During these desperate times of world turmoil it’s important to remain patriotic and cherish our freedom even in our golf swing. Teaching legend Percy Boomer was quoted as saying “the golf swing is one and indivisible.” The reasoning behind Percy’s statement is that the golf swing should have a constant momentum and swing throughout. The golfer’s hands, arms and shoulders should not attempt to manipulate, redirect, or steer the club into positions contrary to the club heads natural momentous swing arc. That’s why many golf swing training aids are weighted so that the golfer will not be able to fight the swing movement. The hands, fingers, and arms should learn to work with the momentum and not against it. That is why I am not a position teacher. I am very aware of the positions that the club travels on during a technically perfect golf swing, but mechanically forcing the club to positions with the hands, arms and shoulders is not how these positions are achieved! The mechanical manipulating and steering of the club head to inappropriate positions during the golf swing are a power thief and dictator that will ultimately destroy any chance of freedom of swing.
P.G.A. tour professional Brandt Snedeker’s golf swing is a perfect example of freedom of swing. Next professional tournament watch how Snedeker steps up to the ball, bangs the club head on the ground to free up his grip pressure, and whips the club back creating enough momentum for his arms to swing up and wrists to hinge automatically. That’s why he is such a great ball striker! Percy Boomer stated that “there is no action in golf less understood than the use of the wrists, for curiously enough we do not have to work them, but we have to let them work themselves — like hinges on a door.” There is no compensatory action of the hands to manipulate the club head in a great golf swing; they must react to the momentum of the club head, not act independently in an attempt to control it. A few weeks ago I was watching Jeff Leonard, a very good player and P.G.A. Professional from the First Tee of Tampa Bay demonstrate a drill at Heritage Isles during their weekly junior program. He would step far enough away from the ball and start taking practice swings. With each practice swing he would step closer to the golf ball until by the third swing he let the club automatically strike through the ball with the same movement of all his practice swings. It’s a tough drill but in my opinion an excellent one for swing freedom.
Next time you play or practice golf be a patriot and remember “the golf swing is one and indivisible” with might I add liberty and justice for all.
Rick Bradshaw
2004/2006 North Florida Section PGA Teacher of the Year
Director of Instruction, Dent/Bradshaw School of Golf
Heritage Isles Golf Club
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