Three Ways to the Top
Three Ways to the Top
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi, Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
Here’s a question for you – how does the clubhead arrive at the top of the swing?
The answer is that there are three contributors to height/arc in this regard:
(1) The fold of the trail-arm
(2) The set (cocking) of the wrists and
(3) The target-arm swinging up the chest
At the end of my takeaway, the two angles of power (90-degree angle at the elbow and 90-degree angle formed by the shaft/left arm) have not been completely formed yet, but the left arm has begun its migration across the chest to elevate the club.
At the top of my swing with an 8-iron, all three are in place: the left arm has risen up the chest to approximately 10 o’clock and the two 90-degree angles have folded into place, raising the club to its most effective striking height. If any of the big three are missing, the club’s optimal journey is limited and so is its power.
After the takeaway, the wrist cock has added much to the height of the clubhead as has the fold of the trail elbow. Here the height of the swing is completed by the arrival of the target arm across the shoulder line. The idea is to keep the wrist cock on the downswing until just before impact as the front arm slides back down the chest and the right elbow straightens.
At the end of the takeaway, the elevation of the clubhead is due primarily to the amount of arm swing. Note that while I have very little cocking of the wrists or fold of the right elbow, the combination of our three parameters varies depending on the swing type and individual preference. Note also that while the timing of when they occur is a preference; ‘that’ they occur is not.
Takeaway: As the target arm swings up to the chest, the wrists set and the trail arm folds. And while all three are necessary to obtain the correct height/arc of the clubhead, the mixture and timing depend on your body type. If you’re having ball flight problems, always check out your backswing to make sure all three of your “height/arc givers” are correctly in place.
Note: The concepts of height and arc are different but very much related. In this case, the two are both increased by the three essentials described.
If you’d like to study with Dr. Tomasi and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today.
