does the golf swing have any correlation to...?

[Pdougherty]

Hello,

For some of us, we are getting prepared for winter by chopping wood and I have been doing a lot of just that recently and it got me thinking.

 

Does the golf swing have any correlation to chopping wood? Granted, after watching some videos on the web of people chopping wood I have noticed that they are doing it incorrectly. However for the time being, use the directions below as a base for what I mean by “chopping wood.”

 

Take your left hand and grip the bottom of the maul handle, about two inches from the bottom end in an overhand grip (palm facing down). Next, take your right hand and put it about two feet up on the handle from the left hand with an underhand grip (palm facing up). Put your left foot slightly in front of your right, with the feet spread about shoulder-length apart for support. Now drop your right hand slightly to begin a circular arc, drawing the maul behind you on the right side. This should be a smooth movement and you will feel your right hand slide up the handle of the maul toward the head. Using the momentum of the arc, bring the head of the maul down with as much force on the log as you can without exaggerating or straining. You will notice that your right hand retreats back toward the bottom of the handle and you are in no danger of striking it on the log.

 

With those steps of chopping wood, these are some of the things I see related to the golf swing. You start off by making a good shoulder turn on the takeaway, reach a point at the top of the arc, possibly “lag” the maul head on the way down, and then release your right hand with all your strength giving you more power into the wood. And you do all this while focusing on your striking target. Sort of like possibly a dimple on a golf ball.

Like I said, I have been doing some wood splitting lately and I’m finding similarities between the two more and more. On the other hand though, I may just be going crazy with all that time in the woods. What do you think?

[Swingtheclub]

Lol I know nothing about chopping wood.

I do remember Johnny Miller blaming bulking up from chopping wood on hurting his game.

[FHal11]

while they both involve swinging something at a target, and generating power through body rotation, little else is similar. a key component to a good golf swing is an inside out (more accurately inside-square-inside) swing path, while chopping wood is more akin to an over the top move. also, key to a golf swing is repeatability and accuracy and control. when chopping wood, there is no projectile that must follow an extremely accurate path, all that matters is delivering the most power to the cutting point. while similar muscle groups are involved in generating torque and power, the swing itself is quite different (in my opinion).

[The Boom Bapp]

You bet it does, you work the same muscles and as in golf a strong core is essential to "eye-popping" drives and a strong swing.

I was born in Cali for and lived theri for a while and then my parents decided to move me to Wyoming and believe me when I say it is an absolute nessecity to have wood ready to burn at a moments notice because it can get bone chilling cold and can build blizzard like conditions in an instant. My brother and I had to preform wood chopping duties for 14 years and I credit that single-handedly with the size of my forearms and the length I get off the tee. I think I was the only 16 year only with an 8 pack and popeye like forearms. I was accused of being on steroids by my football team mates and I was always a heavy favorite at wrestling meets. It was a very rewarding time in my life and it is all from chopping wood ya'll.

Chop as much as possible.

Later

[hoganfan924]

Chopping wood, the ultimate over the top swing! lol

[The Boom Bapp]

[quote name='hoganfan924' post='819533' date='Dec 10 2007, 08:28 PM']Chopping wood, the ultimate over the top swing! lol[/quote]


LOL!!

[Pdougherty]

Just found out that Ernie Els uses a medicine ball with a wood chopping motion as a stretch.

[url="http://www.ernieels.com/default.aspx?i_CategoryID=164"]http://www.ernieels.com/default.aspx?i_CategoryID=164[/url]

[ezra76]

The way I played today it did.

[Lake]

I stumbled across these pic's today MacDonald Exercises (Golf, 1927)

[Pdougherty]

[quote name='lake' post='823495' date='Dec 13 2007, 06:56 PM']I stumbled across these pic's today MacDonald Exercises (Golf, 1927)[/quote]

Thanks. I knew there had to be some correlation between golf and an ax no matter which way you swing it.

[hoganfan924]

Good one, Lake! I love old golf instruction books!

[slicefixer]

[quote name='lake' post='823495' date='Dec 13 2007, 07:56 PM']I stumbled across these pic's today MacDonald Exercises (Golf, 1927)[/quote]


Better be careful to not get that sucka' too far inside..........hehehe


BTW, I have one of those wooden handled rubber headed mallets.........bored out the handle and expoxied a shaft into it..........placed a piece of a crosstie on the ground.......GREAT for doing EXACTLY what the "ax pic" is demonstrating........and your not going to "take a lil' off of the side of your leg" doing it........ (WORKS great for teaching people where the butt of the club "go's" in the dowswing in response to CORE rotation in order for the face to square up........you can also FEEL the upper left side "connect" in the impact zone......works great!)

[mikpga]

Load and unload...

Store and release...

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