Getting More Body in the Golf Swing

Having the Body Involved Means legs and Hips

Getting more body in the golf swing can be achieved in two ways. The first is from more turn and the second is from coil. Most golfers store energy in their backswing by creating a coil. Here they are winding the upper body against the resistance of the lower body usually through arm swing.

Coiling is actually achieved from reduced turning. This can be seen by tying one end of a coil down and then turn it. Because on end is tied down it will store energy but it will also have less turn than if the end was not tied down. For most individuals the shoulders can only turn about 45 degrees relative to the hips. The reason golfers have 90 of shoulder turn is from the additional turn of the lower which is usually also about 45 degrees. But if the golfer starts the motion with shoulder turn the coil is introduced to soon in the backswing and so one will now be required to release the coil so as to achieve a backswing. However if the golfer starts with the arms the arm swing will pull the shoulders back against the resistance of the lower, resulting in a motion where everything arrives at the top at the same time. With this the coil occurs at the top of the swing.

With increased flexibility the need for turn is reduced. With decreased flexibility the need for turn is increased. This is why some golfers drop their right foot back and some, usually juniors, can play from an open stance. It is always a matter of degrees.

Some golfers like Michael McGann create force from positional advantage. Here the golfer is lifting the left heel and now overturning in the backswing. Here the swing is very wide and upright.

By doing the she achieves a high right side with falls and counter falls, linear first before rotary in the downswing.