This question – and questioner – are for the record books. I had to share this with you.

HI,
I wonder if you can help me just a little more with my swing. I am 89 and an ex-LPGA instructor. Recent surgery on my left leg prevents me from a full follow thru because my balance is affected. I can still shoot in the low 90’s with my physical disability, but I was wondering if I could develop the knock down shot which does not require a full follow thru. Any suggestions for an old die hard like me? By the way, my hubby is 91 and he too can still break 100.

Hello!

First of all, I will congratulate you and your husband on still playing golf at 89 and 91 years young. Both of you are certainly prime examples to the fact that golf is the game of a lifetime. I have always stated that “a family that plays golf together…stays together.” Using the PPGS makes playing golf at any age better because it is simple and improves performance. Best of all, it is body friendly, reducing stress, strain and pain, and can keep golfers playing well into their retirement – as you are showing.

Regarding your question about helping you to hit a knockdown shot (to stay off your left leg in the finish) because surgery on your left leg prevents you from getting to a full T-Finish in balance on your left leg. I can certainly help, but before I get into the specifics of hitting a knockdown shot I would like to address a few points.

First point is that Dr. Armstrong, my mentor on physiology says that hitting too many knockdown shots (especially for women) is extremely stressful on the wrists and elbows because of the muscles in the arms tensing up to get ready for the abrupt stopping of the arms and club halfway up in the forward swing. This abrupt stop can also place a lot of stress on the shoulders and lower back because, like the arms, they are tightening, getting ready for the sudden stopping of the forward swing and also need to maintain overall balance. With that said about the stress on the arms and body, I would say that hopefully your left leg will heal quickly and with re-hab you will get it up to par in strength and soon be able to transfer your weight onto it in a balanced finish. Now, let’s look at hitting a knockdown shot.

I believe the best way to hit a knockdown shot starts with the setup. As my Surgism says, “The setup determines the motion.” Many players and teachers believe the setup should be with the weight forward and the ball back in the stance to hit the knockdown, This works OK, except this can cause a lot of backspin and the ball can kite upward very quickly, Hitting into the wind, the ball can soar upward a lot faster and higher, and then, like the ball hitting a wall, it gets knocked down way short of the desired distance.

Wind or no wind, I like a more controlled launch angle and a penetrating flight, where the ball holds its line. This is done by playing the ball in the regular position of the club being used. You also want to have your setup stay neutral, or centered 50/50 between both feet, and then keep your shoulders more level. The level shoulders and regular ball position will have a more shallow angle of attack and divot at impact, so the ball will have less spin and a lower yet penetrating trajectory and spin. The shallower divot also is less stressful on the arms and torso.

The final ingredient to hitting the knockdown shot is the limited and lower finish of the arm swing in the follow through. The arms and club will swing through impact and up to around 9:00 o’clock and no more than around 11:00. The arm swing is cut short and so the term knockdown comes not only for the lower ball flight but also for the lower finish of the arms and club. The ball flight is controlled by the finish position of the arms. The lower the arms finish, the lower the ball launches and flies. Swing the arms a little higher in the finish and the ball launches higher and flies higher. The best example is seen when tossing a ball underhanded to someone. To toss the ball to their knees, a low ball flight is wanted, and there will be a lower release and finish of the hand in line with the level of the knees. Want the ball flight higher to throw to the belt buckle, the release is later/higher and arm swings to a higher finish in line with the belt buckle. Toss the ball to their head and the release is still higher and the arm finishes still higher in line with the head.

Lastly, I will say and recommend that maybe you don’t really need to hit knockdown shots to stay off your left leg. You could try a “cut short” weight transfer but still swing your arms up and over the left shoulder to a regular T-Finish position of the arms. The key is to make sure your weight transfer stops at or just after impact. You hit the ball and cut your weight transfer short, but not your arms. You swing your arms and the club to the finish over the left shoulder. You will likely hit the ball longer, much closer to your normal length, than the knockdown swing. But the major bonus is that it will put less stress on the wrists, elbows, shoulders and lower back. Stopping the weight transfer and swinging the arms up and over the left shoulder will likely cause a slight reverse weight shift backwards after impact, and also keep the weight and stress off your left leg. Paul Goydos, on the PGA Tour, is a good example of this high finish of the arms and club with a “cut short” weight transfer and weight a little centered to on the back foot. This will be good while your leg is healing and strengthening. The key is you don’t want to groove that reverse weight shift. When your leg is healed and strong, you want to be able to just smoothly transfer to a perfect T – Finish on your left leg with your arms over the left shoulder and your torso square to your target.

I would really like to see you try the “cut short” weight transfer, with the arms swinging to a full finish before going the knockdown finish swing route. I think it will be better for your body and arms, and especially for your left leg. I bet you will hit the ball well and much closer to your normal length. And, if this doesn’t work, then you have the knockdown setup and swing fundamentals I outlined, which I am sure will work well for you in both shot making and keeping the weight and stress of your left leg.

Best wishes to you and your husband for many more years and years of great golfing.

The Surge!

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