Todd’s T.I.P. (Techniques Improving Performance)
Todd’s Swing Tips
Have A Swing Trigger
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched an average golfer take a few beautiful, languid practice swings before approaching the ball, tensing up, freezing for 3-4 seconds, and executing a stilted, jerky swing that looks nothing like their practice swing.
It’s clear that the body understands what it takes to hit a ball properly, but when it comes to actually doing it, the mind takes over and screws everything up.
Tour pros are subject to this type of tension as well: imagine standing over a putt to win 11 million dollars and tell me you wouldn’t feel a little jittery! But pros counter this by having a swing trigger.
While a full pre-shot routine is a well-known recommendation from mental coaches, a swing trigger is a smaller, less noticeable aspect of the pre-shot routine.
It’s the final step before taking a swing or hitting a putt and prevents tension by avoiding an extended static period.
- Dustin Johnson starts his swing with a slight forward press of the hands.
- Matt Kuchar lifts the club up from behind the ball and hovers it ever so slightly before starting his swing.
- Rickie Fowler’s amazing putting stroke starts with a similar hover.
- Henrik Stenson, perhaps the best ball striker in the world, has a very distinctive trigger where he sets his weight on his back foot and changes his shoulder angle to get his swing going.
- Starting your swing from a point of movement (even a tiny barely-noticeable motion) instead of several seconds of stasis will help you release tension and swing your club or putter more freely.