A Powerful Golf Swing That Benefits A Powerful Baseball Swing
A powerful golf swing and a powerful baseball swing, in a technically perfect world should be almost the same, the only significant difference is that they are made on a different plane.
Being a golf “scientist” who studies rotary motion in humans, I often see abuses of power application in both sports. In an effort to make a powerful golf swing, as well as a baseball swing, here’s the common problem; players in both sports tend to combine power sources. They typically get part of the power from the lower body, and part from the upper body. Tightening the shoulders and arms during delivery, in golf or baseball, sends energy back into the body. Energy that is turned back into the body, especially in golf, can be devastating. Our American team witnessed the consequences firsthand in the latest Ryder Cup, when they had trouble finding the fairways.
PGA Tour Playing Strategy
The playing strategy on todays PGA Tour, where the rough is cut short, is different than in the past. When I played more than forty years ago, the primary rough was at least four inches deep. Nowadays, it is cut closer to two inches. The prevailing mentality today is to get the ball as far off the tee as you can, control be hanged! Modern players can usually hit an eight iron from the rough, closer than a five iron from the fairway. This certainly was not the case in France.
Monday morning quarterbacking or passing judgment after the event is rude and unfair, especially if it’s being critical of a quality guy like Jim Furyk, 2018’s Ryder Cup Captain. However, knowing the length of the rough in advance might have prompted a different strategy. The Captain’s picks for the four non-exempt players might have been the straightest drivers of the golf ball. It might not have made a difference, but it could be food for thought four years from now.
Rotary Swing Power
Combining power sources is not the proper way to develop a powerful golf swing, nor baseball swing. Long drive competitors do this, and you can see the difficulty they have finding the “grid.” Long drive is a totally different sport than playing golf. The only similarity is that it is done with a golf club and golf ball. The lack of accuracy that comes from flexing the arms and shoulders, is not worth the loss of control. The proper way to develop a powerful golf swing, as well as accurate, is through partnering with gravity. In our golf schools, we show how to get power from body mass in rotation, not from muscle. It is as easy as Freddie Couples makes it look, and simply a matter of knowing how. It is also far easier on the body, and will maintain adequate distance for a lifetime.
Baseball hitters that flex their muscles during the delivery, can create a couple of unwanted issues. Tightening the arms during the forward swing can freeze the bat on a level. Having the arms soft, allows them to be moved up or down and adjust to the pitch. Tightening the arms also diminishes core mass release through impact. This reduces the number of active foot pounds of energy that go against the baseball (same in golf). If you wish to see body mass in a pure state of release, look at old films of Babe Ruth. You can actually see his counter-fall prior to delivery and how easily he turned through impact.
Applying Gravity
The correct principles for partnering with gravity should be taught in all baseball camps as well as golf schools. Although there are many techniques for hitting either ball, the laws of motion are absolute. Believe me, there is an ideal way for developing a powerful golf swing and the same goes for baseball.
Oddly enough, they are exactly the same in both sports. You may not be aware of the importance of your physics and physiological principles, but they are critical. If you wish to be the best that you can be, trust me, learn correctly. It’s true that “perfect practice makes perfect,” but how does one know that they are practicing perfectly? The good news is that you don’t have to – we’ve done it for you! Simply study the concepts and fundamentals of Gravity Golf.
Daniel and I have compiled almost seventy years of combined research, fifty for me and twenty for him. During that time, we’ve developed a very in depth understanding of how power should be properly applied. Humans evolved or were created as top-heavy animals so that they could take advantage of gravity to move. Once you understand how to properly utilize gravity in your golf and baseball swings, life will change for the better.
We love sharing our research with you – it is amazing stuff! Study the new Gravity Golf Challenge curriculum and learn how to practice perfectly. Physics and physiology are not dirty words, but a little understanding of them goes a long way! Enjoy!
Written by: David Lee
Also Read: How To Hit A Draw And Master It On The Golf Course
