Discover how to revolutionize your golf game by mastering the lower body mechanics that ensure you stay down through impact for consistent, solid shots. With our step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how the synergy of your trail foot, knee, and hip creates the perfect upper body tilt. Say goodbye to erratic swings and hello to precision and consistency!
Step 1: Work From the Ground Up to Stay Down Through Impact
The secret to staying down through impact lies in working from the ground up. The key is your trail foot — it controls your knee, which in turn dictates your hip movement. If these are out of alignment, your upper body compensates, hindering your swing.
Step 2: Inside Big Toe Feel — Your Starting Point
Focus on feeling the weight on the inside of your trail big toe during your downswing and impact. This cue triggers the correct trail knee and hip motion, preventing the classic “stand up” problem.
Step 3: Close the Thigh Gap to Ensure Hip Depth
As your trail knee moves inward, it closes the gap between your thighs, which promotes hip depth and stability. This set-up prevents your hips from sliding and enhances torso tilt for optimal impact.
Step 4: Lead Hip Depth and Rotation
Once your hip is correctly positioned, your upper body will naturally tilt forward, maintaining the critical spine angle through impact. Practice keeping your left hip deep to promote this effect.
Step 5: Stack the Feels for Consistency
Simplify your approach by starting with the toe feel and layering in knee and hip cues as needed. By focusing on fewer elements, you can enhance your swing’s fluidity and effectiveness.
Step 6: The Alignment Rod Drill
Use an alignment rod for instant feedback on your knee movements. This drill helps solidify the trail knee path, aligning it with your discovered cue.
Step 7: Practice Routine for Lasting Results
Drill 1: Inside Big Toe Half Swings
Make half swings focusing solely on your trail big toe.
Drill 2: Knee Tape or Rod Drill
Keep your trail knee inside the rod for visual feedback.
Drill 3: Thigh Gap Awareness
Minimize gap between your thighs at impact.
Drill 4: Progressive Integration
- Half swings with inside big toe cue.
- Three quarter swings add knee feel.
- Full swings with hip focus.
Step 8: Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Standing up through impact? Reassess foot pressure on the inside edge.
- Hooking shots? Ensure controlled hip rotation.
- Lost distance? Check for complete turn and weight shift.
Step 9: Blending Upper Body Drills
Enhance upper body drills by combining them with lower body mechanics for maximum efficiency.
Step 10: Measure Progress with Video Feedback
Use video to verify knee position, thigh gap, and hip depth. This feedback accelerates improvement.
Wrap Up — Make Staying Down Through Impact Your Default
Focus on your lower body’s role to transform your swing. With consistent practice and disciplined focus, staying down through impact will become your new normal, leading to improved accuracy and scoring.
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