A simple method

I mentioned that I would outline my method for the full golf swing, so here it is:

1. Set up in as athletic, square and balanced position as possible. Obviously, alignment and allowance for the lie must be made. It's OK to copy a good set up, like Adam Scott's. The spine angle at set up must be maintained until the end of the follow through. A good grip is also important, nothing too strong or weak, and not too tight.

2. Use a one-piece takeaway, ie. keep the Y in the arms/club relationship until the arms are roughly level with the ground. This promotes a good, on-plane backswing path - not too inside or outside. Let the wrists cock naturally by keeping them as flexible as possible. The takeaway is much more important than it might seem - it is a crucial indicator of the likely accuracy of the ball strike.

3. Start the downswing - without any rushing - by pressing (planting) the heel of the front foot into the ground while simultaneously dropping the trailing elbow down and in front of the trailing hip. The arms are 'connected' to the body and the tucked trailing elbow promotes an inside-out swing path to the ball as the body turns. The planting of the foot promotes a transfer of weight from the inside of the back leg to the front leg and side - without excessive body sway.

4. The weight transfer that occurs naturally after the front foot is pressed down will promote a downward strike of the ball. For the driver, the forward positioning of the ball will mean the clubhead has levelled off by the time it reaches it. For irons, the downward strike is critical in promoting good contact and spin that will lift the ball. The ball is struck first with all iron shots, including chips and pitches. Using the same tempo for ALL shots is very important.

5. The follow-through is important in two respects. Firstly, it must be completed (in all normal shots) because the target is not the ball, the target is the target, and the swing is a complete entity. Being ball focused (the hit impulse) will make it unlikely that the swing will be as free-flowing and effective as it can be. Secondly, the follow-through is a great indicator of the commitment to the swing or shot and whether good tempo, balance and body angles were maintained during the swing.

There are plenty of mechanical technicalities that go into a golf swing and lots of other issues in the playing of golf. In my view, the golf swing is in part a natural athletic movement and in part the refinement or re-direction of that movement.

The above is a summary of what I think is important. I am trying to think of the golf swing as an organic whole, where the 'whole' is greater than the sum of the parts. It doesn't mean each element is not important, but the elements must be brought together and integrated into the swing for a good golf swing to be achieved. This takes time - it involves unconscious processes like muscle memory - but hopefully I am getting closer to that hold grail.