Getting the correct movement of your left shoulder in the downswing will add more power to your swing by creating additional leverage in your left arm, explains PGA professional GRANT HEPBURN.
The movement of the left shoulder is one of the keys to a good golf swing. It’s a great trigger for the start of the downswing and, when the left shoulder starts to move upwards, the left hip can also move up and away, clearing the hips and encouraging the club to swing down the correct target line. It’s a great move for power and accuracy.
Getting it right
In this correct sequence, I have made a good, solid turn and swung my arms to the top of my swing. Note how my left shoulder
has moved down and across to a position underneath my chin at the top of my backswing.
Now, in my downswing, I need to reverse the movement of my shoulders, meaning that my left shoulder should move up
and away to the left as the downswing occurs. Note how, as I drive my legs towards the target, my left shoulder starts to separate
from my chin.
When this is done correctly, it encourages my right shoulder to move under my chin, allowing my arms to swing down on the correct path and drive the club powerfully into the back of the ball and towards the target.
Getting it wrong
This sequence shows a common amateur mistake, where the golfer keeps their head and chin ‘glued’ to their left shoulder as
they start their downswing.
Watch how my left shoulder dives downwards as my backswing starts. Since my chin is essentially attached to my shoulder
in this example, it too is dragged down and you can see that just before impact my head is no longer behind the ball.
There is also a knock-on effect where my right shoulder starts to swing incorrectly around instead of under my chin. All of this
leads to a lack of leverage and, as you can see, my club comes into the ball on a steep, ineffective path, resulting in weak shots.
The drill
This is a great drill to get the feeling for the correct movement of the left shoulder during the swing. Start by holding a club
across your chest, as I am demonstrating. Now make a backswing and feel how your left shoulder moves under the chin.
On the downswing, pay careful attention to how your left shoulder should move up and across – to do this, ensure that
the grip end of the shaft moves up and away, while the clubhead end of the shaft swings under your body.
You should also feel how your right shoulder is able to swing under your chin as your body begins to open up through
the impact area. This is the feeling you want to incorporate into your normal golf swing.
In contrast …
Note how this example of a bad drill shows how my left shoulder has moved lower in my backswing – with my head moving in front of the ball. You can see how the shaft of the club has dipped forward, with the grip well below the head. This is a bad position.
– This article first appeared in the January 2024 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine.
