I think of the golf swing as a circular motion with the face of the club, so it’s important to feel the face and be aware of its position and direction on the backswing and downswing.
Every circle has a center point, and moving it disrupts the circle. Keeping your eyes on the ball will keep your head (center point) centered throughout the swing. There’s plenty of talk about angles and rotation, but if we make a circular motion with the face while staying centered on the ball we allow the properties of momentum (backswing) and gravity (downswing and through swing) to create the proper angles and rotation, which is done through relaxation and rhythm.
Here’s a good drill to condition your swing:
Get a couple of two-by-fours – one about 2 feet long and the other 10 inches.
Stand on the long board and put the short board just behind your clubhead at setup.
Slide the board straight back as you stay centered and balanced on the long board.
Repeat by putting the short board in front of the clubface and pushing it forward.
Do this for 15 minutes a few times a week and you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.
Joe Simonds, PGA, is the head golf professional at Indian Springs Golf Club in Indio. He can be reached at (760) 200-8988 or joe@indianspringsgc.com.
