Gripping a club too tightly destroys your swing. Tense hands lead to tense arms, which in turn lead to tense shoulders. Anything that “tightens you up” restricts the body from making a free-flowing swing, causing a loss of power, a mis-hit, or another fault.
Waggling the club is often the antidote. Waggling consists of moving the club back and forth before striking the ball. You see it most often on the tee, although professional players use it on other parts of the course as well. To produce the waggle, you need to lighten up on your grip and arms. It is also a good antidote for players who tend to “freeze” over the ball or who start the backswing too early.
Waggling is a technique professional golfers, such as Arnold Palmer, often use to relieve tension. Palmer, for example, gives the club that one final, aggressive waggle before launching his shot. The key is making sure the waggle mirrors the intended path of the swing.
But waggling can do something else as well. It can serve as a swing trigger, encouraging a smooth first move away from the ball.
The swing trigger illustrates the idea that it’s easier to perpetuate motion than it is to start it. That’s why great players all start their swings with one. Gary player kicks in his right knee. Jack Nicklaus turns his head slightly to the right. Nick Faldo does the same.
Although different, triggers are all designed to do one thing: They help the player make a smooth start to the backswing, preventing any jerky movements that can destroy the linkage in the swing. Try experimenting with the waggle or another swing trigger. Developing an effective one can make a difference in your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How To Break 80…And Shoot Like The Pros!. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that was able to figure out the secrets of shooting in the 70’s on a consistent basis without quitting your day job. Jack has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately.