain the spine angle created in the start position. The hips should be cleared rotated slightly past the target line while the chest and shoulders remain somewhat more square over the ball. The lead arm and club shaft should form a virtually straight line with the hands slightly ahead of the ball and the shaft tilted toward the target. Keep the head steady, but not rigid. 5. Finish At the finish, weight should be fully committed to the front foot as the back foot rolls up onto its toes. The body continues to rotate so that the torso/belt buckle faces somewhat left of target (right of target for a left handed player). Allow the head to release and face the target with the eyes level. The grip should look and feel the same as it did at the start of the swing maintain even grip pressure and aim to keep the heels of each palm connected to the butt of the grip. IMPORTANT! Strive to hold the finish for a deliberate 3 count after every swing. This helps develop and refine physical balance as well as providing valuable diagnostic feedback about the sequence and direction of your movements. This feedback is perishable! It can only be captured and acted upon when the finish is held.
TrackMan Objective Information and Self discovery Working within the following 4 areas of TrackMan data provides a good practical framework for understanding the cause/effect relationships in the swing. As this understanding develops, deeper analysis is possible and more and more opportunities for self discovery will emerge. The ideal TrackMan data values within this framework are dependent on the golfer s intent (desired shot shape and trajectory) as well as their physical characteristics. Ideal data also tends to be a moving target, changing as a golfer improves or shifts their intent. The goal is not necessarily to achieve perfect numbers, but rather to develop the ability to work within functional ranges that produce playable shots. 1. Club Speed, Ball Speed and Smash Factor Club speed, ball speed and smash factor are key metrics relating to shot distance. Many golfers make the error of trying to swing slower to gain control, when they really need to address the underlying movement issues that are preventing them from swinging at the speeds they are physically capable of. It should be the goal of every golfer to swing to their fullest potential while organizing their movements in the most efficient sequence possible. Smash factor (ball speed divided by club speed) gives us clues as to the efficiency of the swing. Smash factor values that are too low are typical in the presence of one or more of the following: off centre contact, oblique contact (divergence between face and path) and/or higher than optimal dynamic loft. 2. Dynamic Loft Dynamic loft is the measurement of the vertical orientation of the club face at impact and is the primary influence on a shot s launch trajectory. (Launch angle = Dynamic loft x 75% + Attack Angle x 25%). Because the club s shaft should tilt toward the target (forward shaft lean), the dynamic loft measurement is typically less than the club s static loft. The ideal value for dynamic loft depends on what club is being used as well as the club and ball speed. As a general rule, higher club and ball speeds call for lower dynamic loft. Dynamic loft measurements that are too low are rare among average weekend players it is far more common to see dynamic loft measurements that are higher than optimal. Too high dynamic loft is symptomatic of one (or all) of the following: ball position too far forward; early release ; downswing sequencing issues; lack of weight transfer and/or flipping or scooping action through the ball. 3. Attack Angle When attack angle values fall outside of normal parameters, red flags pop up. Striking shots with attack angles that are appropriate to the situation is vital to creating the desired swing path and quality impact conditions. It is desirable to strike iron shots with a downward (negative) attack angle. With a driver, attack angles can be negative or positive, depending on the golfer s needs. In the presence of lower swing speeds, striking the ball with an upward attack angle will help to maximize distance. The root causes of attack angles that are too steep or too shallow can include: ball position too far forward or too far back in the stance; downswing sequencing issues and/or inactivity in the legs and lower body. Taken together, attack angle and dynamic loft are key factors influencing the launch and back spin of shots. They represent the vertical vectors of face angle (dynamic loft) and path (attack angle).
TrackMan Data continued 4. Face to Path Relationship Any shot s starting direction and curvature is governed by the relationship between the club s path, its face angle and the centeredness of contact. Depending on the club, face angle accounts for 65 to 85% of a shot s starting direction (less loft = more face influence on starting direction). As a general guideline, reasonably centered contact is more likely to occur in the presence of a stable face to path relationship. Managing the face/path relationship starts with intent the ideal numbers depend on the desired shot shape. Most golfer s natural swings will feature either a fade or draw bias your intent and your path bias must be compatible. If they re not, you either have to shift your intent or adjust your path bias to align with your desired shot shape. Volatility in the face/path relationship can stem from: improper/inattentive alignment; a grip that is too tight (lack of release); a grip that is too loose ( flippy /overactive release); inconsistent ball positioning; or poor positioning at the top of the backswing. Skill Development The Foundation of Athletic Movement If the core competencies are the predictors of success in the full swing; and if positions, movement, ball flight and TrackMan data help to identify improvement opportunities in the core competencies; then skill development represents the solution. 1. Grip A faulty grip is one of the most significant limiting factors to golf improvement. A sound grip allows a golfer to maximize their swing arc and helps to get the club into functional top of backswing and impact positions. The correct grip varies from person to person overlap, interlock or 10 finger grips are all acceptable, provided the hands work together as a single unit. In general, a neutral to slightly stronger grip position is preferred. Grip pressure should remain even throughout the swing. Ungripping of the club is a common error; strive to maintain a good hold on the club from start to finish. As a best practice, the heels of each palm should remain connected to the butt of the grip at all times. 2. Posture, Stance and Balance An accurate and powerful swing requires a platform that is stable and dynamic at the same time. Although this skill area incorporates static elements like alignment and ball position, the true essence here is understanding that balance is an activity, not a position. 3. Weight Transfer and Pressure Control Transference of weight is the source of energy in the swing. Pressure control involves managing the pace, direction and sequencing of the weight transfer. 4. Path, Plane and Face Angle Controlling the direction and trajectory of shots revolves around understanding and managing the relationship between the club s path and face angle at impact. This relationship consists of both horizontal (club path and face angle) and vertical (attack angle and dynamic loft) components. Intent dictates technique; the ideal swing geometry varies according to the desired shot shape and trajectory.
Skill Development continued 5. Timing and Coordination Timing is defined as the ability to choose and use a particular action or movement at a particular time. Coordination represents the ability to sequence multiple movements, each timed appropriately. In other words, timing & coordination is the ability to blend movements (skills) to suit specific situations learning to move only that which needs to move, when it needs to move. Summary The purpose of full swing instruction and training is to develop proficiency within a set of 4 core competencies, which are strong predictors of success in ball striking. Improvement opportunities within the core competencies can be identified and prioritized through observation of club and body positioning at key points in the swing, in conjunction with analysis of TrackMan data. Capitalizing on improvement opportunities involves the development and application of a set of defined skills. Because these skills work together, developing one will tend to improve the others. Ongoing use of TrackMan in training & practice tends to create a deeper understanding of the cause/effect relationships in the swing, facilitating self discovery. This process is fueled by curiosity and a desire to improve.