This article was machine-translated from the Korean original. Read the Korean original
"Your lower body needs to lead first." That is what I hear most often in lessons.
I understand it in my head, but my body won't follow.
That makes sense. Lower body lead isn't something you learn through explanation; it's something you master by feel.
If you just lift your right foot, you will naturally grasp that feeling.
01What happens if your lower body doesn't move
| symptoms | why |
|---|---|
| sliced | The upper body moves forward first, and the club comes in from the outside. |
| backstabbing | My weight stays on the back, so the club hits the ground early. |
| Lack of distance | I can't use my lower body. It's like I'm hitting with only arm strength. |
| Finish instability | My body is leaning backward and I'm staggering. |
Most problems start here. So if you tackle this one, several others get solved together.
02Right foot lifting practice
You can do it at home or at the practice range.
- Address as usualA 7-iron would be good.
- Lift your right heel at the end of the backswing.Just let your toes touch the ground. Don't hit it yet.
- In that position, press down with the left foot and strike.My right foot keeps lifting.
If your right heel is lifted, your upper body cannot move forward first. You will fall.
So, naturally, you end up using your left foot first. Your body learns the sequence on its own.
It doesn't fit well at first. You'll get the hang of it after about ten tries.
03There is an easier way too.
If you find it difficult to lift your right foot, try this first.
04Step swing
You hit it while taking a step in like a baseball batter.
- Lift your left foot slightly while doing the backswing.
- I hit the ball while stepping forward with my left foot at the start of the downswing.
- The power of walking becomes the swing.
If you do this, you will physically understand what it means for the lower body to move first.
You don't have to hit the ball. Just get the feel.
05Check like this
- Did the right heel lift off the ground at the finish?If I hadn't heard that, my weight wouldn't have exceeded it.
- Does the belt buckle see the target?It is normal for the torso to rotate completely.
- Is the left leg fully straightened?If it is bent over, it means you cannot use your lower body.
- Can you stand for 3 seconds?If you stumble, it's not over yet.
The finish is everything. If you get this far, the order of the steps before that is correct.
It is the same story as the weight transfer covered in [[LINK:L22]].
06When in a hurry, the upper body moves first.
There is one more thing. The real reason why the lower body doesn't lead is often because you are in a hurry.
- With the desire to send it far away, I hit it hard from the top
- It starts coming down before even finishing the backswing.
- Then the upper body moves first.
Pause for just a moment at the top of the backswing. 0.5 seconds is enough.
If you stop, your upper body cannot move first.
Practicing playing slowly works here too. Ten times at half your usual speed.
It is the same method used for casting in [[LINK:L23]].
07Look at the month.
Lower body lead takes time because your body is learning something new.
- Twenty step swings a day at home
- Twenty right foot lifts at the practice range
- The rest is as usual.
If you do this for a month, at some point a day will come when you think, "Oh, is this the feeling?"
From that day on, the driving distance changes.
In the next part, I will cover how your stance changes depending on the club length.
