The John Dunigan Golf Academy
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ADDRESS
Balanced. Weight toward heels and about 55% on the front foot. As little spine tilt to the right as my body allows. Hands slightly ahead of the ball.
Good address feels heavy and connected to the ground, not as is commonly taught, as though you are getting ready to run or jump. We want a solid base that is ready to withstand the throw out action of centrifugal force that makes the driver effectively weigh 70 pounds or more through impact.
Note: You will see the ball location seem to have moved backward in my stance in these photos. Obviously, sequence shots are taken from many swings to get the right positions, and to my dismay, I inadvertently rotated my stance line closed from my original aim which makes the ball appear very far back in my stance. (check the position of my right foot as evidence).
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TOP
My weight has moved unintentionally toward right heel as a result of the shoulder and hip turn on the backswing. The shoulders have turned a little more than 90 degrees. The Power Angles (the left arm/club shaft angle and the right elbow bend) have been loaded. The right wrist is bent backward as in holding up a pizza tray. The back of he left wrist is flat. The club face is square.
My right leg has straightened up a little, and that’s just fine.
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START DOWN
My hips automatically and naturally slide slightly toward the target and my right shoulder moves down plane as my arms move the hands/club down plane. You might call the arms/hands movement pushing or pulling, but I’m really trying to swing my hands down plane right through the downswing, while the club head follows along behind them. My hip rotation is purely automatic at this point.
Soft wrist but firm fingers have helped create increased lag (check the left arm/club shaft angle) than was created at the top. Truly speaking the hands only hold on to the club, they don’t swing it. The arms move the hands, but I truly believe that you have to have your mind in your hands to play the game well.
Even my legs become activated by the arm motion as my feet effectively push into the ground to help create acceleration.
Note: The right elbow visible beneath the left arm
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PRE-IMPACT
My hips have opened up to the target and have finished their motion, helping to transfer momentum fully to the arms. My head has actually moved slightly backward, away from the target as a response to the spine angle tilt that has increased due to the hip slide. This is where you see almost all great golfers’ heads move backward slightly while average golfers move forward.
The club shaft is parallel to the ground when the hands have reached the right leg and my right and left forearms are very close together. From here I will pound the club down the inside-aft quadrant of the ball with right arm extension.
Never hold the angle. Simply don’t throw it away. Choose to move the club without using your wrists. Instead, move the hands down plane (with your arms), and let the club head follow behind. The hands are better moving into a position than trying to hold a position. As well, holding the angle will create undue tension which can lead to a wide open club face at impact.
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IMPACT
The hands and the left arm have completely passed the ball before the club has made contact. That’s call club head lag—the club head is lagging behind the hands. My left wrist is flat and my right is bent—wrist conditions you can’t live without!
Spine tilt has increased significantly from that at address and the top of the backswing, called “axis tilt.” The spine is the axis around which the body rotates. The spine tilt is a result of my head staying steady during the hip slide toward the target at the start down. This tilt shifts the weight to the left leg and because it caused the right shoulder to lower, also helps the hands/club/arms unit get started down plane.
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POST IMPACT
Left arm/club shaft angle now forms a straight line about a foot after impact and I have reached the both arms straight condition. This is the real followthrough and a great spot to try to hit in every full swing. I have literally slammed the club down plane to this point to “maximize resistance to deceleration through the impact interval.” The left wrist is still flat and the right wrist is still bent backward slightly. No throwing the club head past the hands here!
You could certainly say that whatever happens past this point is due to momentum, but we do have “The Rolls” To consider for ball flight control as they are happening throughout the downswing and their natural conclusion is viewable later in the followthrough.
The left leg is nearly vertical and quite straight, providing a strong base for the swing. I call this left leg straightening action, “walking up the stairs.” It’s a bit aggressive,
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THE REAL FINISH
My head is still behind where the ball was. My weight is totally left. My arms have crossed over (rolled) to what I call a “full roll” where the left wrist is still flat and nearly facing the target while the right wrist is still bent backward. This is definitely a draw flight producing motion.
My right arm is still about as straight as it can be as the natural conclusion of a hard-driving “right forearm thrust” through impact. My right shoulder is still very much lower than my left at this point—a sign of having stayed in my original spine angle.
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The Swing
Everything happens for a reason.
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Address
Weight is 70% on the heels not on the balls of the feet as is traditionally taught.
The club weighs about 14 ounces at address. During the swing, it weighs closer to 70 pounds! That 70 pound object is going to exert a strong centrifugal reaction in the swing, throwing the club out away from your spine. You must be brace yourself against that force. Arms are slightly reaching for the ball, considerably farther than is customarily taught, giving plenty of room for the club to swing.
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Top of the Backswing
Left arm across the shoulders, right elbow points down toward the ground.
The left arm is perpendicular to the spine and the right elbow is on plane. Although you'll see much variation among pros, this is the easiest position from which to start the downswing. Note that right leg is still bent as at address, providing a balanced, solid base for the swing.
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Start Down
Pushing the club down toward the plane.
Because the backswing sends the club automatically above plane, we actively do something to return the club to the plane. Shifting the weight won't do it; rotating the hips can't possibly do it; but pushing the club downward using your arms and hands can do it quite easily once you learn how. Yes, the body does move in the swing, but unless you're a 2 handicap or lower, you are best to simply let the body follow the pushing motion rather than make active use of you hips.
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Half-way Down
Club in-line with right forearm
At this point the club is now perpendicular to its axis of rotation (the spine) and so it must be in order to reach maximum speed. Additionally, the right forearm and club shaft form two force vectors which, when acting on the ball from the same direction, add to each other. Note that the club is not perfectly on plane, but slightly flatter. For the reasons above, it must be so.
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Pre-Impact
Inside-out to the ball
Because we stand to one side of the ball while holding a long stick, the club must move in an arc, not a straight line. Trying to keep the ball moving straight through impact will ruin your swing. You can get away with a straighter swing with the mid to short irons but not the long clubs, particularly the driver. This photo shows a correct, inside-out to the ball approach. The club should not cross the target line, although you may have to feel that it does.
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Post-Impact
The Impact Move
Notice how straight a line is formed from the right arm down the club shaft: this is the very meaning of a full release. The hands are right in front of the stomach and so the body, arms and club all move together through impact for the most powerful, controllable move you can make. A common error it to have the hips or shoulders "spin out" very early which leads to deceleration and over the top swings.
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Finish
Balance and Tension Free
Much ado about nothing here. Trying to finish the swing can make you do very strange things during the preceding, critical parts of the swing. It is best to simply allow the finish to take care of itself by releasing--literally letting go of--any tension you have. When you rid yourself of tension you will see a dramatic change in ball flight as well as balance. Notice that due to the proper release the spine is still tilted similar to the original angle as set at address.
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