The forgotten fundamental

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Kevin Shields

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What do the swings of Payne Stewart, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Snead, Vijay Singh, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, John Daly, and Freddie (sometimes), have in common?

First, they all had beautiful rythym and long languid turns. With the exception of Jack and Freddie's backs, there were timeless, ageless and injury free. They also seemed to be slump proof by virtue that all were known for hitting it on the screws.

And.......they all lift their left heels off the ground.

I'm just saying, might not be a bad thing.
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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I don't think lifting the heel was ever a real issue. I think it can be advantageous if you can do it properly because you can really plant on the downswing and use 'ground forces' to help add power to the swing. But I could never do it consistently.

Also, Moe Norman *used* to lift his left heel off the ground earlier in his career.

So did Johnny Miller.



3JACK
 
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Kevin Shields

Super Moderator
3jack, maybe not to you and me but in the late 80's early 90's it became taboo to lift your heel and every single magazine article since the X factor suggests you dont do it unless you lack flexibility.
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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Kevin Shields said:
3jack, maybe not to you and me but in the late 80's early 90's it became taboo to lift your heel and every single magazine article since the X factor suggests you dont do it unless you lack flexibility.
Click to expand...

Oh, I know. My golfing was mainly done in the 80's and 90's. Thankfully I was smart enough to not care about the 'X-Factor' because most of the time back then I would become infatuated with that stuff. Seems like McLean's teaching is based on letters like the X Factor and the 'V Gap.'

Too bad he can't extend that to D-Plane.




3JACK
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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savydan said:
Do you see lifting the left heel coming back?
Click to expand...

Probably not until a new sensation comes back into the fold. That person along with Sadlowski could help bring that back, IMO. But you need that top tier PGA Tour player most of the time to help convince the golfing public.




3JACK
 
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Dan44GT

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Just want to comment on something, it is not like Jim McLean to say that you cant or should not do something if there is evidence of any top player or players that have done it. A lot of his philosophy is based on what ALL the great players do, or have done, his list of 20 Fundamentals in the 8 Step Swing.
As for the X-Factor reference, the point that I believe he is making is that the heel should not be consciously lifted, if it goes with the hip turn, that is fine. Plus, for all the great players that lift their heel and replant it in the right spot, I see 20 students that lift their lead heel and spin out, or have zero lower body support. My opinion, the lead heel can rise as long as when it is planted it either returns to its original location or moves slightly toward the target.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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To my knowledge I don't do it. (though I wouldn't be surprised if my heel lifted slightly when trying to really turn my left shoulder back)

Do you guys think lifting your heel can compromise accuracy? I know there is power potential there. It can allow you to make a longer backswing.

I think Phil does it when he is trying to let one loose. (when making a fuller backswing)

So does Daly.

Bubba I assume.

But of course Phil is super talented anyway...and loose off the tee...and everyone knows long backswings and left heel lifting are always bad and must automatically be to blame...

...JD is a big fat drunk freaky-long hitting freak and no one takes him seriously (end of story)...

...and same with Bubba. Who cares about Bubba what has he ever done.

PS Jack still did it wrong and everyone needs to restrict their backswing to 3/4 length!!

:);):p

This ain't even a long backswing for him:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZsukmFq3xI[/media]

Freaky-Long John Daly:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzJMyxus4h8[/media]
 
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Kevin Shields

Super Moderator
I certainly am not on a "lift the left heel" thing. I just noticed it helps me in practice to complete my turn and rid myself of the transition pivot torque that tends to lay back and open my left arm/club wedge unit. Surfing through some old photos reminded me of how many great players do it.

So as Brian says......dont throw the baby out with the bathwater when your changing or working on your swing.
 
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jimmydean

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I think that the left heel down creates more torque and makes for more accuracy as it is very difficult to replant the left heel in exactly the same place as it was at address. Also, isn't it better to have fewer moving parts in an already complex athletic move?
Jimmy
 
vjsinger

vjsinger

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I think Richie has a good point in speaking of ground forces, BTW, something we should talk about more and really dig into here on this site. Mandrin? Forgive me if it has been discussed here before..But...

Another thing that the left heel raise does is allow SOME to "raise up" on the backswing, but..."I thought that was bad?" Nah, not so fast. Early Jack, Sadlowski, Tiger, all raise up, or "come out of their posture" in the backswing. Tiger being the only one that didn't need to raise the left heel/foot. Jorgensen said something about golfers gaining 12% more distance by using gravity, didn't he??? "Raising up in the Backswing" would accomplish that I think:)
 
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spktho

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vjsinger said:
I think Richie has a good point in speaking of ground forces, BTW, something we should talk about more and really dig into here on this site. Mandrin? Forgive me if it has been discussed here before..But...

Another thing that the left heel raise does is allow SOME to "raise up" on the backswing, but..."I thought that was bad?" Nah, not so fast. Early Jack, Sadlowski, Tiger, all raise up, or "come out of their posture" in the backswing. Tiger being the only one that didn't need to raise the left heel/foot. Jorgensen said something about golfers gaining 12% more distance by using gravity, didn't he??? "Raising up in the Backswing" would accomplish that I think:)
Click to expand...

Throw in Kenny Perry too. Lifts a ton in the backswing.
 
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jawallace

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Harvey Penick was a fan of letting the left heel come off the ground. He suggested it was one way to lengthen your career. Bill Mehlhorn also advocated this move.
 
cal7426

cal7426

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I was told to stop lifting my left heel in the mid-nineties by my club pro. I probably got a bit more accurate, but I definately got a lot shorter and my swing felt much less natural. Trouble is, once you train yourself not to lift the heel it's hard to go back to it. But I have noticed that when I am doing warm-up swings (without a ball and not thinking mechanics) my heel will lift and my backswing is longer.

Hmmm....sounds like a project for the winter months.
 
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puttmad

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Guys,
Lifting the left heel isn't the cause of "lifting" in the backswing...That is caused by irregular control of left knee bend (left hip too high at the top) and/or lack of left upper body compression ...it is pure mechanics really...to maintain correct "address" height any extended joint left-side, must be counteracted by compression of an alternate left-side joint....make sense?....
Take MA re the accuracy thing...he was long AND extremely accurate, AND he raised his left heel (and right heel on the downswing) a bunch.....

It is also better for your lower back to allow the heel raise (allows your hips to turn more)...
 
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softconsult

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"Guys,
Lifting the left heel isn't the cause of "lifting" in the backswing...That is caused by irregular control of left knee bend (left hip too high at the top) and/or lack of left upper body compression ...it is pure mechanics really...to maintain correct "address" height any extended joint left-side, must be counteracted by compression of an alternate left-side joint....make sense?....
Take MA re the accuracy thing...he was long AND extremely accurate, AND he raised his left heel (and right heel on the downswing) a bunch.....

It is also better for your lower back to allow the heel raise (allows your hips to turn more)...
"

Make sense? Perhaps, but I have to tell you, that paragraph is hopeless relative to successful communication. Whatever happened to sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Additionally, it would be helpful if you, and others, would avoid the use of obscure abbreviations. You may know who MA refers to, but I have no clue.

I'm certain you won't like my criticism, but perhaps you should think about it.
 
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spktho

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Agreed Softconsult. MA=Mike Austin? re=regarding?

And the point made about lifting up in the backswing was missed. It's separate from lifting the heel.
 
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