Pre-Swing Fundamentals CraftSmith Golf Academy Online Presentation By James F. Smith CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Expect to Succeed Correct execution of pre-swing fundamentals requires knowledge and discipline There is NO EXCUSE for failure … pre-swing fundamentals: 1.Most in-swing errors (85+%) can be directly traced back to a pre-swing, fundamental error 2.Require no athletic ability or skill 3.You have 100% control over the process The basic motion of the full, normal golf swing is a natural movement once pre-swing fundamentals have created the possibility and determined the probability for success! CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Overview of Pre-Swing Fundamentals Address (stance) Posture Ball Position Distance From the Ball Alignment (aim) Club Ball Position Between the Feet Grip Function of the Grip Role of the Parts Connecting the Parts CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Address Address is a big concept involving several critical fundamentals Posture creates the possibility for a “Natural”, free- flowing sling Ball position between the feet and how far you stand away from the ball Swing plane … the combined horizontal and vertical components of the arcs your arms follow is directly controlled by the distance you stand away from the ball Angle of Attack and Clubface Alignment at impact are directly controlled by the left to right CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Posture … Five checkpoints of correct performance 1.Butt up … knees are only slightly flexed … do NOT “sit on a barstool” … name one sport you play with your weight balanced on your heels 2.Chest down … bow/tilt forward from the waist until you weight shifts forward onto the front of your toes 3.Chin Up, Shoulders Back … NO Humpbacked Whales … there should be a relative straight line from your butt through the top of your head … the chin is NEVER down into the chest, it is up enough for the shoulders to turn 4.Arms “Hangle” (hang and dangle) … to not reach for the ball … your hands should be about 1-1 ½ fist widths from your thighs and a necktie would touch your thumbs 5.Weight balanced on the balls of your feet … lean into the shot until you feel pressure just behind your big toe … a mini-necktie would hang from your knees to your shoe laces CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Ball Position … distance from the ball The distance you stand away from the ball is directly related to correct posture and to owning a correctly fitted set of clubs Arms “Hangle” (hang and dangle) is a checkpoint of correct posture When your arms hangle rather than reach for the ball, the rotation of the shoulders in combination with the correct amount of forward bow/tilt will guide your arms onto a natural (effortless and uncontrolled) correct swing plane The hands will be at approximately the same height for all clubs … the lie angle and finished shaft length pattern will determine the proper fit for your entire set of clubs CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Ball Position … L to R, between the feet If the clubhead is following the horizontal and vertical semicircular arcs that form swingpath, then the natural “hands free, sling” motion depends upon correct ball position between the feet … Forward or backward location on the natural swingpath directly affects the initial direction the ball will fly Forward or backward location on the natural swingpath directly affect the direction the clubface will be turned at the moment of impact … assuming a hands free sling CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Alignment Your Body Shoulders … the prime mover (most dominant muscles) of the golf sling is the rotation of the torso Where the shoulders are aligned is the primary control over swing path through the ball Knees … the movement of the lower body is controlled by the alignment of the knees The knees should be aligned in the same direction as the shoulders Clubface The concept of the “hands free sling” requires the clubface to be aligned squarely to the target. Failure to correctly align the clubface at address is a DIRECT cause of inconsistency and major frustration CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Grip Function of the Grip Creates the possibility for a “hands free sling” … the hands do not “hit” in the modern, “big muscle” swing. The hands are passive connectors Provides power (subconsciously applied) and kinesthetic feedback about the quality of the swing How you place your and hands on the club directly affects how you will use your hands while the club is moving Grip is both a fundamental and an individual technique CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Grip Role of the Parts Holders … the top three fingers of upper hand connect you to the club; the top hand provides stability and control to the swing Connectors … the index finger of the upper hand and the pinky of the lower hand interconnect the two hands together into a single unit using three popular and effective styles: the overlap, the interlock and the ten finger Feelers … The bottom three fingers of the lower hand provide “feel”, control the “squareness” of contact and provide some small amount of leverage (subconsciously applied power) Completers … The thumbs provide opposing pressure to the fingers, unify and stabilize the grip … “grab your thumb (top) and don’t let go” is a learning point that has multiple benefits CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

Grip … Assembly of the Parts 1.Sit the Club flat and square to the target line 2.L. Hand, Dot on Top 3.R. Hand, 3 fingers slide up 4.Thumb in the Pocket … Don’t Let Go! 5.L. thumb at 2 o’clock; R thumb at 11 o'clock 6.Firm wrists, soft fingers CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProductsCraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts