Proper Shoulder Movement in a Golf Swing
- During your swing, the golf club is an extension of your arms. The movement of your arms, especially your shoulders, directly affects the direction the club travels when you swing it. The shoulders--along with the hips and abdominal muscles--execute the power in a solid golf swing, so it's important to move your shoulders in a fluid manner. The shoulders must not take the lead, but serve as a steering wheel for the club.
- Your grip should be relaxed. Don't grip the club too tightly. Keep your grip loose and natural but firm enough to keep your club head straight in your downswing. The index finger on your dominating hand should guide the direction of the swing.
- When you bend over your ball bend at the waist, not the shoulders, and slightly curve forward to allow your arms to easily pass by your chest during the swing. You must also keep your knees bent slightly. Relaxation of the body is the key to executing the proper posture, alignment and shot. If you are not relaxed, you're not going to be able to focus.
- Your shoulders should be loose when you align yourself with the ball. Keep your eye on where the ball sits and imagine a line to where you would like to hit it. Staying loose and envisioning the shot will make for a more accurate and smoother shot. Your backswing should be slow and concentrated, giving your body a chance to collect energy to release on a quality downswing. During your backswing, your left shoulder (if you're righthanded) will rotate down and right under the chin. The amount of shoulder movement always determines the length of the backswing, so keep this in mind when calculating distances and swings.
- Golfer in his follow through
On the downswing, you should allow the motion of your legs to pull your right shoulder forward, bringing the shoulders square to the target upon impact. Upon contact with the ball, the follow through should be the same speed as the downswing, and your left arm should be completely straight. Don't slow down or jerk the swing once you make contact until the club is above your shoulders. - sjack: sxc.hu
The shoulders are one of the most important elements in a golf swing, but they must remain a passive part of the swing. They should be a follower in the swing, not a leader. When your shoulders take the lead, your arms are doing too much of the work. Allow the knees and the natural pivot of the club to do the work and let your shoulders be a supportive and flexible part of the swing.
