On The Tee with Hank Johnson

First segment in a series. The wind-up

The pivot (body turn) creates the power of an efficient golf swing. It’s the motor of the swing and does all the work.

This power source is made more powerful by creating coil or elastic loading in the large muscle groups of the upper legs, hips and lower trunk.

Elastic loading or coil is created through motion against resistance. For example; the backswing rotation of the upper body against the resistance of the lower body.

In order to accomplish this, it is critical for the player to start from a balanced and centered address position.

Think of any athlete in the “READY POSITION”. They are “centered” on their feet and ready to move in any direction. Their knees are flexed, their butt is out and their head and chest are up. They are ready for action! A powerful golf set up should include all these elements.

The objective of the backswing pivot in golf is to rotate the shoulders and upper trunk as much as possible while holding the feet legs and hips as still as possible. This creates the maximum elastic loading in the strongest groups of muscles mentioned above.

This is accomplished by “holding the ground with the feet and rotating the chest and shoulders around and over the back leg”

There should be no shifting of the hips and the head should stay steady all the way to the end of the wind-up. Lateral shifting of the hips and /or excessive movement of the head will allow the power of the wind up to be compromised.

Next segment: The role of the arms and hands in the wind-up.

I've had the privilege of working with many students who play tournament golf at the highest level. In doing so, they are forced to deal with the pressure that is a normal part of any competitive sports arena. I know from my own tournament experience that having an effective way to deal with that anxious, uncertain feeling that all competitors experience from time to time is critical to competing successfully. Following are some of the thoughts and concepts I have used with these players to help them handle pressure situations successfully.

First of all, you need to understand the difference between pressure and stress. Many times, pressure is an ally, while stress is almost always an enemy. Pressure in and of itself is neutral. It is how you choose to view it that determines whether it is good or bad. If you use it to your advantage, it is good pressure. Let it control you and it becomes bad pressure or stress. Pressure itself is not the enemy. “Stress is the enemy.”

Stress usually appears when you are not fully prepared for or not completely focused on the task at hand. It always shows up when you have been cutting corners, and looking for shortcuts in your preparation. Stress occurs when you are asking yourself to do something you are not fully prepared to do. Stress also lessens your confidence. When stress becomes a factor, you make bad decisions. You do not perform well. You feel anxious! Frankly, when stress comes into play….You Choke.

Let’s use the example of being poorly prepared to take a big test. That’s really all competitive sports is anyway. Because you know you’re poorly prepared, it’s impossible to have confidence in your ability to do well on the test. Why should you have confidence? You can’t fool that person you look at in the mirror every morning. You know you’re not prepared. You know you have no reason to feel confident. Enter Stress. Stress causes doubt. Doubt makes you expect failure.

Now when you know you have done everything you can to prepare for the challenge, pressure can become a motivating force. Good pressure heightens your senses and provides the climate for you to perform better than you have in the past. Thorough preparation allows you to use good pressure as an ally, Good pressure makes you more focused and often creates the environment for great performance.

The more you thoroughly prepare the more qualified you are to handle pressurized situations. Good pressure often brings out extraordinary results. If you learn how to embrace pressure and make it work for you. It can be a fertile climate in which accomplishments can grow.

So it’s really very simple: The better prepared you are for any situation, the more you will honestly believe you can succeed . And……the more you will succeed . When nothing is a stake, extra-ordinary efforts rarely occur. When everything is at stake they often do. Pressure is always present in competitive sports situations. There is really no effective way to eliminate it. You can, however determine whether it is an ally or an enemy. It all depends on how thoroughly prepared you really feel like you are.

Many rounds of golf are ruined by focusing on the mechanics of the swing rather than on getting the ball in the hole. There is not a space on a golf scorecard to record “style points”. How you’re doing in golf can always be defined by the answer to one simple question. “What did you shoot”?

I have used the following “contract” with a number of players who have a problem keeping the main thing the main thing. Perhaps it will help you.

Starting today:________________________________________

(date)

I will stop thinking or talking about my golf swing (mechanics) on the golf course.

I will confine my golf course thoughts and conversations to the non-golf swing subjects or Target, Tempo and Trust only.

During every shot, I will keep my eyes focused on the ball and my mind focused on the target. I will make an effort to “see” the ball going to the target before I start the stroke.

I will always hit a club from the tee that I am sure I can put the ball in the fairway with.

I will try to hole the ball out on all shots inside the distance of my full wedge.

I will stay committed to my physical and mental routines even when things (especially when things) are not going well.

I will never take a mulligan on the golf course unless it follows a perfect shot.

I will try to make the best score I possibly can every time I play, on every hole I play, by focusing my full attention on every shot I play.

Signed _______________________________