Backswing Pattern

Class 4 - Basic Lower Body Patterns

Nick Clearwater

Head of Instruction at GOLFTEC

Summary

This lesson emphasizes the importance of proper lower body movement during the backswing. Using Dustin Johnson as an example, it highlights how changing knee flex and hip positioning can significantly impact swing mechanics. The correct lower body patterns can help golfers avoid common mistakes like slicing and hitting the ball inaccurately.

Key Takeaways:

Knee Flex and Hip Positioning:

At address, knees should have about 15-20 degrees of flex.
During the backswing, the trail knee should straighten to about 5 degrees of flex.
The lead knee should flex towards the golf ball, not sway excessively inward.

Hip Movement:

The trail hip should be higher than the lead hip at the top of the backswing.
Proper hip turn (around 45 degrees at the top of the backswing) is essential for a powerful and accurate swing.

Avoiding Common Mistakes:

Many golfers maintain too much knee flex in the backswing, leading to restricted hip movement and poor shot quality.
Incorrect knee and hip positions often result in swaying and improper weight distribution, causing slicing and inaccurate shots.

Practical Tips:

Start with feet turned out 10-20 degrees for better flexibility and hip turn.
Practice the backswing with a focus on changing knee flex and hip turn.
Use slow, deliberate swings to internalize the correct movements before progressing to full swings.

By mastering these lower body patterns, golfers can achieve a more effective and consistent backswing, leading to better overall performance. The next video will focus on lower body patterns during the downswing.