Mastering the Golf Swing: Proper Sequencing is Very Important
When you get down to the business of working on your golf swing, it is crucial that you understand what you are working on out there on the range. If you just go through the motions and hit a bunch of shots without a specific purpose, it is unlikely you will be happy with the results. One of the swing elements that you should be specifically focused on is the importance of the sequencing within your swing. Good sequencing makes powerful, accurate shots possible – while poor sequencing can lead to a whole list of bad outcomes.
So how do you know if your sequencing is on track, or if it needs an adjustment? Use the following cues to identify problems in your sequencing and then get to work on making the corrections.
- Hitting Fat Shots. This is a classic sign that your lower body is not doing its job at the right time. If your legs are stuck underneath you and don’t get moving from the top of the backswing, you likely will hit the shot fat because your weight isn’t in the right position. When you start the downswing, make sure it is your legs that are initiating the action, not your arms. When you do this correctly, it will suddenly be much easier to make good contact.
- The Slice. No one likes to look up and see their ball slicing into the rough, but it is a problem that plagues many golfers. Similar to the problem above, most slices are caused by using your arms to start the downswing and letting the club get too far away from your body. As your legs start the downswing and you begin to rotate toward the target, make sure you are pulling the club down close to your body so it can swing out through the ball.
- Hitting a Hook. If you suffer from a hook from time to time, there is a good chance you are sliding through impact instead of rotating properly. The sequencing error in this case may have happened all the way back at the beginning of the swing. If you slide your weight back away from the target – instead of just rotating by moving the club – you may set off a chain reaction that leads to a hook. Work on staying balanced during your takeaway and keeping your weight centered while you make a rotational swing.