Pre-Swing Fundamentals

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

2. Expect to Succeed • Correct execution of pre-swing fundamentals requires knowledge and discipline • There is NO EXCUSE for failure … pre-swing fundamentals: • Most in-swing errors (85+%) can be directly traced back to a pre-swing, fundamental error • Require no athletic ability or skill • 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 LessonsProducts

3. 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 LessonsProducts

4. 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 LessonsProducts

5. 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 Chest down … bow/tilt forward from the waist until you weight shifts forward onto the front of your toes 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 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 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 Posture … Five checkpoints of correct performance CraftSmith HomeFree LessonsProducts

6. 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 LessonsProducts

7. 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 LessonsProducts

8. 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 LessonsProducts

9. 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 LessonsProducts

10. 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 LessonsProducts

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