Improve Your Golf Swing Sequence: Tips and Techniques for Success
By Bradley Turner Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction – MBA, PGA
Golf is a sport that demands precision, power, and finesse. Achieving an effective golf swing that produces powerful and accurate golf shots is the ultimate goal of every golfer. To unlock one of the secrets to a great golf swing, the golfer must create an effective kinematic sequence. An effective kinematic sequence is vital in any athletic motion that involves throwing a ball or striking a ball with a stick or racket. The biomechanical phenomenon is at the heart of every powerful golf ball, tennis ball, or baseball strike. In this article, we will define kinematic sequences and highlight the fundamental principles and their significance in improving your game.
Basics of the Kinematic Sequence
Kinematic sequence refers to the sequential movement and timing of body segments during an athletic motion. It plays a crucial role in generating power, accuracy, and consistency in a striking action. The kinematic sequence creates a whiplash effect, with the point furthest from the swing center moving at the highest speed. In throwing a baseball, the fastest-moving segment of the body is the hand, while the fastest-moving segment in the golf swing is the club head. In the golf swing, four important segments influence the kinematic sequence: (a) the hips/lower body, (b) the shoulders, (c) the arms/hands, and (d) the club head.
Kinetic linking is the process by which the energy generated in one part of the body is efficiently transferred to the next. In the golf swing, this is exemplified by the sequential movement of body segments, which begins from the ground up. Let’s further explain the kinetic linking of each phase of the golf swing sequence.
The Backswing Phase of the Golf Swing Sequence
Recent golf swing studies have found that the best players will complete the backswing phase at about the same time. This means that the best backswing sequence will have the hips, shoulders, arms/hands, and clubhead arriving at the top of the swing at the same time. For that to occur, each segment of the swing must be moving at a different speed or rate of acceleration. The hips may turn only 45 degrees, the shoulders a bit more movement at 90 degrees of turn, the arms/hands may move 5 feet on an arc, and the club head will travel about 9 feet on an arc.
The Transition Phase
This is the most important phase of the golf swing for creating an effective golf swing. The transition phase refers to the change from the backswing to the downswing. Just before the completion of the backswing sequence, the best players begin to shift their hips and lower body toward the target. The hips are the first segment to move, and this begins the downswing phase of the golf swing sequence.
The Downswing Phase of the Golf Swing Sequence
You now know the age-old question of what starts the downswing. The hips shift toward the target just before the completion of the backswing. The shoulders begin to follow the hips while the hands begin their journey to impact. The club head should leave the top of the backswing last of the four segments. This chain reaction creates high swing speeds for almost any golfer with adequate physical strength. There are plenty of 12-year-old junior golfers who can smash a golf ball over 250 yards, yet they weigh only 100 pounds! This is possible because of their effective kinematic sequence. At impact, the hips should be about 30-40 degrees open from their starting position. The shoulders will be square to slightly open.
Common Mistakes and Corrections
Here are three common mistakes that destroy the kinematic sequence in a golf swing:
1. No Lower Body Shift in the Transition Phase
This results in a player missing the first step of the downswing sequence. Imagine a professional baseball player throwing a ball. Every pitcher will begin moving forward even before their arm starts backward. A good correction for golfers is to keep most of the pressure (80%-90%) on your lead foot throughout all your short-game pitch shots and wedge shots. Once you get a feel for this pressure on the lead foot, begin to incorporate it into your full short iron golf swings. Eventually, you want to keep the pressure about 50/50 until you approach the completion of the backswing and then shift forward in the transition phase, leading to impact with 80%-90% on your lead foot.
2. Overactive Torso/Shoulder in Downswing Phase
The torso and shoulders work independently in the golf swing, but many golfers tend to turn their hips and torso along with the shoulders all at the same time. This will effectively stop the kinematic sequence and result in slower club head speed and a club path that will create the dreaded slice. The root cause of this can be different depending on the player’s flexibility. To correct this mistake, begin by understanding the conditions of impact by setting your hips 30-40 degrees open to the target line and the shoulders parallel to the target line. Then, begin taking small and slow swings, duplicating the conditions of impact (open hips and square shoulders). You must first learn to do this by making small and slow swings before progressing to bigger and faster golf swings.
3. Casting
Casting is the phrase used to describe the movement of the clubhead too soon at the start of the downswing. Golfers who begin the downswing by first moving the club head are doomed on their journey to good golf. It just will not happen. The root cause of this affliction is often the desire to scoop the ball into the air. A good correction to work on is a pre-impact and impact drill. The pre-impact position is when the club shaft is parallel to the ground, with the butt end of the club positioned near the trail thigh. Both arms should be extended, and hands over the thigh as well. The impact position will have the shaft leaning towards the target by about 8 degrees. You can visualize this by taking an 8-iron and then leaning the shaft forward to match the loft of your 6-iron. This is about 8 degrees of shaft lean. Once again, start with small and slow swings from the pre-impact position to the impact position. Hit very short shots and gradually incorporate them into pitch shot practice sessions before progressing to full swing.
The kinematic sequence is one secret behind powerful golf swings. By understanding the principles of good sequencing, you can work towards improving your golf swing. If you want to hit more powerful, accurate, and consistent golf shots, this is the journey for you. It will require practice, dedication, and likely help from a good golf coach. In the end, you will be rewarded with effortless power and lower golf scores.
Learn more!
Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, together, we can elevate your game to new heights. Give us a call today at 888-644-4964.
