Golf Backswing Knee and Leg Position, Swing Tips
Alter Swing Plane, Shoulder Turn with Left Knee Backswing Position
Sep 15, 2009
Because the golf swing is a chain reaction of movements there are many ways which a golfer can control the shape of the swing. When Jack Nicklaus was in his hey day, he said he had four or five different ‘feels’ to his swing that he would use in rotation, but fundamentally they all achieved the same thing. Likewise a club golfer can try different feels to get the best out of their swing.
Many golfers concentrate on the shoulder or arm position during the backswing to alter the swing path and plane to try to hit a draw or fade shot. The following tips however are about how to alter the shape of the swing by moving the left knee and leg in a particular way.
How Left Knee Position on Backswing can Alter Swing Plane
- Most golfers know that they must turn the shoulders on the backswing. The shoulder turn dictates whether the swing plane is flat or upright. A flat swing will tend to draw the ball, an upright or steep swing will tend to hit a fade.
- Genarelly the more a golfer turns the shoulders the more likely it is the backswing becomes too inside and the plane too flat. Conversly the more restricted the shoulder turn, the more the arms have to work up into a steep or upright position.
- The degree of shoulder turn has a direct influence on how the hips, legs and consequently knees work. The more the shoulders turn, the more the hips legs and knees are pulled round on the backswing.
- A golfer can concentrate on the shoulder turn to alter the swing path and plane, letting the hips legs and knees respond naturally. However, this is a chicken and egg situation. It is possible to alter the swing with reverse logic. By making the knees and legs work in a particular way, it can have an effect on how the shoulders work.
- If you are struggling to hit a draw and have concentrated on the shoulders, but still feel you need more turn, make sure that the left knee points to the right of the ball at the top of the backswing. This will encourage a good hip turn and consequently a full shoulder turn.
- If however you feel the swing is too flat and inside and want to make the swing more upright, make sure the left knee moves forward in the backswing and not to the right. This will restrict the hip turn and consequently the shoulder turn. With a limited shoulder turn the arms have nowhere to go and move up into a more upright swing plane, a position that favours a fade shot.
- Experiment with different knee positions on the backswing to alter the swing path and plane of the backswing.
See Also: Golf Clubface Position at Top of Backswing and What Does Over the Top Swing Really Mean
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