When we see a golf swing, it’s clear that we break it down into two paths. We have the back swing path and then we have the down swing path. But as a golf coach, I don’t really like to think of them as those two distinct different areas. And certainly as a player I don’t really feel them as those two distinct different areas. Clearly, the club is moving one way and then the club changes direction and comes down.

But they shouldn’t necessarily be a freeze, or a pose, or a stop at the top of your swing. So, as a golfer is swinging back, we shouldn’t necessarily be stopping and then starting everything again. There should be a transition at the top. Whereas, some elements of the golf swing are starting down and some elements are still going back up. So, for example, as we get to the top of the swing, the club is still going backwards, but the body is now starting to work its way downwards. And as that starts to turn down, that’s when the club stops to change its direction and comes back down again.

So, try and avoid thinking of your golf swing as two distinct different parts, one back swing, stop, have a think about it, then the down swing. You’ll find it’s very difficult to get your timing, very difficult to get your rhythm, and actually difficult to generate maximum amounts of power and force for the impact position, if you have a disciplined stop at the top. So, try and help your golf swing flow from back swing to down swing. In this next little series of four videos, I’m going to talk you through how and why it’s best to have a continuous back and down swing rather than having a pose and then a different down swing.