bebettergolf.net is now featuring EXCLUSIVE articles by some of the instructors and guests from the vlogs. This first installment is by PGA life member Jack Gibson, PGA whom I met while running the first bebettergolf school in indio and was on the channel before. Jack was a fan of the youtube channel and heard of Tony Luczak's preference for using the trail arm as the dominate force in the swing and we started talking. I have been working on getting my shoulder to not open up immediately in transition and I was keenly interested to hear Mr. Gibson's take on it. He has over 50 years of experience as a player and teacher and the words he writes below really puts things in perspective for me.
Jack teaches every day at Terra Lago in Indio, CA and is the author of "Thought Reduction Golf" a great book.
-Brendon
Jack teaches every day at Terra Lago in Indio, CA and is the author of "Thought Reduction Golf" a great book.
-Brendon
Opening the Front Shoulder too Early in the Downswing
by Jack Gibson, PGA
I was recently asked if I had a favorite drill for a golfer who opens his front shoulder too early in the transition. I presume the golfer in question was either slicing his ball or hitting a pull. First I would check the golfer’s shoulder alignment at address. If the shoulders are aligned “open” there is about a 99 percent chance they will be that way early in the transition, which could only result in a ball flight which follows that shoulder alignment.
I never liked the idea of just thinking about “front shoulder,” “left hip” or any other thought that seems to forget that you can’t move either independently without also moving the opposite shoulder or hip. Presuming we are working with a golfer who has most of his parts connected, it is more productive to concentrate on the golfer’s dominant side movement when trying to make a correction. For a right-handed golfer, for example, learning to swing the club head down and toward the golf ball with the right hand and right arm is a simple and effective way to eliminate any “opening of the front shoulder” until the golf ball is well under way.
I never liked the idea of just thinking about “front shoulder,” “left hip” or any other thought that seems to forget that you can’t move either independently without also moving the opposite shoulder or hip. Presuming we are working with a golfer who has most of his parts connected, it is more productive to concentrate on the golfer’s dominant side movement when trying to make a correction. For a right-handed golfer, for example, learning to swing the club head down and toward the golf ball with the right hand and right arm is a simple and effective way to eliminate any “opening of the front shoulder” until the golf ball is well under way.
Notice how in these 2 images Jack's left shoulder has opened very little. Most amateurs rip that way open too soon -BD Most golfers who exhibit the “open front shoulder too early” problem are trying to get their power from how much they lunge at the ball with their bodies while not giving the dominant hand and side a chance to do their work. Of course, most “lungers” are also not giving the dominant hand a chance to pronate over the other hand (right over left for right-handers) soon enough on their downswing to allow their clubface to get “square” and continue to “close” after contact with the golf ball.
So, what is my favorite drill for opening the front shoulder too early? I suppose it would be to simply learn to swing the club head back and through with the dominant hand and just let the body respond to that swinging motion, as was taught by the great teacher Manuel de la Torre.
Try it. It will work and improve the golf swing of anybody. And don’t worry about your front shoulder.
Jack Gibson, Life Member of the PGA
Founder of THE Senior Golf Academy of Southern California
So, what is my favorite drill for opening the front shoulder too early? I suppose it would be to simply learn to swing the club head back and through with the dominant hand and just let the body respond to that swinging motion, as was taught by the great teacher Manuel de la Torre.
Try it. It will work and improve the golf swing of anybody. And don’t worry about your front shoulder.
Jack Gibson, Life Member of the PGA
Founder of THE Senior Golf Academy of Southern California
Thanks to Jack for the great article. He just opened up a new golf school just for golfers over 50 in Indio, CA. Check it out.
RSS Feed
