Uneven Lies

 

For those of us who practice, we typically practice on a flat surface, such as a driving range. When we get to the golf course, we seldom have even lies, even on tee boxes (don't get me started on this pet peeve). On uneven lies, we will have to change our swing, but how?

Imagining a golf machine on an uneven lie has helped me figure out what to do. FIrst:

You simply will not be able to swing as hard or get as much distance as you will on a flat lie, so choose a club that compensates (I'll discuss this more below).

So, let's just start with the side-hill lie pictures above. If you just tilt the golf machine, it will fall back down the hill.

If you stand up straighter and adjust the feet of the golf machine, it can still hit the ball. For some steep side-hill lies, you might also have to grip down on the shaft (again, reducing the distance you can hit the ball).

The Stand Up Move

 

Visualizing a golf machine helps me explain (at least to myself) some chronic problems I have with my golf swing. My primary problem is the fat shot, that is, hitting behind the ball. I have tried all sorts of ways to solve this problem and gotten all sorts of well meaning advice. 

So You Want to be a Golf Machine?

 

Rory McIlroy Power Standup Move

 

Just to prove that the Stand Up Move was not something invented by a golf pundit, the video above shows Rory McIlroy's "natural" swing (when he first started playing) and his Tour Swing. He had the Stand Up move right from the beginning. It was his natural swing. 

Bernhard Langer: Chipping

 

MA Backswing Length: Stop-Turn Rule

 

One of the problems facing the Muscular Advantage (MA) Player is when to stop the backswing. Bernhard Langer, in the video above, offers a very simple solution. Stop swinging back when your left shoulder touches your chin. The arms and the left should are connected. If you break the connection by "lifting" the club up after the left should touches the chin and create inconsistency.

Starting the swing is equally simple. The left shoulder starts the swing by moving forward and separating from the chin. Once the left should has separated, you can hit the ball as hard (or as soft) as you want. Everything has stayed connected and you are in the right position to use your Muscular Advantage.

John Rahm, know for his short backswing, puts it simply: "This is the reason your swing sucks." 

MA Swing: Lee Trevino Body Release

 

Lee Trevino had another prototype Muscular Advantage (MA)** swing Along side Arnold Palmer. Trevino is the prototype Fade Swing while Palmer was the prototype Draw Swing.*** Both of these swings are, in the Words of David Ledbetter, Body Release Swings. The Palmer Draw swing was a little bit more Arms Release (here), but not much.

David Ledbetter described the Trevino Swing as Body Release in his book Lessons from the Golf Greats in page 142. I really can't do much better than David Ledbetter's description so I'm going to extract the Chapter below. If you study golf, you should gave the Ledbetter Book!

Here is some of my own Analysis of the Treninvo IMages in thge Ledbetter book:

Notes

** Classifying Trevino as a Muscular Advantage (MA) player might seem confusing to some readers. He was short and dubbed the "Merry Mex." However, Trevino was strong. He enlisted in the Marine Corp; you don't get through Marine Boot Camp if you are a weakling. If you have ever lived in the US SouthWest (Trevino was from Texas) you know that Latino men, selected from long family lines of hard family farm work, are extremely strong for their size.

*** To hit a Fade or a draw with the MA Swing, either open (Fade) or close (Draw) our stance.