Integration

There is nothing surer in golf that you need to find your own swing. This doesn't mean you should not copy some elements of good swings or methods. My error at times has been to try to adopt a particular method in totality, rather than adapt elements of that method or swing type to my swing.

Connection is an element of a lot of good swings. Too much arm separation, too many moving parts make it difficult to time a swing or get the club on a good plane consistently. Connection of the upper arm and leading shoulder help to keep a swing compact and consistent. But it is not enough.

Similarly, using body turn to power a golf swing is a good idea. Again it takes the arms, actually overuse of the arms in particular, out of the equation. However, there are challenges in developing this method; it requires a high level of commitment. Not such a bad thing I suppose, but harder than you think.

I am certain that another element of the golf swing is rhythm. This is the missing link in many golf swings, although it is very common in the swings of elite golfers.

If I try to summarise my current approach it is a composite of the above three issues - connection, body turn and rhythm. Fortunately, they are related. because keeping connected encourages the use of the body. And because this connection and body swing tends to shorten the backswing and tighten up the body a bit, it is essential to have good rhythm, that is, no rush in the backswing, transition or downswing.

That is why I am talking about integration.