If there is a secret ...

If there is a secret to a good golf swing, I believe I have found it. Admittedly, golf is not just about the mechanics of the golf swing - it's also about concentration, course management, controlling nerves, etc. - and although it's said you drive for show, it's actually important to be able to reliably hit the fairway. It's also good to be able to hit fairway woods and irons consistently. This is where the 'connected' golf swing comes into its own.

The term 'connection' is not new, it is taught by some (a few) professionals. The drills that incorporate towels under the arms are also well known, but for most golfers 'connection' is just 'a term' - its full significance is lost on 99% of weekend golfers, who think of it as a nice optional extra or something of the sort.

I came across the connection concept when I was watching a one-plane swing video, as mentioned previously. I got to thinking about what this connection actually achieved, having like almost everyone never really given it much thought. I then went to the course and started to try out keeping the upper left arm 'connected' to my left chest. I didn't practice, I just played trying to maintain that connection.

Eureka! Suddenly, and I mean almost immediately, my swing felt more powerful and I started to hit the ball further and straighter with only a slight sensation of constriction - obviously from needing to concentrate on keeping my upper left arm close to my left side. By the way, this is for right-handers. And it is only the front arm that should be connected, not both, as per some of the drills seen around the place.

This connection has the effect of increasing the amount and speed of one's body rotation. This occurs because as you swing to hit the ball with your arms, with your arms are moving quite quickly, you are virtually forced to rotate more quickly than you are used to, if the connection is maintained. This is where the extra power comes from. It also explains, I believe, why tennis players with a two handed backswing can generate so much racquet speed despite the restriction of using two arms, that is, rapid, powerful body rotation.

But there are significant side-benefits of connection. One is the reduction in the need to time the hit. There really is no timing needed - it's very much a one-piece action - just a powerful one. Another benefit is the increase in consistency of ball-striking that comes with the reduced range of arm motion (up, down, inside, outside, etc.) because of that slight constriction and connection. This is particularly noticeable when hitting irons, which require good centre contact for distance control and accuracy.

A final benefit of the connected golf swing is the reduced need to worry about 'release'. This is a concept that some golfers have never thought about, and many fail to actually do effectively. This explains the prevalence of slicing - no decent release being one of the major factors, though not the only important one. With the connected golf swing, the type of release involved is what is called a 'stable release' where the club face is not opened on the backswing and does not need to be closed on the downswing, in the way many golfers swing, but is kept more or less square to the swing plane throughout the swing. Timing the closing of the face is therefore not needed, it will be square to closed at impact without any manipulation (and timing) required.

A word of warning here; it is necessary to keep turning through the shot. Stopping the turn produces pull shots, hooks and other nasty outcomes. It's not difficult to keep turning, but old habits can creep in from time to time. But no-one is perfect; we are not machines.

There is more technical stuff here that could be discussed, for example, what happens with the wrists and why they can be basically ignored, and why weight transfer doesn't need to be consciously addressed. Suffice to say, the connected golf swing is a simple yet powerful swing that can be performed virtually with practice and perfected, in my view, in very few rounds of golf. In my view, if there is a secret to the golf swing, this is it! So, shhhh … it's a secret.