IF YOU WATCH PROFES- SIONAL GOLFERS ON TV, you’ ll notice that no two swings are exactly alike. While many may look similar thanks to solid mechanics, each golfer has their own unique style. But there’ s one thing nearly all of them share: a strong finish position. That final pose at the end of your swing plays a bigger role than you might think. When I’ m teaching, one of the first things I look at is how a student finishes their golf swing. Are their hands high? Is the club fully rotated around their body? Is their weight balanced over the lead foot?
At a young age, my swing coach always reminded me to hold my finish. He’ d say,“ You want to give the cameras enough time to take your picture, so hold your pose!” That image stuck with me— and for good reason. The way you finish your swing often sets the tone for the shot’ s outcome.
There are three key areas where your finish can make a significant impact: momentum, mechanics and mentality.
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MOMENTUM Having good momentum through your golf swing allows you to open up your hips and clear them through the hitting zone, helping you generate maximum power. You want to make sure you have forward momentum as you start your downswing. Sometimes, golfers finish their swing with
Shift your weight forward. Think about your weight transferring from your back foot to your front foot. As you swing, you’ ll want to feel your back foot actively pushing your momentum forward and toward the target.
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some— or even most— of their weight still on the back foot. This means their momentum is working backward, away from the target.
The common finish for a swing with a backward momentum features low hands and an arched back, leaning away from the target. If that sounds familiar, here are two things to focus on during your next shot:
Elevate your hands at the finish. Aim to finish with your hands high, as if they are touching the top of your head rather than resting on your shoulder. This encourages a longer follow-through, which helps generate more speed through the impact zone.
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AMANDA PEREZ |