Johnny Miller, in his golf classic, Pure Golf, emphasized the fact that the swing is essentially the ‘release of the right arm angles’. There are several things that go into ensuring that the perfect angle is formed on the backswing. Once this angle is formed, everything from there on is automatic.

Throwing weight through the gate

The most important setup component is to visualize the gate from a 45 degree angle behind the ball. This automatically positions the body in a way that it is set to throw itself through the gate. Having accomplished this part, try and visualize the

IRONS

Setup: Approach from a 45 degree angle. Visualize the gate and throwing the body weight through the gate. This is the primary setup thought. All other setup thoughts are secondary. If one gets a level knee flex while setting up to throw the body through the gate, that is an added bonus.

DRIVER

Setup: Approach from a 30 degree angle – instead of a 45 degree angle. Everything else is the same (visualize throwing body weight through the gate, visualize level knees etc.)

Backswing

Pre-Swing Thought: The stomach has to move back, while the right cheek has to be kept stationary. However, these two thoughts must be ‘implied’ – and not explicitly thought about. The explicit thought should be I need to form the angle on the backswing. It is this ‘angle thought’ that creates the correct angles on the backswing. The backswing consists of taking the torso along on the backswing – since that is the way to get the maximum weight ‘going back through the gate’. As the weight moves back, keep the right cheek stationary. This will ensure that the right arm angle forms correctly.

1. COMMON MISTAKE 1: Not taking the stomach back along with the backswing. This will lead to an incorrect weight transfer – and possibly no angle formation.
2. COMMON MISTAKE 2 : Keeping the spine stationary – as opposed to the cheek. Think in terms of the right cheek, not the spine.
3. COMMON MISTAKE 3 : Keeping the right side moving at the same speed as the left leads to an ideal angle formation. If the right side outpaces the left, one can destroy the angle.
4. COMMON MISTAKE 4 : Sliding on the backswing (right ankle loses its stability). Ensure that the inner parts of both feet are kept stable to handle the weight transfer.

Downswing

Release the angles – let the body weight be thrown straight out – directly towards the target (as opposed to wrapping inwards).