Swing Notes

Chapter 1- P1

Position 1 has four components for each of the main shots in golf: Grip, Posture, Setup, Alignment.

The Grip

The grip is consistent for all shots, with the exception of putting, which has many grip styles, as it’s based on feel. The back of the trail hand should be at a 180 degree angle. The lead hand should be slightly less than at the 180 degree angle.


INSERT Photo of grip with the arrows pointing at 180 degrees, and slightly less than 180

Grips for putting:
Claw grip
The claw grip has many uses. The best use is to promote the correct motion of the putter which is more of a “push” motion.


Posture

The posture should be both athletic and relaxed. The torso should be bent forward from the hips. The knees should be flexed slightly to allow for an explosive base, but not so much that it is a “seated” lower body setup.
The feet width should match the shot. For putting, the feet would be just wider than the hips. For the other shots, the feet should be closer for the shorter shots, and widen to just outside the hips for the full swing shots.
The arms should be relaxed. The hands should be close to the body. From a face on view, the hands should be centered. The head should be bent forward slightly. Eyes should always remain on the ball.


Setup
The setup focuses on the ball position for standard lies and shots. It also focuses on the way the body should be angled for different shots.

Alignment
The club face should be on the target line, and the body parallel to it.
INSERT photo of the alignment stick setup that justin rose uses.
This is true for all shots except those that the body should be open to the target line.

The Club
The club should be setup at its natural angle. The sole of the club should be on the ground. The toe of the irons and woods will be slightly in the air. The sole of the putter should be flush to the ground.

Chapter 2 - P2  

P2 has two designations: low and high.

P2 low is a position which is used for chip shots, or shots which need to stay low to allow for more roll out around the green.

INSERT photo of P2 low

Grip
remains the same as P1

Posture
Should mainly resemble P1. The only change that should be seen is that the arms have moved to P2 low and that the legs look engaged.  

Setup
remains the same as P1

Alignment
remains the same as P1

The Club
The club should remain in the area of the knees. The club should not get as high as the hips.

P2 High is a position that is used for pitch shots or shots that we want to control the flight of the ball. Pitch shots are shots that have more air time than roll time.

INSERT photo of P2 high

Grip
remains the same as P1

Posture
Exceptions from P1 : The chest will be slightly turned away from the target. The legs will look more engaged, the hands will be at or around the height of the hips, and have moved slightly  past the legs away from the target. The lead shoulder will be slightly lower than the trail shoulder to allow the body to properly move the club to P2 high.

Setup
Only applicable for P1

Alignment
Remains the same as P1

Club
The club head should be higher than the hips. The club should stay in front of the body.

INSERT photo of P2 high



Chapter 3 - P3

Position 3 is the top of the backswing. P3 has a range which is described in illustration .....  this is where the hands can be just above the shoulders or where the hands are well above the head.

Grip

remains the same as P1

Posture

Exceptions from P1 : The chest will be slightly turned away from the target. The chest should not be 90 degrees turned from P1, as this may cause the head to move from the center position. The chest should be turned somewhere between 45 to 60 degrees. The legs will look more engaged, and the hips will be slightly turned. The hips should never match the chest, as it creates a loss of elasticity, power, and stability.

The hands can be just above the shoulders or well above the head. The lead shoulder will be slightly lower than the trail shoulder to allow the body to properly move the club.

Setup


The Club
The club an be between 90 and 180 in relation to the ground. The face should be square to the target line.


P4 - Impact

Posture
The lower body should be slightly rotated to where the hips are facing to the right of the target line. The chest should be just to the right of the hips. The head should be the same as P1. The spine should be slightly more upright. The knees should also be slightly extended. The right foot should be rolled towards the target.


P5

The hips should be rotated past the target line. The upper body should still be have some forward bend. The lead arm should be slightly bent at the elbow.