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You are here: Home / Golf / The Measured Swing

The Measured Swing

September 14, 2022 by Stephen Altschuler Leave a Comment

Setting the tone of a good solid swing happens right at the start of the backswing with what is called a forward press. I make mine fairly distinct as it reminds me to keep my forward arm as straight as possible going back and continuing straight to the completion of the backswing. The question arises, though, when is the backswing complete? My experience tells me the backswing often shortens with age in order to maintain the straight forward arm. Hogan emphasized the straight forward arm in particular as one of the keys for a measured swing. For if that arm breaks down at any point up to impact, the integrity of the connected swing is interrupted. That leads to all sorts of trouble at impact. Golf, you see, is a harm/failure reduction sport. With an unconnected swing, the flight of the ball is often inconsistent and unpredictable, which is the exact opposite of what we all strive for with this daunting game.

When you examine the swings of Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, Steve Strcker ,and Lee Trevino, you wonder, with the shortness of their backswings, where they get their power and accuracy. You realize that it must come from a connected, unified movement where the legs, arms and shoulders act as a unit, with the hips moving the weight forward on the downswing to get it all moving efficiently and well timed, a kind of well-tuned and harmonious orchestra.

The conductor of that orchestra is the straight forward arm. It keeps the swing a properly measured extension of a given and constant length golf club.

As I’ve advised before, to keep the swing connected from the start, the knees, hips shoulders, and arms should start back together, with the weight shifting to the back leg. The reality is you see much less variation here in the pro ranks than you do with handicappers, where at the average driving range there are more examples of backswings than a mockingbird has songs. The unconnected swing reigns supreme at local ranges and the results usually show it. In fact, the next time you’re at a range you don’t need to invade someone’s hitting station privacy with your eyes. Just listen to the lack of proper contact. You can tell a well-struck golf shot–your own included–by the sound it makes when ball leaves the clubface. If you’re not sure what I mean, go to YouTube, punch up a Ben Hogan or a Tiger Woods video, and listen to their contact. That’s what I’m talking about!

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More of my take on LIV Golf: The question to ask LIV players is why they switched. They won’t answer honestly because the reason is money honey. They want their cake and eat it too. They’ve been given more money than anyone needs for a lifetime to take of themselves and their family. Now they want to take up space in other tours denying other often struggling players a spot in any given tournament so LIV players can make even more money. And what about that bullshit about LIV providing more time to be with family? Sounds like they will actually be away from family even more if they’re allowed to play on other tours.

LIV is a scam, enriching a revenging Greg Norman (against the PGA). Polishing the image of a corrupt Saudi Arabia regime through sportswashing. And providing mostly older has-been pros with a way to pad their dwindling income for showing up to exibition-like 54 hole, no cut, short pants tournaments of guaranteed mucho bucks for everyone. So far, they have no major TV coverage, are drawing minimal crowds, and offer no monies to local charities as the PGA Tour does. I call it the Self-Absorption Tour! You know it’s a scam if it smells and looks like a scam, especially since Don Donald got in on it!

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I’ve been writing this blog since 2010 at no charge. If you like it, consider paying $5/month or $50/year to support it. For those who already do, my sincere thanks.

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Filed Under: backswing, Downswing, Famous Golfers, Golf, golf values, Swing tips, Tiger Woods

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