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The Biomechanics of Balance: Part 6

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Alignment

No matter how good a player's set up is during practice on the range, alignment to a precise target ultimately determines the club path and the player's ability to aim their clubface down their target line and their performance on the course. This is true putter through driver.

Notice in these photos that our hips and shoulders are parallel to each other. Kevin Stadler and Bob E Smith are shown with putters and I am set up with an iron. (If you click on the photos they will enlarge.) Notice that I am set up in a square stance with my feet on the same line on the set up practice mat. A square stance line does not fit 95% of all golfers unless they have done the 3 minutes to square trunk stabilization exercises (as described in the October / November 05 tip). Kevin, Bob, and I are in balance in these photos.

Results from the (left image) biomechanics lab shows that when a player is in balance, his weight is between his arch and the balls of his feet.

In the right photo, you see my clubface is aimed down the target line. When your clubface is aimed down the target line, your hips and shoulders become parallel to each other. I spent years working with my students to get their hips and shoulders parallel to each other. Teaching a player how to correctly aim their clubface sets the hips and shoulders. If a player's grip is neutral, their posture is correct, and their clubface is aimed down the target line, their hips and shoulders will be parallel to each other.

The left photo shows me in a closed stance line. My right foot is one inch behind my left. Notice how my shoulder and hip lines cross. I am out of balance in this position.

Notice where my weight settles in my feet in this set up.

Visualize what club path this set up would create. Load your weight in your left heel and experience the arm swing path this set up will produce.

Similarly, in the following photo, my left foot is 1 inch behind my right in an open stance line. Again, notice how my hips and shoulders cross. Once again, I am out of balance.

Notice where my weight settles in my feet in this set up.

Again, visualize what club path this set up would create. Load your weight in your right heel and experience the arm swing path this set up will produce.

Visualize the path your club would start on when your shoulders and hips are square and your weight is centered. Interestingly, the positions of your body are expressed in your feet as changes in balance. The distribution of weight in your feet produces the path on which your club will start. Rather than try to place your club in "positions," work on your body positions of balance to set your club on the correct plane, putter through driver.

The only position in which you are in balance and in which the club will start on plane is where your hips and shoulders are parallel to each other and your clubface is aimed down the target line. To produce this set up, your grip must be neutral; your posture correct; your hand position (forward or back) correct; your head position (left - right rotation) set so that your eyes are parallel to your shoulders; your stance width set so that your are in balance and so that your "carrying angle" matches your posture, stance width and club length; and your stance line is set so that you have adjusted your balance for your hip line to be parallel to your target line. This content is the New Science of the Fundamentals.

If you are doing the 3 Minutes to Square trunk stabilization exercises you will be able to check your alignment by placing a club on your heel line once you are in your address position at the ball. If your hip line is not squared through the exercise program, the club on your heel line will be either left or right of your target line when you are in balance.

This sounds like a lot of information, I know. This content is what my research in Dr. Frank Jobe's biomechanics lab has yielded. If you attended my golf school, you have a good understanding of each of these positions, the drills to produce each position, and the golf motion drills to create the most efficient, injury free swing.

Announcements:

Congratulations to Kevin Stadler. Kevin won the Johnnie Walker Classic this month after winning the Argentina Open in December. Kevin had 33 one putt greens on his way to the Johnnie Walker Win. He is now ranked 96th in the World. Way to play, Kev!!
Congratulations to Irene Cho and our University of Southern California Women's team. Our team finished one shot behind Arizona State and Irene won as an individual. Our Men's team finished 3rd in Hawaii and Brad Shaw had a 3rd place finish as an individual, his career low. Way to go guys!
Our NEW Golf School Dates and Locations for 2006 have been posted online.

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