Left Hand Golf Tip: What Is The Best Way To Trigger The Down Swing

There are a number of different thoughts and feelings left handed golfers can use when trying to trigger the down swing.

The main driver of the down swing is a dynamic hip turn rotating towards the target. Left handed players should try to trigger the down swing with the hips. Here are a few ways you can get the feeling of triggering the down swing with the hips.

Just Rotate

The simplest way to get the hips turning first in the down swing is to make them your main focus. At the top of the back swing, the hands, arms and shoulders should all be relaxed and completely forgotten, all thoughts should be focused on the hips. From the top of the back swing, begin to turn the hips towards the target and keep turning them until after impact they face the target. If you forget about the upper body, the hands, arm and shoulders should all hopefully fall into place.

Turn and let the Arms Fall

If triggering the down swing with the hips is not a problem but the hands, arms and shoulders don’t fall into place, additional thoughts could be added. The most common fault with the down swing is when the hands, arms and shoulders begin to swing over the top and cause the club to cut across the ball. To allow the hands to drop into the correct slot during the down swing, try to link the hip turn with dropping the arms. This will mean allowing the arms to drop straight down to earth. Another thought you can use is to pull down on a rope from the top of the swing, the result will be the same.

Left Arm In

The left arm will be bent and close in to the player’s left side as the club approaches the top of the back swing. To encourage a better down swing, fire the hips and press the left elbow in to the body. This should allow the hips the turn freely and the club to stay on a solid path.

The Right Heel

There are many golfers who allow the right heel to rise off the ground at the top of the back swing. This slight rise allows another few inches of shoulder turn and therefore more power during the through swing. To help trigger the hips, left handed golfers who allow the right heel to rise can plant it back down and turn the hips to start the down swing. Players who don’t allow the right heel to rise can achieve the same result by pressing down the right heel.