This part of the swing is a combination of arm swing, hip turn and leg action. Things
happen so quickly now that you cannot possibly stop it, let alone notice it. If you have
set yourself correctly at the top and have maintained your balance, then things should go
very well here.
This is not the time to decide where you will strike the ball. That should have been
decided before you started the take away. You should still be focused on the exact spot on
the ball you will make contact with as you swing the club through that spot. You should
stay focused on that spot until well after the ball has gone. Do not underestimate the
importance of this simple statement. You MUST be looking at the spot ON the ball. Don't
look AT the ball, or in the area OF the ball, but at an EXACT spot on the ball. I use the
number or letter in the name to focus on. If I can't see one, I will use a feature or mark
or a blade of grass leaning on the ball. I try to use the lower quadrant below its equator
as my reference point.
As I mentioned before, the wrists will be in the cocked position as the arms start down. I
will emphasize the word ARMS. The arms act as an agent of the turning of the hips. If you
turn your hips and try to leave the arms where they were, you will have a difficult time
of it. Try it. You will see the effect I mean. In order to turn the hips quickly enough to
pull the arms across the chest, you must use your legs. The legs will also react to a
strong hip turn. But strangely enough, the legs will be ahead of the hip turn. You don't
even need to think about it, really. Your mind knows, that if you turn the hips quickly,
the legs need to be in front of the turn. Otherwise, you will hurt something. Your mind
already knows this. Keep your knees flexible and trust it.
The down swing begins slowly and picks up speed with the turning of the hips. The weight
starts to move over to your left side as the arms come down a little. When your hips
return to the start position, your weight will be over both feet equally. Your hands will
still be pretty high at this point. Maybe as high as your right shoulder. As you continue
the swing, the weight will be more to the left just before impact. Your hands will be
cocked, in front of your right hip. You are almost at impact now.
Your left arm should be straight all the way down. Think about a catapult for a moment.
You pull the catapult arm down and it bends to "load" up. When you release it,
the tip lags behind as the arm starts up. As the spring unwinds,the arm picks up speed
until it slams into the stop. The tip keeps going and propels the rock with a whipping
action to the target. Your left arm is similar to that catapult arm. The clubhead is the
tip and lags behind until the last instance. The centifugal force generated by your
turning hips, pulls your arm toward the ball. The ball just gets in the way of the
whipping clubhead as you make contact.
At this point in the swing, no power on earth can stop the arms. The only thing left, is
impact and follow through. If you think about following through before you start down,
impact will be sweet.