instruction

Swing Analysis of LPGA’s Minjee Lee: What can you learn from it?

John Marshall August 20, 2025

Instruction

It probably goes without saying that if you are a regular reader of Golf Tips Magazinemore than likely you are a devoted swing junkie constantly on the lookout for the next great thing. You admire movements that are both aesthetically pleasing and that also produce extraordinary results on a consistent basis.

If you don’t watch the LPGA tour as much as I do, perhaps you are not familiar with the swing of Minjee Lee which is elegant in its simplicity while directing the golf ball where she wants it to go on an amazingly consistent basis. Since joining the LPGA in 2015, she has won 11 times including three major championships, most recently the KPMG LPGA title.

Textbook posture, lower back is flat with no arch

If you are looking for textbook posture, this is it. Her lower back is flat with no arch. Her arms are hanging straight down and are totally relaxed and soft. Her armpits are over her kneecaps and balls of feet. The end of the club is roughly a hand width from her body. All of these elements put her in the proper position to be able to rotate thoroughly through impact which is a key to her impressive power.

Shaft parallel to the ground halfway back. Clubhead is toe up and slightly outside hands

When the shaft is parallel to the ground halfway back the clubhead is toe up and slightly outside her hands. Nowadays most instructors (me included) prefer to see the clubhead tipped forward so that it matches her spine angle. For multiple centuries golfers were told that toe up was square. In reality, it’s open. When the club is tipped forward it is perpendicular to the path. That is the definition of square. Minjee corrects this issue at the top when she bows her left wrist which immediately puts the clubface parallel to her left forearm. It doesn’t really matter when or where you square the face as long as it happens prior to impact. Interestingly, Graeme McDowell does the same late bowing and both he and Minjee are US Open winners.

Neutral grip two knuckles on her left hand showing

Great swings are a product of great set ups and Minjee’s could not be more fundamentally sound. She has a very neutral grip with two knuckles on her left hand showing when she looks down. She positions her right thumb a bit more on top of the handle than most great players. Generally, I’m not a fan of this because when most amateur golfers do this they tend to press down hard with that thumb which is not an ideal thing to do. Her thumb is very soft and relaxed with no downward force directed toward the handle.

Her feet are spaced approximately shoulder width apart, and there is a little bit of flare with both which helps her turn in both directions. With irons, the grip end of the club is pointed at the inside of her left thigh which presets her to have the appropriate amount of shaft lean at impact to compress the golf ball.

At the top: 40° hip turn, maybe 95° shoulder turn. Approximately 55° of separation

Arms fully extended after impact, shoulders have caught up to hips

Minjee has set-up for maximum swing speed and well balanced finish

At the top of her back swing from this facing angle, Minjee has roughly 40°of hip turn and maybe 95° of turn with the shoulders. So that is roughly 55° of separation. When both arms are fully extended just after impact the shoulders have caught up to the hips and they are essentially aligned with each other. To reach that point, obviously the shoulders have to move faster than the hips. And since the arms are attached to the shoulders and the club is attached to the arms, that speeds up the clubhead. At the conclusion of the swing, her shoulders have raced by the hips, and the right shoulder is almost facing the target. That is a thorough release creating tons of speed.

Article by: John Marshall, Golf Instructor, Two-time ALDA long drive champion & Golf Tips Top 25 Instructor

John’s Website: jmlongdrive.com

Chipping Basics for Beginners

Ted Odorico July 16, 2025

Golfers chipping a golf ball onto the green.

Instruction

Chipping in golf for beginners involves a simplified swing focused on controlled contact and a putting-like stroke.Key elements include a narrow stance, slightly forward weight, and a pendulum-like swing with minimal wrist action. Focus on a downward strike, using the club’s loft to get the ball airborne, and choosing the right club based on distance and desired roll.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

1. Setup:

Stance: Narrower than a full swing, with feet close together.
Weight: Favor your front (lead) foot, with a 60/40 or 70/30 weight distribution.
Ball Position: Generally in the middle or slightly back of your stance.
Grip: Choke down on the club for more control.
Clubface: Slightly open for more loft and spin, or square for a more predictable roll.
Hands: Slightly higher than normal, with hands ahead of the ball (shaft lean).

2. Swing:

Minimal Wrist Action: The swing should be more like a putting stroke, with your arms and body working together.

Focus on a downward strike: Make contact with the ball first, then the ground, using the club’s loft to get the ball airborne.
Controlled Backswing: Keep the backswing short and compact, using your body rotation for power.
Smooth Transition: Bring the club down and through the ball, maintaining a consistent angle of attack.
Follow Through: Finish with your weight on your front foot, and your chest facing the target.

3. Club Selection:

Pitching Wedge: A good starting point for beginners due to its forgiveness and versatility.
Other Clubs: Experiment with different clubs (sand wedge, gap wedge, even a 9-iron) to see how they affect ball flight and roll.

Remember, chipping requires that you pay just as much attention as you would to a full shot. The three key elements are: Set-up, Swing & Club Selection. Go to the practice range as much as time allows, and work on this area of your game even more than the long game. If you work on getting these down you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better chipper of the ball, and begin shaving strokes off your game.

The 3 Hardest Bunker Shots in Golf

Ted Odorico July 15, 2025

Instruction

The three hardest bunker shots are: the high lip, the plugged lie, and the downhill bunker shot. These shots require specific techniques to overcome challenging conditions and can be particularly difficult for even experienced golfers. In this article are three challenges you might be faced with, out on the golf course. next time for find yourself in one of the following scenarios, try the techniques described below. You might just find hitting out of the sand is not as difficult as you think. It just takes time, and practice to groove your way to becoming a better bunker player.

The High Lip Bunker Shot:

Challenge:
The high lip bunker shot is difficult because the lip of the bunker obstructs the swing path and makes it hard to get the ball out of the sand.

Technique:

Club Selection: Use a high-lofted wedge (like a sand wedge or lob wedge) to maximize loft.
Setup: Stand slightly open to the target, open the clubface, and position the ball slightly forward in your stance.
Swing: Swing with a steeper angle of attack, hitting down on the sand behind the ball, and focus on getting the bounce of the clubhead to slide under the ball.
Key: Avoid trying to lift the ball, instead focus on getting the club under it and using the sand to propel the ball out of the bunker.

The Plugged Lie Bunker Shot:

Challenge:
A plugged lie occurs when the ball is buried in the sand, making it difficult to get clean contact and lift the ball out.

Technique:

Club Selection: Use a high-lofted wedge with less bounce, or even a club with no bounce.
Setup: Position the ball slightly forward in your stance, keep the clubface more square, and take a wider stance with more weight on your lead foot.
Swing: Swing down steeply into the sand behind the ball, aiming to cut through the sand and lift the ball out.
Key: Focus on hitting down and through the sand, trying to get the leading edge of the club under the ball.

The Downhill Bunker Shot:

Challenge:
A downhill lie in a bunker makes it difficult to get the ball up in the air and can lead to fat shots.

Technique:

Club Selection: Use a high-lofted wedge, but be mindful of the slope.
Setup: Position the ball in the center of your stance, but tilt your shoulders to match the slope of the bunker.
Swing: Keep your weight on your front foot and make a steeper swing, focusing on hitting down and through the sand.
Key: Be aggressive with your swing and commit to hitting down, as trying to lift the ball will likely lead to a fat shot

In summary: These bunker shots can be a little trickier than others, but for the most part they can become easier if you take the right approach. Here are few things to consider next time you find yourself in the bunker. Examine the texture of the sand. You’re not allowed to sole the club, but you can get a feel for things by walking in the bunker while assessing your shot. Is the sand soft or does it feel hard or packed? How is the lie? Once you determine the lie, texture of the sand, you can take what you’ve learned above and implement the correct and appropriate course of action. Bunker shots don’t have to be difficult, a lot depends on how much time you prepare and practice these shots.

The more the better!

Golf Instruction NOW vs 30 Years ago

Ted Odorico July 2, 2025

A sleek female robot carrying a golf bag with clubs, showcasing advanced technology and futuristic sports in a modern setting.

Opinion

Some golf professionals say that golf instruction has shifted largely from opinion-based and relying on feel to a more data-driven and technologically-supported approach over the past 30 years. Like so many other industries golf is changing fast. What was once a learn through repetition, is now fast becoming a technology driven industry. Golf Instruction is moving quickly into a new direction too. The old golf pro who stood for hours on the range teaching lesson after lesson in all kinds of conditions, is quickly being replaced with technological advancements. Everything from launch monitors to golf simulators and even golf apps providing valuable statistics only a swing coach could provide. In addition, the new golf instructors maybe AI driven and capable of handling far more differences on the lesson tee than pros of the past (cover image). Does this mean golf pros could ultimately be out of a job? Maybe! One things for sure, even they are having to keep up with the changes in order to stay relevant to the game. In this instructional article I wanted to examine some of the differences from golf instruction 30 years ago to today.

Here are some key differences:

1. Emphasis on Data & Technology:

Then: Instruction relied heavily on visual observation and subjective analysis. Teachers might use video sparingly, but without sophisticated data analysis tools.
Now: Modern golf instruction is heavily influenced by technology like launch monitors, swing analysis software, motion sensors, and even AI. This provides instructors and golfers with objective data on swing mechanics and ball flight, allowing for more precise diagnoses and tailored coaching. Think of it like an X-ray or MRI for the golf swing. AI tools can analyze swings, provide real-time feedback, and even create personalized training plans.

Seeing data in real time will help golfers focus on problem areas of their game

More and more practice facilities will begin to look like this

2. Focus on Biomechanics and Science:

Then: Traditional methods often focused on replicating the swings of successful players.
Now: Biomechanics plays a larger role, analyzing movement patterns to improve performance and reduce injury risk. This involves understanding how different parts of the body contribute to the swing.

Students will learn virtually on how biomechanics plays a role in learning the golf swing

3. Move Away from “One-Size-Fits-All” Methods:

Then: Some instructors subscribed to specific “methods” or certain swing models.
Now: While there are still schools of thought, there’s a greater emphasis on individualizing instruction based on data and personal needs. The goal is to optimize a golfer’s existing swing rather than forcing them into a rigid mold.

Traditional one size fits all golf instruction is destined to become a thing of the past

4. Increased Accessibility to Information:

Then: Access to quality instruction might have been limited.
Now: Online platforms and AI-powered apps offer personalized coaching to a wider audience, democratizing access to expert advice.

In summary, modern golf instruction is characterized by its reliance on technology, data analysis, and a more scientific understanding of the swing, leading to more personalized and effective coaching compared to 30 years ago. I don’t think golf pros necessarily need to pack up their swing trainers and weighted clubs just yet. However, I do think they need to keep up with current trends, and be mindful that the average golfer is coming to the lesson tee more informed than ever before, and we need to be ready too. Change is coming quickly. How we handle it will make the difference if we are to remain a part of it.

Learn To Bomb Your Drives 300 Yards

Ted Odorico June 10, 2025

Golfer hit sweeping driver after hitting golf ball down the fairway

Driving

Golfers dream of hitting 300+ yard drives like the pros. Some can, but most don’t even come close.

If you really want to learn to hit your drives further you need to focus on improving the following: Clubhead Speed, Swing Mechanics, Practice and your Mental Game. If you work on those areas of your game you’ll begin to see real improvements, and be well on your way to start bombing your drives.

Increase your clubhead speed but don’t swing too hard. You may end up in another dimension

How to increase clubhead speed:

Swing Mechanics:
- Optimize Hip and Shoulder Rotation: Maximize your turn in the backswing and generate momentum on the downswing.
- Increase Hand Path Length: Extend your swing arc by adjusting your stance (dropping your lead foot back and opening your toes).
- Shallow the Club: Position the clubface strategically during the downswing to maximize velocity leading into impact.
- Rotate Wrists Through Impact: Generate added speed just before impact by efficiently releasing the club.
- Smooth Rhythm and Tempo: Optimize the transition from backswing to downswing.
Physical Fitness:
- Strengthen Core Golf Muscles: Incorporate exercises like planks, Russian twists, and bird dogs to build core strength.
- Improve Flexibility and Mobility: Stretching and dynamic warm-ups increase your range of motion.
- Strength Training: Lift weights (squats, lunges, deadlifts) to build lower body strength.
- Speed Training: Use tools like speed sticks or weighted clubs to train your body to swing faster.
Equipment:
- Lighter Shaft: A lighter shaft can increase swing speed but may affect accuracy. Consider getting a golf fitting.
- Longer Driver Shaft: Can produce more clubhead speed but might require adjustment in your swing mechanics.
- Right Equipment: Ensure your clubs match your swing style and physical capabilities, potentially benefiting from a custom fitting.

Improve your swing mechanics to “Strike” a pose!

Work to improve swing mechanics:

Master the Setup:
- Wide Stance: Provides a stable base.
- Forward Ball Position: Promotes an upward sweep at impact.
- Shoulder Tilt: Tilting your shoulders away from the target can help create an in-to-out swing path.
Proper Posture: Ensure your spine is straight and shoulders are back.
Optimal Ball Position: Place the ball slightly forward in your stance.
Tee it High: Increases your launch angle, reducing spin.
Maintain a Consistent Swing Path: Practice swinging on a smooth arc.
Engage Your Body: Use your entire body, not just your arms, to generate power.

Practice consistently with Purpose:

Regular Driving Range Sessions: Focus on your technique and swing speed.
Swing Drills: Incorporate specific drills like the motorcycle drill to improve wrist flexion and shallowing.
Max Speed Swings: Swing your driver as fast as you can during practice sessions to push your limits.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist but you do need to improve your mental game

Utilize your mental game:

Visualize Success: Imagine the ball flying through the air as you want it to go.
Develop a Pre-Shot Routine: Helps focus your mind on the task at hand.
Stay Relaxed: Avoid tension in your grip and swing.

Conclusion: By focusing on these areas, you can increase your clubhead speed and improve your swing mechanics, which leads to longer, more powerful drives. Remember to be patient whenever you begin any changes to your game. It takes time! With a little hard work you’ll begin to see results quicker than you realize. Don’t forget to practice with purpose.

How to Improve Your On-course Golf Strategy?

Ted Odorico June 9, 2025

Instruction

Trying to figure out what to do next on the golf course can seem like looking into the abyss.

Are you frustrated to the point that you just want to give up altogether? Then you’re not alone! Too many golfers despite working hard on their game share in your frustration.

Are you “Dazed and Confused” not knowing what to do?

To improve your on-course golf strategy, focus on mastering your short game, developing a consistent pre-shot routine, planning your shots strategically, and practicing with a purpose. Additionally, consider experimenting with your swing and setting specific goals for each round to boost your performance. I’ve put together some tips to help you re-focus your game to include developing a better on-course strategy.

Here’s a more detailed look at these tips:

Master the Short Game: The short game (100 yards and in) is often where strokes are gained or lost. Focus on improving your chipping, pitching, and putting skills. Practice these shots regularly, focusing on consistent contact and distance control.
Pre-Shot Routine: Develop a consistent pre-shot routine to help you focus and execute shots effectively. This could include a few practice swings, visualizing the shot, and focusing on your target.
Strategic Shot Planning: Before each shot, assess the course layout, hazards, and wind conditions. Choose the club that best fits your shot selection and the desired trajectory. Consider where you want to miss the ball, aiming for the “best miss” if you have a tendency to hook or slice.
Practice with a Purpose: Don’t just hit balls aimlessly. Set specific goals for your practice sessions, such as improving your accuracy, distance control, or putting. Simulate on-course conditions during practice to prepare yourself for the game.
Experiment with Your Swing: Consider experimenting with different swing techniques and grips to find what works best for you. This could involve trying different tempos, ball positions, or club faces.

Bonus Tips:

Know your numbers: Accurately measure the distance you hit each club to make better shot selection decisions. This is crucial! Not knowing your numbers, makes it difficult to plan the next shot with any kind of success.
Stay positive: Don’t let a bad shot ruin your round. Focus on the next shot and maintain a positive attitude. Having a good mindset keeps you in the right frame of mind when you need it most.
Don’t be a hero: Play a smart game and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Lay up when necessary and focus on getting on the green in regulation. too often golfers think they can go for it only to fall short. Be smart!
Respect the course: Study the course layout and hazards before you play, and be aware of your surroundings. Knowing where the trouble is, and how to respond accordingly will make the round go a lot smoother.
Visualize your shots: Mentally picture yourself hitting the shot you want to hit. This can help you focus and stay confident. This was a key strategy for one of the greatest players who ever lived. If it’s good enough for Jack Nicklaus. It’s good enough for you!

Summary:

Too often golfers spend a lot of time worrying about hitting the perfect golf shot, when really what they need to do is spend more time perfecting their on-course strategy. Developing good ball striking is definitely a bonus, it gives you confidence over each shot. However, if you are unable to capitalize on that good shot because you haven’t developed an equally good on-course strategy, then you are just wasting time. Ideally you want to learn to be good at both. Review the tips above and try to spend as much if not more time, working on your on-course strategy as you do your ball striking. I think you’ll find the strokes will begin to drop.

How’s Your Finish?

Ted Odorico May 17, 2025

Instruction

It’s that time of year to dust off those cobwebs and pay your local range a visit. With golf season fast approaching, it’ll be critical for your golf sanity to get back into your peak golf form as quickly as possible. One of the most commonly forgotten pieces to a good golf swing is proper weight transfer to produce a good finish. Let’s review this concept.

Evaluating your finish is one of the easiest ways to figure out whether you’ve shifted your weight. If your trail foot is still planted well after you’ve completed your swing, you will need to work on this to improve your strike.

Poor finish leaves a gap between the inner thighs and knees

A poor finish can also cause you to fall back on your trail leg

A proper weight transfer results in a nice balanced finish

Club Drop Drill

You can take rehearsal swings or hit balls for this drill. Take your sand wedge and place the club (face up) under your trail heel. The shaft should point away and behind you. Take your swings with your normal swing speed and practice dropping the club to the ground. If your weight doesn’t transfer to the lead side, the club will not drop.

Club fails to drop with poor weight transfer

In this image you can see I transferred my weight correctly, so the club dropped

Cup Drill

Practice the proper finish by placing a tumbler or water bottle next to your lead foot. The goal is to finish your swing at full speed without moving or knocking it over. Practicing this will help with completing the hip turn and a stable lead leg.

Place a tumbler or water bottle next to your lead foot

A good weight shift keeps the tumbler in place

Fall back and you knock over the tumbler as in this picture

Close The Gap

The feeling of turning your trail knee into your lead knee as you take your downswing will help with transferring weight at the proper time. At the finish, you shouldn’t be able to see a gap between your inner thighs. This will also help with a full hip turn, along with a completed weight transfer.

Poor weight shift will leave a gap between the knees

A good weight shift has the knees closer together

Tip provided by: Cathy Kim, PGA/LPGA Professional & Top 25 Instructor & Director of Golf Instruction at Baltimore Country Club

Five Signs: A Golfer May Be Losing Confidence

Ted Odorico May 15, 2025

Relaxed Golfer Silhouette Against Bright Rising Sun

Strategy & Troubleshooting

Do you find yourself feeling somewhat deflated after a round, and ultimately staring into the sunset? Part of the reason may be you lost confidence in your game. Every golfer at some point in their golfing journey has experienced this at one time or another.

So what do you? I’ll answer that after we first examine: “Five Signs: A Golfer May Be Losing Confidence”

Worrying too much about making mistakes: Golfers who are losing confidence may be overly concerned with avoiding bogeys or hitting bad shots, causing them to feel anxious and unable to focus on the present moment.
Pre-round jitters that don’t go away: Anxiety and a tight feeling that persists beyond the first hole can indicate a loss of confidence and an inability to relax and trust the game.
Losing confidence after a single bad shot: If a single bad shot or score quickly erodes confidence and leads to frustration, it suggests a struggle with maintaining a positive mindset.
Focusing excessively on technique or how to make a perfect swing: Over-controlling the swing and focusing on the mechanics can indicate a lack of trust in the swing and a fear of failure.
Getting easily frustrated or playing cautiously: Frustration when not playing to expectations or a tendency to protect a score when things are going well can suggest a lack of confidence and a fear of losing.

If your one of those golfers who sees themself in this dilemma than you know what I’m talking about. There’s no worse than to hit the course feeling like nothing is going to work today. What typically happens in this situation is you simply go through the motions, and pray the round ends soon. You’ve read every golf book, watched every golf lesson on YouTube, but nothing seems to help. NOW WHAT?

Help is here!

I’ve been teaching this game to corporate clients for over 32 years. Every one of them at some point has felt the same as you have. Here’s what I tell them.

Let’s address each of the “Five Signs” mentioned above.

Point 1: If you focus solely on your mishits and not on good shots, then self doubt begins to creep in. Try this! After you hit a bad shot; let out that emotion and expell the negative energy. Getting it out of your system in a burst of raw energy will actually make you feel better, rather than keeping it pent up inside. Once you have done that visualize a really good shot you hit that day, and allow yourself to absorb the positive energy. You’ll begin to feel better because you’ve focused on something good that happened. Now re-group, and focus on the next shot.
Point 2: Everyone feels nervous stepping up to the first tee, even the pros. It’s normal! Some may feel that way until they have a few holes under their belt. The reason you are feeling nervous is you probably haven’t practiced much lately, or your warm-up routine lacks any real sense of readiness. Make sure that every time you hit the practice range, you do it with a sense of purpose. Don’t just rake and hit balls. Imagine you’re playing the first few holes of a course you’re going to play this weekend. What shots are needed to make a good score? Visualize each club you intend to play on every hole. See in your mind how you’d like the shot to be executed. Allow yourself to feed off the positive energy. Do the same in a warm-up right before your round. Don’t forget to stretch too! That really helps you to relax tense muscles.
Point 3: So you hit a bad shot! Who hasn’t? Does that mean the round is over? No! It just means you hit a bad shot. Stick that in the back of your mind and analyze it post-round. Trying to figure what went wrong during the round can be disastrous. Did I do this? Or do that? Who cares right now? There’s still plenty of golf left. Brush it off and see what you need to do on the next shot. Do I need to hit a recovery shot? Maybe! Focus on what needs to be done now and don’t worry about the past. That shot is gone. Learn from it and move on.
Point 4: Ahh! The perfect swing, good luck with that! There is no such thing. Every swing is different and unique to each golfer. Instead focus on becoming a better player. What can I do to improve my score? Having a perfect looking swing doesn’t necessarily mean lower scores. What does help lower them is to practice areas of your game that you fall short. We’ve all heard the saying: “Drive for Show! “Putt for Dough!” Well, there is a good reason for it. Bombing drives down the fairway looks great, but most amateurs lack the skill to do that with any consistency. However, working more on the short game like pitching, chipping and putting, can really drop your score. Spend the majority of your practice time working on these areas of the game. It will really help raise your confidence level.
Point 5: Emotions can often get the best of us. A common mistake golfers make after a bad shot, hole or even a round is to completely change the way they play. A player who typically goes for the pin suddenly gets squeamish and starts to play overly conservative. What happens then is they get out of their natural rhythm. They slow down and begin to second guess every shot. The opposite can happen for more conservative players who now feel they need to be aggressive to make up for lost strokes. Did you ever see Nicklaus change his game mid-round when things didn’t go his way? Not likely! So why should you? Stay the course and play the way you always have. Making a drastic change like that can turn a small thing into something worse. Play your game!

In conclusion: To regain confidence requires you to analyze things and put them into perspective. Building confidence takes time and a lot of hard work. Losing confidence can also take time to come back. How much time really depends on how you approach things. You can walk around feeling bad because you hit some poor shots, or played a few bad holes. Or, you can use them as a learning opportunity. It depends on you! Better players have conditioned themselves to do just that. They shrug off the less than perfect shots, focus on what they did well. All that leads to confidence building. Tiger Woods often said in his interviews: “I didn’t play my “A” game today, but I’m happy with the results”. If one of the best players to ever play can look at his game that way. Why shouldn’t you? You might find that it’s not your game that needs to change, rather your attitude.

If you would like to submit game improvement tips to help with your game. Send them to: editor@golftipsmag.com

Playing Shots Off Of Uneven Lies

Ted Odorico April 30, 2025

Instruction

Do you get confused when hitting off of hillsides? Here is a simple way to position yourself when you are playing up and down the slope. The player needs to position themselves relative to the hill to accommodate the slope’s needs by either flattening the plane or making the plane more vertical.

Here is how we establish this relationship on a slope.

Ball Above Your Feet Lie

We begin our setup for the ball above our feet by aiming the club toward the target and placing it on the slope with the correct loft relative to the hill. Then, when taking your stance, align the handle about 1 inch forward of the center of your body, which will establish the correct ball position for the club you have chosen.

Take your stance by placing a little more weight on the downhill part of your feet—in this case, more toward your heels. This will place you in a posture where your back is a little straighter relative to the ground. In swinging the club (Photo 1), swing along the slope by emphasizing turning the body in the backswing and turning the body in the through swing.

When playing in this situation, you will be able to select most any club because there is not a limitation on the loft of the club. Your ball will tend to draw slightly due to the flatter swing plane (Photo 2), and the loft of the club will be pointed slightly left. Align yourself accordingly to accommodate for this.

Downhill Lie

We begin our setup for the ball below our feet by aiming our club toward the target and placing the club on the slope with the correct loft relative to the hill. Then, when taking your stance, align the handle about 1 inch forward of the center of your body, establishing the correct ball position relative to the club you have chosen.

Take your stance, placing a little more weight on the downhill part of your feet—in this case, more toward your toes. This will place you in a posture where your back is bent over more than a neutral posture used in a level lie.

When swinging the club (Photo 3), swing along the slope by emphasizing the shoulders rocking and the arms swinging on a more vertical plane (Photo 4) in the backswing and in the through swing. When playing in this situation, you will be able to select most any club because there is no limitation on the loft of the club; however, shorter clubs will fit the situation better due to the more vertical plane they tend to swing on naturally. Your ball will tend to fade slightly due to the more upright plane, tending to cause the face to open to the path. Align yourself accordingly to accommodate for this.

When playing from any uneven lie, remember to address the ball with the following:

Aim the club with the correct loft relative to the slope.
Stand with the handle pointed 1 inch toward the target of the center of your body.
Place weight on the downhill part of your feet and set your spine perpendicular to the slope.
Swing your club along the shape of the slope.

Tip provided by: Jim Endicott – PGA Professional & Golf Tips Top 25 Instructor. PGA Education Faculty Member and PGA Specialized Professional in both Teaching and Coaching.

Contact: jim@endicottgolf.com

Make the Turn

Ted Odorico April 27, 2025

Instruction

Often when you make a change in your golf swing, things feel weird. It’s only natural that when you have been doing something wrong for an extended period and you then make a complete U-turn, your brain is going to resist it.

We often refer to this as “feel vs real.” What you feel as being correct typically isn’t what is really happening in your swing. Any change you make in your swing sometimes will be counterintuitive.

Recognizing key positions within the golf swing will go a long way toward taking full ownership of your golf swing and cultivating the correct feel when it comes to making changes. These key positions can be broken down into four points: setup, top of the backswing, impact and finish.

Setup is obviously the starting point and foundation of the golf swing. Any imperfections in your setup will cause other parts of the swing to break down. Always make sure that your fundamentals are in order, including grip, posture and alignment.

The true starting point of the golf swing, though, is the top of your backswing. Think of it as the starting line of your downswing, and there is a race between your hips, shoulders, arms and hands to get the club back to the golf ball.

Often, though, golfers never complete their backswings, which throws off all the timing on the downswing. Most golfers don’t know what it feels like to make a full backswing. Depending on the body’s flexibility, your top backswing position might be longer or shorter than your playing partner’s.

Don’t be concerned with how far the club goes back or gets at the top of the backswing. There are players we see on Tour who fully rotate their bodies but look like they are only making a three-quarter swing.

On the opposite side of this, John Daly has had an amazing career taking the club past parallel on his backswing, which is credited to his flexibility. Is either one better than the other? No; if you maximize your body’s rotation, you can then start creating the right feel for completing your backswing.

Not completing your backswing doesn’t allow a golfer to sequence their downswing correctly back to the golf ball. Typically, the shoulders haven’t turned 90 degrees to a point where the left shoulder (right if you are swinging lefthanded) doesn’t get underneath the chin. The lead arm will also chicken wing, and the hands never get above the shoulders. This all will cause the body to pivot incorrectly and transfer the weight on the backswing.

To create the correct feel for a complete backswing, start by standing upright with your back straight and legs locked. Hold the golf club out in front of you and fully hinge the club head up toward the sky. The shaft of the golf club should be parallel to your chest while your left arm remains straight. This will help you feel what it is like to fully set the club with your hands and wrists.

While maintaining your wrist hinge, tilt your pelvis to create enough spine tilt that mimics a 45-degree angle. Your back should stay relatively straight. If you lean from your waist, your spine angle will curve, creating more of a slouching posture. Soften the bend in your knees at the same time so that you feel like your weight is on the balls of your feet. Keep the shaft of the golf club parallel to your chest by maintaining your wrist hinge.

Rest the shaft of the club on your trailing shoulder. If you must let your left arm fold slightly to get the club there, that is OK. Rotate your shoulders as far back as possible. The goal is to get your left shoulder underneath your chin while maintaining your spine angle. A good feeling here is to make sure that your left shoulder is slightly lower to the ground than your right. If your shoulders are level, you have lost your posture and have not fully rotated.

Fully extend your hands away from the body and toward the sky while maintaining your spine angle and posture. A good indication of a complete backswing is where your shoulders have rotated twice as much as your hips, weight is on the inside of your back heel, and your hands have raised above your shoulders. Don’t be surprised if it feels like you are stretching more than you have before.

Tip provided by: Alex Fisher, PGA & Top 25 Instructor