Article #3
Featured Teacher: Jetterbug
(to meet this week's teacher go to www.oneputtpress.com/teachers_jitterbug.cfm)
Let's say you came to my house to help me move some heavy furniture. Which set of instructions would make your job easier?
Method #1
I say, "Pick up the other end of that couch." You lift your end and ask, "Where are we going with it?" I reply, "Never mind that. Just pick up your right foot and step back. Now, pick up your left foot and step back. Now, a little to your right, now back up just a little; and now just a little to your left, and keep going back…" After two or three agonizing minutes of this, we've gone all the way out of the living room, through a short hallway, out the front door, past the porch and into the garage.
Method #2
I say, "Hey, let's move this couch out into the garage. "You might say the second method gives you, the helper, a little more credit. Having a sense of the overall, big picture, you're free to use your eyes, ears and other senses to guide you through time and space, which will probably make you a much more assertive, responsive helper.
Well, too often, the downswing is taught using the first method. "Start the downswing by stomping the left heel into the ground. Then, make sure you get you right elbow down to your right side as you bump your weight left. But, be careful not to cast the club from the top..."
Personally, I like the second method of communication, so let's talk a little bit about where we're "moving this couch" as it relates to the downswing so you can figure out how to step on your own.
Get in a good golf posture and take a practice swing. I want you to take a little divot (not a deep flyin' squirrel kinda divot, but just thin, dollar bill divot) and have a look at it. Now, just two things:
First, where is it?
Well, it should be straight out from your front foot. If it's back of that, you didn't transfer your weight to your forward leg. Knowing your objective, use whatever tactics your physical mind asks of you to get that divot up forward in your stance, straight out from your front foot.
And second, which way is it pointed?
If it's pointed far left of the target, you have a sequence problem. In other words, your shoulders probably got a little ahead of your hips. Again, put your senses in that clubhead and practice until that divot is pointin' more straight at the target, not left of it.
So, for all you people out there who've been led to believe that there are a hundred things you gotta remember about the downswing-all of which are on a physical "do this, do that" level-let's just break it down to these two. If you have a divot that points straight down the line and it starts somewhere up near your front foot, then your downswing is workable. If not, work on it until it is.
That's where we're movin' this couch. Now that you know, I won't bother you by tellin' you how to step.
Your Good Friend,
Jitterbug
TO PURCHASE A COPY OF "MUNIE: THE JITTERBUG COLLECTION", Click Here.