For ease of use, we have split up the down swing in to two different elements. Each one can be practiced and perfected individually or you can choose to practice them as one sequence. We will start with a key aspect of the downswing and that is the transition.
Transition
The transition, is the the point in your golf swing, where the club begins to work it’s way back down towards the ball. This aspect of your swing can have a great effect on the outcome of your shot. If you commence your downswing correctly, you can gain a lot of power, accuracy and consistency in your golf shots.
To commence the downswing, you need to move your weight towards your front foot, by shifting your hips to the left. At the same time, bring your right elbow down, towards your body, in line with the pocket on the right side of your trousers. A combination of these two actions, will allow you to shift your weight towards the target and your shoulders to unwind naturally.
At the point when you feel your hips starting to turn, your chest and body will pull your hands forward, towards the ball. At no point should you need to throw your club down from the top of your back swing.
Practice drill: Hold a golf club behind your back, above the shoulder blades and hold a football between your knees. Take your stance as if you were addressing your golf ball and commence your swing. As you reach the top of your swing, move your left knee towards the target and release the football. This will help you get a feel of a correct transition and can easily be practiced at home or at work.
Impact
At the point of impact, having completed the previous aspects of your golfswing correctly, you will not need to make any adjustments.
The hips should continue to turn open and the chest should be facing the ball. Your head should be behind the ball and your left arm straightening. With your left foot flat on the ground, the ball of your right foot should also be in contact with the ground.
Your hands will be slightly ahead of the club at the point of impact, which is exactly what we want, with your left wrist flat and your right wrist bent.
As mentioned previously, you should not have to force any part of your body in to position at this point. If you feel you are doing so, there could be something missing from the earlier parts of your swing. Check out our other tips on the website, if this is the case.
Practice drill: This drill will encourage your body to get in to the correct position at the point of impact and allow you get a feel of what it is like. Place your golf bag on the floor, with the bottom of the bag facing you and take your stance as you would to address the ball (but in this case, address the bag). From this position, simply try to push the bag along the ground with your club. Hold the pressure on the bag for 5 seconds and then relax. Complete this drill 10 times, before hitting some balls. Your body should begin to feel the same way, when you make contact with the ball, as it does when you complete the drill using your bag.
