Chapter 7. Footwork - The Key to Good Golf

The swinging of a golf club is a double-handed, ambidextrous motion which completely involves the player from toes to fingers. It is this all encompassing involvement of the player in a properly executed golf swing that gives a golfer that completeness of ease, grace and rhythm.

Being the two-legged creatures we are, it is understandable that to swing the club up and to the right we should balance ourselves on the right foot, and to swing the club down and to the left, we should rebalance ourselves on the left foot. However, at the very outset of the golf swing a quandary is presented.

In assuming the initial position from which to start the swing, the natural position for the hands on the club places the right hand in the lower position on the club handle. This invariably causes the player to relax the right knee slightly and by so doing the player finds himself balanced on the left foot. As long as he remains balanced on the left foot, it is unnatural to move the club from the ball.

However, through the simple process of the forward press, a slightly added forward movement of the right knee, the player can make a complete change of knee positions and balance himself on his right foot. Thus he can use his entire right side from hip to shoulder to lead his body into the diagonal stretch action, whereby the club can easily and naturally be raised to the top of the swing.

This handling of the knees-the forward press and the reverse press that are Steps 1 and 2 of the golf stroke-leaves the player so balanced when the top of the swing is reached, that it is possible to reverse the knee positions and thus rebalance the player on his left toe. The entire left side from hip to shoulder can then be used to lead the body into the diagonal stretch action to the left, so that the club can be brought down into and through the ball with a full, free, powerful movement.

There is no shortcut to this one-two action of the forward press and the reverse press and it will set the body up so that it can follow in perfect timing with the three-four movement of the up and down swing.

10. The Footwork in a Golf Swing A) Starting Position B) The Forward Press C) The Reverse Press D) Top of Swing E) Just Before Impact F) Follow Through.

In addition to balancing the player so that he is ready bodywise to go into the swing, the one-two of the forward press and reverse press accomplishes one other thing. It moves the hands in a slight forward movement on Step 1 and carries the hands back on Step 2. It thus places them in a perfect position so that the hands can set or cock the club into position, in harmony with the upswing action of the body on Step 3. (See illustration 3)

There is no shortcut to this one-two action of the forward press and the reverse press. Not only will the body be set up so it can swing the club up on the inside, but the hands will be put in a position where their action of cocking the club into position can be synchronized with the action of the body on movement 3.

Incidentally, it is this four movement rhythm which made Bobby Jones a golfing master and which keeps Samuel Jackson Snead still going at top form.

I could go on with countless examples of great players who use this one-two forward press and reverse press to start their swing. Gary Player, the great South African champion, says: "I feel strongly that one's weight should shift to the right foot on the backswing and to the left on the downswing."

Just after winning the Masters Championship at Augusta in 1950, Jimmy Demaret was interviewed about his golf during the event. Jimmy made this statement: "I have always used a forward press, but this week I used a triple press." He didn't discuss the matter any further but apparently prior to every shot he made triple sure that he was properly balanced for the shot.

About the same time, Sam Snead appeared as the golfer of the year before the annual meeting of the Professional Golfers Association at the Southern Pines Golf Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina. As is customary for persons in that role, Snead related his golfing experiences, and after his talk agreed to answer any questions. Not surprisingly, the first question asked was: "Just now do you start your swing? What is the very first thing you do when you make a golf shot?"

Snead's answer was, "I always make a forward press and then I make sure that I get back onto my left foot before the club meets the ball."

I cite these comments by these three great golfers to point out that uppermost in their minds when they are playing golf is the matter of balance and footwork.

11. In these illustrations, note the diagonal stretch of the right side on the upswing, the free right arm and right elbow position at the top of the swing and the straight forward kick of the left knee on the upswing.

I view unhappily the present day theory of the one-piece swing and those who say you must hold your left heel on the ground as you make the backswing. In the latter instance, I should say that the most common fault in golf is turning too much with the entire left side as the backswing is made. Such an action tends to throw the player too far forward on his left toe as the backswing is made and consequently he must lose his balance, which, of course, would minimize his power.

This excessive use of the left side on the backswing would produce a very flat, much too low, around the waistline movement of the club. However, by making the player hold his left heel on the ground as the backswing is made, the entire left side is arrested. To get any action or movement of the club, the player would be forced to pull back with his right side.

I can't quarrel with the idea of using the right side to take the club away on the upswing, but to accomplish this by holding the left heel on the ground is to my way of thinking a reverse method of doing things. However, for players who have never raised the club to the top of the swing correctly, this may be the exact thing they need-but I feel that it is correcting one fault by introducing another.

12. In this series of drawings of various golfers, note the diagonal stretch of the left side, the straight forward position of the right knee, the steady "centered on the ball" position of the players and the close-in, inside of Hie right elbow.

In regard to the one-piece swing theory, I contend there is no such thing. Being the two-legged humans we are, faced with the necessity of making an upswing and a downswing, it stands to reason that one couldn't have much motion if he stood flatfooted. To change from foot to foot as the action requires, there naturally has to be more than a one-piece movement.

13. These drawings show the diagonal stretch action of the left side and the full free action of the left arm and left elbow on the follow through.

This reminds me of the case of a very fine player who had within a period of ten days made successive scores of 68-66-69-67. At this point he began doing some experimenting with his swing, a swing which I had always considered perfect, and which was substantiated by his scores.

"How can you possibly improve on your swing?" I argued, and I must say he had about as nice and smooth a four movement rhythm as any golfer would like.

"Oh, there is a lot for me to learn about golf," was his answer.

I insisted on knowing exactly what he was trying to do, and he told me that he felt his swing was too loose and relaxed and that he should develop a one-piece swing.

I begged him not to experiment with anything, but to retain and maintain his present swing.

14. High handicap golfers demonstrate their off-center, unbalanced positions caused by improper body action. Such distortions throw the club out of position. The results are inaccuracy and a lack of power.

Within a period of three or four months, the player developed a strain in his left knee. A little bit later he began to have strains in his left hip, and in a short time he developed a back injury which kept him out of golf for over a year.

I cite this specific case to illustrate the fact that if one does not learn to handle his weight correctly in a golf swing, it is possible to develop serious sacroiliac problems. Without a transfer of weight to the right foot it is easy to see that the left shoulder must be brought over and around so that this shoulder is being forced towards and against a fixed right side. Consequently, a severe strain is placed on the spine-a strain which tends to twist the spinal discs at the base. Result-strained sacroiliac.

So, if for no other reason, learn to handle your weight so that there will be no physical strain from your golf swing. Let me repeat that when a golf swing is made correctly there is no strain whatsoever.

If you have any problems in this regard, consult your PGA professional immediately, and he will quickly help you overcome your difficulties.