Downswing

The downswing follows the backswing and is the phase in which speed is created. Ideally it starts with the lower body: the hips turn towards the target, then follow the shoulders, the arms and finally the hands with the club. This sequence is called the kinematic sequence. Only after the ball, in the follow-through, does the movement run out. In the downswing the swing path is decided, that is, whether the club comes to the ball from the inside, the outside or neutral. This fraction of a second determines the direction and quality of the shot.

In practice the downswing is about the first movement impulse. An example: you stand at the top of the swing and start with the arms — the club drops to the outside and the classic slice appears. If you instead start with the hip turn, the club stays inside and strikes the ball cleanly from the middle. Many coaches work on exactly this first step, because the rest of the downswing is too fast for conscious control. A calm Take Away at the start of the swing makes the correct sequence at the top easier.

The most common misunderstanding: in the downswing you are supposed to want to hit the ball. In fact you swing through the ball; the target is a position beyond it. Whoever aims at the ball slows down before the moment of impact and loses distance. Another typical mistake is deliberately tensing the hands to guide the club — that blocks rotation. Build the downswing into your pre-shot routine by using a calm practice swing to get the feel for the sequence.