Thee Single, Most Important Part of the Golf Swing?

[Johneli]

From takeaway to impact, if you HAD TO CHOOSE what you believe to be the most important part of the golf swing, what would it be?

[Darth Fader]

DONT MISS THE BALL!!!

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Darth Fader

DONT MISS THE BALL!!!

Spoken like a true "worm burner."

[Johneli]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's between the transition at the top of the swing and the left arm staying close to the body on the downswing. Can't decide which IMO is the most important.

[Bigvivec]

First move down from the top #1...

Impact position #2...

Initial takeaway move #3...

[Darth Fader]

Everp aspect of the swing has a part to play,if i break it down i will then start to think about it to much,rather than just hitting it.

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Darth Fader

Everp aspect of the swing has a part to play,if i break it down i will then start to think about it to much,rather than just hitting it.

"if YOU HAD TO CHOOSE..."

[bonknhead]

Impact position. I see lots of quirky swings on the pro tours (think Furyk), but the most successful players are similar at impact.

[Johneli]

After long and hard consideration, I believe it's the very first move from the parallel (if you get there) position. That little forward press.....

[Leaguegolf]

It's impact position. It doesn't matter how you get there, but if you can't get the club in the proper position at impact nothing else matters.

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

It's impact position. It doesn't matter how you get there, but if you can't get the club in the proper position at impact nothing else matters.

Sorry, but that is a RESULT of the golf swing (a perfect impact position), not an intrinsic, important, FUNCTIONAL part of the actual SWING.

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

It's impact position. It doesn't matter how you get there, but if you can't get the club in the proper position at impact nothing else matters.

Well duhh, mr grip-it-&-rip-it. But is there a key to getting to that proper impact position ? What is your primary swing thought or pre-swing thought, League ? And don't tell me that you don't think out there.

edit - and thanks johneli, for the previous post. That was my thought exactly.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Johneli

Sorry, but that is a RESULT of the golf swing (a perfect impact position), not an intrinsic, important, FUNCTIONAL part of the actual SWING.

The actual swing can, an often does, contain major functional flaws. Yet any player that can repeatedly find his way to a good impact position will be relatively successful. I don't believe that any one part of the swing is any more important than any of the others.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

Well duhh, mr grip-it-&-rip-it. But is there a key to getting to that proper impact position ? What is your primary swing thought or pre-swing thought, League ? And don't tell me that you don't think out there.

edit - and thanks johneli, for the previous post. That was my thought exactly.

Swing or pre-swing thought? What's that? Pick a target, pick a club, and hit the ball. Sure, I try to think out there but those thoughts are all target related and not swing related. I believe most players overthink their swings into trouble.

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

The actual swing can, an often does, contain major functional flaws. Yet any player that can repeatedly find his way to a good impact position will be relatively successful. I don't believe that any one part of the swing is any more important than any of the others.

Really? I don't believe that the downswing (the automatic process of the swing between but not including the forward press and impact has any importance when compared to the takeaway, the forward press, or any other MECHANICAL AND INTENTIONAL part of the swing.

[straightshooter]

Takeaway. If setup had fallen within the constraints of the question I would have chosen that. Why? Because I think of the swing as a chain-reaction. (Bad start -> runaway disaster!)

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Johneli

Really? I don't believe that the downswing (the automatic process of the swing between but not including the forward press and impact has any importance when compared to the takeaway, the forward press, or any other MECHANICAL AND INTENTIONAL part of the swing.

Please tell us what part of the golf swing isn't mechanical and intentional. So it's more important how you take the club away from the ball than how you direct the club to strike the ball? If that were the case, we'd all have beautiful swings.

[Nikeguy07]

Timing? does that count? if not...how bout smooth? If that doesn't count, I'll say, Swing plane? Or maybe shoulder turn....HAHA

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Please tell us what part of the golf swing isn't mechanical and intentional. So it's more important how you take the club away from the ball than how you direct the club to strike the ball? If that were the case, we'd all have beautiful swings.

Some parts of the swing (when you're INTO your downswing) go on "automatic" when compared to other parts that require INTENTIONAL movements. (ie takeaways, forward press, weight shift etc.)



But it's probably more a matter of degree, where MORE thought and muscle coordination are needed in some parts of the swing than in others. I've learned how to defuse situations from an expert.

[larryrsf]

Originally Posted by Johneli

From takeaway to impact, if you HAD TO CHOOSE what you believe to be the most important part of the golf swing, what would it be?

I agree with Hogan. The most important thing far and away is the ability to make the transition weight shift, to start the downswing with "lower body."

Watch Hogan demonstrate-- and also demonstrate the swing of 99% of amateurs who fight slice because they start with shoulders and arms-- OTT.


YouTube - Ben Hogan Golf Swing

Larry

[JPsuff]

.



Isn't a question like this a little like asking: "What is the most important organ in the human body?"


The human body is a collection of important organs which work together to ensure a functional being and I really couldn't say that one is more important or most important.
So along the same lines, a golf swing is a collection of important positions, angles and motions all of which work together to produce a proper golf shot and just like the body, I really couldn't say that one is more important or most important.





-JP

[300Yards]

If I had to choose, I'd pick: (in no particular order of importance.)

1.) Position at top.
2.)Weight shift (both on the backswing, and the transition down.)
3.)Release