ROTATION, ROTATION, ROTATION
What is rotation? We’ve heard the word thousands of times but like many other words, we’re not quite sure what the true definition really is. According to Webster, the definition that best fits rotation in the golf swing is “a circular movement around a center.” Most of the muscles involved in rotation within the golf swing are not big muscles. Most of them are somewhat small. I do not understand why commentators on TV for years have said “use the big muscles, they are more reliable under pressure”. I do not understand what big muscles they are talking about and I doubt whether they could name one big muscle that should be used in the golf swing. A neurosurgeon is under great pressure while operating on the brain. Do you think he is using big muscles under pressure? I think the results would be catastrophic, and the idea of using the big muscles in the golf swing is also catastrophic.
Most big muscles in the body create straight-line movements. As we come to understand the physics and biomechanics of the golf swing, we understand that it is the circular movements that create speed and consistency in the golf swing.
As you will come to see in the following video, it is very important to use each rotational muscle in a particular sequence. For example, the take away is performed by the superior head of the pectoralis muscle, which rotates the left upper arm inward and across the chest. This will start the club head on a particular circle which will allow the club to be on the intended backswing plane. If the rotation of the body came before the above rotation, the club head would be well below the intended backswing plane. Therefore, the sequence of rotations must be correct. The correct sequences are described in detail in the video.
The most common disaster that I see in the golf swing when I am teaching is the body working against the arms rather than the body being in sync with the arms. I can assure you that in most cases, the body will win out. No matter what the commentators say about the ground creating power or the body creating power, it just isn’t true. Clubhead speed is created by the arms, which are the only connection to the golf club. The arms can rotate in the sockets at approximately 30 mph, while the body can only rotate a few miles per hour. It is the body forcing the arms off of their optimal path that destroys both distance and accuracy.
In every instance, when I am teaching students, the most difficult thing to correct is the extra movements that they make. When done correctly, the take away is the simplest move of the entire golf swing. It is accomplished by one muscle which causes rotation of the left upper arm. You cannot believe how difficult it seems to be to simply rotate the left upper arm into the chest. Sometimes it will take several days to get rid of the extra movements that ruin the take away. I see this frequently in all parts of the golf swing. We should always be trying to get rid of extra movements in order to simplify the golf swing. Throughout the journey and many blogs that I’ve given to you, my intent has always been to simplify the golf swing by using biomechanics and identifying individual muscles in order to accomplish this objective. Movement of multiple muscles to create a single movement usually makes it very difficult to learn the golf swing and also creates a golf swing that will break down under pressure.
Bryson DeChambeau has created a lot of excitement lately by hitting extremely long drives. These good drives come when the body is in sync with the arms. When the body and arms get out of sync, they have created some disastrous shots. During The Players Championship, he essentially lost the tournament during the final round when he topped his drive and then shanking his next iron shot. This resulted in a double bogey.
Bryson DeChambeau is able to hit extremely long drives because he has bulked up by concentrating on building up fast twitch muscle fibers. Extremely fast arm rotation when in sync with correct body rotation is what is creating his increased clubhead speed. I can assure you it is not by using the ground for power. The thought of this is nonsensical.
As I state in the beginning of the video, you probably need to view the videos on Transition, Swing in a Circle, and Use Shaft Flex for Power if you have not already done so.
I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I have enjoyed making it.