Back to the desert for the FBR Open where Phil won last year

We are in Phoenix at the TPC of Scottsdale for the FBR Open. A crazy stop on the PGA Tour every year, nicknamed “the greatest show on grass.” The largest crowds of any event are here in Phoenix this week. It is quite a scene to say the least. I know the Super Bowl in Detroit is Sunday, but wouldn’t you rather be in Phoenix where it is sunny and 70 degrees?

Vijay, Phil, and DiMarco are all in the field this week. Some long hitters to say the least, and you will definitely see some “bombs” hit off the tee this week.

So how do these guys do it? How do they get the clubhead speed to rip the ball 300 plus yards? The answer to that question has many parts (too many to discuss today), but one of them has to do with rotation and keeping the club in the correct slot.

A word that pretty much describes what you do during the golf swing. The body rotates around a fixed spine angle, keeping your club on the proper swing path. Are you able to do this in your swing?

This is essentially the goal of the golf swing; keep the club in a slot, dissecting the shoulder on the backswing and follow through. How many of us do that?

Less than we would probably like to admit. So how do we rotate the body and keep the club in its slot?

The answer is probably one many of us would like to hear. It requires developing feel for the swing, and knowing what the body is doing at every step of the swing. Essentially, you must develop a feel for the both the club and your body. When this occurs and it is ingrained into the body. You will know when the swing is off, and what to do to correct it. Keep in mind, we are not going to make a perfect swing every time, but that is our goal.

Now think about this for a second. What if the body is not able to rotate around a fixed spine angle? The answer is pretty simple, it will be very difficult to keep your club in the correct slot. This happens a lot for the amateur golfer. They are unable to rotate properly around a fixed spine angle, thus limiting their ability to keep the club on the correct swing plane. This is the result of the amateur golfer having an inflexible, weak, and power deficient body.

Think about it for a minute. If you are inflexible in the hips, how are you going to rotate in a manner that places the club in the slot for the downswing? You’re not!

The swing is a very complex movement requiring a synergy between your body and the mechanics of the swing. If you are attempting to develop a swing without a body to support it, you are on your way to a very frustrating experience.