A tiny addendum

When I said I wasn't going to mess with technicalities, I failed to mention that I still need to find a way to initiate the downswing, something that I've struggled with for a long time. There are so many ideas about this that it becomes an absolute minefield. Having tried virtually everything, I think at last I might have found something that will work for me.

It's not that it's a new idea, nor one that I haven't tried before. It's a move that I first came across in Swing Machine Golf and one that you can definitely associate with Byron Nelson, the inspiration for SMG.

This idea or move relates to the trailing knee, right knee for righties. It's about starting the downswing with a lateral shift of that knee, either forcefully or more gently, towards the target (and the left knee).

I had trouble with this move when I tried it previously. I was too ball conscious, too worried about all sorts of swing issues, and probably too impatient to give it a real chance. Since then, however, I've noticed in practice how effective it is with the shorter shots, chips and pitches, in creating good acceleration and good ball contact. I haven't really applied it to larger swings, but I intend to give that a go.

The theory, almost universally accepted, is that the golf swing should start from the ground up - be it feet, knees or hips - depending on the instructor. But the knees are the most mobile part of the lower body and can move laterally and rotate at the same time with little effort. Given that this lower body initiation of the swing is critical, focusing on the knees would seem to be an ideal trigger for that move.

So, I'll hit some more shots in practice and focus on my right knee to trigger my downswing. If it works at all, I'll keep it. I need (kneed) something to improve my sequencing. And now that I'm also focusing on finishing my swing, rather than the position of my club on the backswing, etc. etc. I should have a better chance of incorporating this move into my golf swing.