Hip and shoulder sequencing in the downswing

[JeffMann]

tigersocks

When I talk of the upper body starting the swing, I am not implying that the arms and shoulders power the swing. One [b]thinks[/b] of swinging the arms and right shoulder down towards the ball (in a side-arm throwing style action), but the muscle power generating the downswing power comes from the torso muscles (essentially all the external abdominal muscles, chest wall muscles and shoulder girdle muscles that are above the level of the navel). Then, after the downswing starts, the movement of the arms and right shoulder cause the pelvis to shift leftwards, and during the mid-late phase of the downswing the muscles in the lower body (below the level of the navel) and butt area [b]actively[/b] help in the left hip clearing action.

My reason for changing my approach to the downswing is because I now believe in hitting along a straight plane line using my right hand as the [b]director[/b] of the total body's movement during the downswing. I find that I can trace a straight plane line far more accurately when I start the swing as described (using a hand controlled pivot action), rather than starting the downswing with a lower body move (ala Hogan) and passively flinging my arms around the body in a slingshot-type action. I have also found that I am not losing distance - probably because I am swinging more smoothly, more controllably, and hitting the sweetspot more consistently.

Jeff.

[kosmosspoetz]

Sounds to me like someone should put on a K-vest or similar product and find out if all these different "feels" translate into actual differences in the swing.