Question 488 Comments on golf by a professional cricket player.

Hi, John here, your faithful single-axis lefty from Singapore again.  Had a few thoughts the other day and wondered if they might help anyone moving on to Scott's single-axis swing from the frustrations of traditional teaching.   If useful, post on site - if not, amend or delete.

Scott has so much advice, it sometimes gets overwhelming.   I have found the following to be the central key in getting the hang of single-axis : just skim a few stones on the nearest lake - or pretend in your lounge!!  Check how the movement is simple, natural, perfect for golf swing, namely :

1    Hand action is a slingy down the line action resulting from a natural straightening of the arm. (Left, in my case, as a lefty.)   The whole skill and power of the action is in this simple straigtening action NOT in idiotic notions of body rotation etc.

2    Body weight shifts easily and naturally to front foot (heel?), while rear foot (heel?) remains on floor as you swing arm through.   Head moves back instinctively too.

3    You actually deliver the throw SIDE-ON (forget all that rotational nonsense in conventional teaching) because that's the natural way to do it.   (This is equivalent to Scott's advice "effortless power down the line, no torque")

I am sure if you all try this you'll feel what I mean.   If you are asking, "so what??  What about the top hand, this is a two-handed game" ... er, its obvious : the top hand does NOTHING in the swing involving power (just like when you skim a stone) -   it simply acts as a rod on top end of grip, governing position of club-face at impact.

Ok, so how does it relate to golf swing?  Well, for me, if it's of use (remember I am a lefty, change for righties), thus:

1    Address ball with top hand (= rod or lever-arc from shoulder to club-head, see Scott's video for details).   Loop arm over from rear, place inside of upper arm on outer edege of chest ("right arm ..sit on tit" is my memo guide at address).

2    Sort out your posture while your there - chin up, tilt only from waist, nice "up"feel.

3    Now.. the KEY.   Hang left arm naturally from socket and make your skim stone action.   Hand should come into contact with grip.   If you have to reach forward you're too far away from ball.   If you have to pull action back into you, you're too near.   Dead simple.   NOTE : as hand skims towards grip , you'll see it turning palm down target line naturally ie AS YOU SKIM YOUR IMAGINARY STONE.   Freeze the action more or less at the grip : you will find yr palm is facing target, opened-out, and fingers are reaching down line ready to grasp the golf grip FROM UNDER.   Grab the grip where hand is (below top hand) and you have the perfect impact position, with head back, spine angle back hands in dead square IMPACT position.   (All this results from the simple skim action - imagine : YOU NEVER HAVE TO THROUGH A NUMBING CHECK-LIST EVER AGAIN!!!!!).

The ball MUST go straight now, you just "pick up the club and skim the stone" ...   well actually, Scott is more technical and helpful on his video, but I do this as simply as this and have taught several others this swing in 10 minutes and changed their golf lives.

Of course .. get Scott's video for a full details. But hope this helps.

AND SCOTT ... er, hope I haven't mis-represented you??

Regards as ever,
John

Scott is in Vancouver teaching, while he's away I thought you be interested in John's comments.   Scott has not seen these and he may have some disagreements with or changes to John's comments. Some of you might as well, let me hear from you.  John sends his comments often - in an earlier life he was a professional cricket player.    Don

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