P-2 Shaft parallel to the ground at the beginning of the backswing

P-2 Shaft parallel to the ground at the beginning of the backswing

From address THE CLUB BEGINS to move in the takeaway. Ideally, the wrist, hands and forearms are relatively passive with very little independent manipulation or excessive rotation of the club. The lead arm stays snug and connected against the chest. Shoulders begin to REACT and engage with the lower body relatively quiet. The lead shoulder descends and the trail shoulder elevates up and in. We call this stretch, extend and rotate. (drill : palms against outside top of thighs – the lead side palm slides down the front thigh and the trail side palm slides up the trail thigh – the shoulders should feel like pistons, up and down). The lead side shortens and the trail side lengthens. Lead arm pushes across the chest to help maintain both width of swing and hand path. The lead hand pushes down on the butt of the club to begin the hinge of the wrists which elevates the club head and shaft outside the hands (thumbs up). The shaft gets level to the ground with the handle just past the trail hip. Player must relax the wrists and forearms. The grip should be emphasized from underneath the club in the bottom three fingers of both hands. The top of the forearms should be soft and relaxed, with no tension in the index finger and thumbs. The hips and the knees then begin to SLIGHTLY rotate in reaction to the upper body and movement of the club.