It’s starting to sink in! I was riding with the longest golf ball driver in our swat.
I hit an almost perfect drive a little left but solid. My finish was perfect and I could feel my body turn. He hit a big drive down the middle with a slight draw. Everyone commented how huge his drive was. As we were approaching our drives he was heading to the left rough where my ball was and he commented how he blew past me by 20 yds. As we got closer I could see my ball was ahead of his. I out drove his good drive by 5 yds. Still a lot of work to do but I’m getting close. I practice hours everyday, hitting balls , chipping and putting. I know this training is working. I use to hit effortless with swinging my shoulders. Lower body wood kick in but not like it’s doing when I swing with your lower body move.
Playing tomorrow cant wait to see if I have a better swing. We are having exceptional weather here in Pittsburgh for this time of year. I’m in FL for all of March staying at a private club with full membership privileges. Between now and end of March I plan on having a solid golf game. Sorry for the lengthy comments!
To get the stable base, is it a good idea to feel the knees pointing forward going back? Feels like it is way easier to start down with minimal movement in the lower body.
Meaning, should I restrict the movement of the knees to a minimum? For me moving my head too much going back before, it Feels like im more in control by keeping my knees stable and only moving my upper. Was easier to hit the Sweet spot.
Thanks for this tip it made me realise where I was losing my weight in the back swing I was rolling it into the outside of my right foot when I keep the knee bent I can feel the weight in the legs looking forward to see how I go in comp tomorrow thanks
Very good. This is combined with loading the weight on the instep so glad you see that and are working on it. You get this and you will start hitting it longer (and more consistent too).
I must have missed this tip previously. What a difference it has made. Trying to fire the hips from a straight back leg was giving me a sore knee and leg and was forcing me onto the front leg to get the rotation hence pulling the ball to the right (I am a lefty). Now with the flexed knee I am finding the rotation much easier and without the pain. Thanks for the tip Paul it has really made a difference to my game.
Yes, this is very important. Glad you found it. There are actually some teachers out there telling people to straighten it. Yikes. Won’t take you long to master it now that you are thinking about it. I used to work on this flex nightly in a mirror off my right hip making sure it didn’t straighten. Might want to do that too.
I missed this too Paul
I think it might be confusing for many people to hear that the ‘knees turn 22.5 degrees’
that suggested to me that both knees turn the same amount.
To do that, I was straightening right leg and not loading the instep
I am now thinking that the left knee has to turn more than the right knee ie. turn into the resistance?
many thanks Rob
The knees are not really an area that you should be thinking about, I would be using either your hips or shoulders to get them to turn. If you get the shoulders to turn 90* and the hips at 45* then the knees will be the same. Why work on turning a body part that does not turn the most like the knees. Check out this tip:
Thanks Paul
Had a really great practice yesterday following these.
So I let my hips and knees be passive to the shoulders (not resisting against)
But in doing so, ensure the side if the left knee points behind the ball…thats the bit that wasnt happening ..but if I give myself more time and wait for that perfect shots are almost guaranteed!
Great coaching as ever !
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15 Responses to “Back Knee at the Top of the Backswing”
November 30, 2017
WaltreyersHi Paul,
It’s starting to sink in! I was riding with the longest golf ball driver in our swat.
I hit an almost perfect drive a little left but solid. My finish was perfect and I could feel my body turn. He hit a big drive down the middle with a slight draw. Everyone commented how huge his drive was. As we were approaching our drives he was heading to the left rough where my ball was and he commented how he blew past me by 20 yds. As we got closer I could see my ball was ahead of his. I out drove his good drive by 5 yds. Still a lot of work to do but I’m getting close. I practice hours everyday, hitting balls , chipping and putting. I know this training is working. I use to hit effortless with swinging my shoulders. Lower body wood kick in but not like it’s doing when I swing with your lower body move.
Playing tomorrow cant wait to see if I have a better swing. We are having exceptional weather here in Pittsburgh for this time of year. I’m in FL for all of March staying at a private club with full membership privileges. Between now and end of March I plan on having a solid golf game. Sorry for the lengthy comments!
Thank for your help,
Walt
December 1, 2017
Paul WilsonWalt,
I love stories like that. I had a similar thing happen to me many years ago. Great feeling.
Just stick to the plan. It gets exciting which can lead to hitting harder and harder. If this happens slow back down to 50% and build it back up.
December 20, 2017
StianOttersenTo get the stable base, is it a good idea to feel the knees pointing forward going back? Feels like it is way easier to start down with minimal movement in the lower body.
December 21, 2017
StianOttersenMeaning, should I restrict the movement of the knees to a minimum? For me moving my head too much going back before, it Feels like im more in control by keeping my knees stable and only moving my upper. Was easier to hit the Sweet spot.
December 21, 2017
Paul WilsonStian,
Yes, too much movement is not good. Too little can restrict your upper body rotation too. You need to fully coil around a stable base.
December 21, 2017
Paul WilsonStian,
The back knee forward is a good thought. The forward knee should be moving behind the ball as you coil back.
Flexed Back Knee: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-back-knee/
How To Feel Stability In The Lower Body (back knee flex) https://ignitiongolf.com/lower-body-stability/
How To Stabilize The Lower Body In The Backswing (belt buckle at ball): https://ignitiongolf.com/stabilize-lower-body/
Hips: https://ignitiongolf.com/turning-hips/
Let’s Go Surfing: https://ignitiongolf.com/lets-go-surfing/
Left Knee Behind Ball: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-forward-knee/
June 7, 2018
JoshuaHabibThanks for this tip it made me realise where I was losing my weight in the back swing I was rolling it into the outside of my right foot when I keep the knee bent I can feel the weight in the legs looking forward to see how I go in comp tomorrow thanks
June 8, 2018
Paul WilsonJoshua,
Very good. This is combined with loading the weight on the instep so glad you see that and are working on it. You get this and you will start hitting it longer (and more consistent too).
June 8, 2018
JerryErdmanEnjoying the lessons and tips.
June 8, 2018
Paul WilsonJerry,
So glad you like the tips. I appreciate the feedback.
November 1, 2018
AndrewRobsonI must have missed this tip previously. What a difference it has made. Trying to fire the hips from a straight back leg was giving me a sore knee and leg and was forcing me onto the front leg to get the rotation hence pulling the ball to the right (I am a lefty). Now with the flexed knee I am finding the rotation much easier and without the pain. Thanks for the tip Paul it has really made a difference to my game.
November 2, 2018
Paul WilsonAndrew,
Yes, this is very important. Glad you found it. There are actually some teachers out there telling people to straighten it. Yikes. Won’t take you long to master it now that you are thinking about it. I used to work on this flex nightly in a mirror off my right hip making sure it didn’t straighten. Might want to do that too.
August 30, 2020
RobKedgleyI missed this too Paul
I think it might be confusing for many people to hear that the ‘knees turn 22.5 degrees’
that suggested to me that both knees turn the same amount.
To do that, I was straightening right leg and not loading the instep
I am now thinking that the left knee has to turn more than the right knee ie. turn into the resistance?
many thanks Rob
September 1, 2020
Paul WilsonThe knees are not really an area that you should be thinking about, I would be using either your hips or shoulders to get them to turn. If you get the shoulders to turn 90* and the hips at 45* then the knees will be the same. Why work on turning a body part that does not turn the most like the knees. Check out this tip:
Golf Hip Turn In The Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/golf-hip-turn-backswing/
September 1, 2020
RobKedgleyThanks Paul
Had a really great practice yesterday following these.
So I let my hips and knees be passive to the shoulders (not resisting against)
But in doing so, ensure the side if the left knee points behind the ball…thats the bit that wasnt happening ..but if I give myself more time and wait for that perfect shots are almost guaranteed!
Great coaching as ever !