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The 12 basic swing faults can all be traced back to physical limitations.

  

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8. SLide

  

31.4% of players Slide
A Slide is any excessive lower body lateral movement toward the target during the downswing. This swing characteristic makes it very difficult to stabilise your lower body during the downswing which will eventually rob power and speed from the upper body through impact. The upper body needs a stable lower body to insure acceleration during the downswing. Once the lower body starts its forward shift into the downswing, its job is to transfer energy to the upper body and provide a stable base for the extreme rotary forces created by the torso, arms, and club. If there is no stable platform, players will lose power and try to develop speed in an inefficient sequence.

Several physical characteristics must be developed in order to not Slide during the downswing.


   1. S-posture
   2. C-posture
   3. Loss of Posture
   4. Flat Shoulder Plane
   5. Early Extension
   6. Over-the-top
   7. Sway
   9. Reverse Spine Angle
   10. Hanging Back
   11. Casting/Early Release
   12. Chicken Winging
  • Foremost, lead hip internal rotation is paramount for full rotation into the lead hip without any lateral sway. If the body is unable to rotate around the lead hip due to joint or muscular restrictions, then lateral movements will dominate the pattern. The Lower Quarter Rotation Test is used to evaluate lead hip internal rotation.
  • The ability to separate the upper body from the lower body allows the lower body to laterally stabilise while rotation the shoulders through a full finish. Limited thorax-to-pelvis separation is usually caused by reduced spinal mobility and shortened lat flexibility. The Torso Rotation Test, Pelvic Rotation Test, Seated Trunk Rotation and Lat Test are best used to evaluate separation.
  • Finally, the ability to laterally stabilise the right leg during the backswing is directly proportional to the strength and stability of the gluteal musculature (your butt). The Glute Maximus is the main stabiliser of the pelvis, but don't forget the Glute Medius which is king when it comes to lower body lateral stabilisation. The Glute medius helps prevent the right hip from elevating and shifting laterally during an aggressive coil or load into the right hip. The Glute medius and Maximus are best evaluated using the Bridge w/ Leg Extension Test, Lower Quater Rotation Test (the glute medius is an internal rotator of the hip) and the Single Leg Balance Test.