The Beginning of the Buick Invitational and Feel in Your Golf Swing

The Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines has arrived. It is Tiger Woods first tournament of the year, and don’t forget Torrey Pines will be the venue of the U.S. Open in 2008. The local media has been building this tournament up as a match-up between Tiger and Phil. When I look at both of those guys and their swing, one word pops into my mind, feel. Both Tiger and Phil have great feel in their golf swing.

The professional level player has an incredible feels with the clubhead through every stage of the swing. How about you? Are you able to feel the club head in your swing?

What does feel mean in the big picture of your swing? When you are able to feel the club head this indicates your mechanics are getting in a groove, your swing tempo is good, and the body is executing the swing correctly.

We are well aware that the mechanics of the swing require a blending of multiple movements in a smooth, sequential, and correctly timed manner. This promotes proper impact of the club head with the ball. Many times the amateur attempts to guide the club to the ball with their arms or some other body part resulting in a poor looking swing with inconsistent hits.

This is a choppy and poorly timed swing and probably resulting in poor shots.

Feeling the club head is a combination of both your swing mechanics and body. Mechanically you cannot be pulling the club, not getting a proper turn, or hinging the wrists incorrectly. Any of these and many more swing faults can limit your ability in achieving the end goal (which is optimal mechanics with a sense of where the club is at all times).

Additionally, the body plays a critical role in your mechanics. If your body does not have the flexibility for a full turn, poor balance for the required weight shift, or the inability to generate power, how do you expect to swing the club correctly? You won’t! Faults will always exist in your swing.

Take time to work on both your body and swing. This will pay dividends on the course and show in your scores. Develop proper swing mechanics. Train the body for the swing, and you will be feeling the club head in no time.