Left side dominance

Writing the blog is a great way to share information and offer information about the golf swing, but nothing replaces a lesson on site.

For right handed golfers, the golf swing and game is left sided. Allow me to explain why this is true.

Despite many right handed players being right side dominant, which is not always the case of course, the left side is the lead side. If we view our vertical swing as a ferris wheel, then the left shoulder is the center, certainly not the right shoulder! Therefore the left side is the leader, I call it the form. The right side is the follower, which is what makes it the lever and the fuel. If the left side, spoke to the wheel, breaks down, which means it loses full extension, the constant factor spoke becomes a broken spoke, and thus a variable. Golfers do not like variables! We have many variables in golf; the course design, trees, wind, water, hazards, sand, uphill, downhill etc. and additional variables are not welcome. A strong left side lead is imperative and will produce the same shots with regularity.

Unless we, as right handers, strap our right hands to our sides, the right side will be used. It's very difficult to rein in the right side, which is part of the reason for a weak right hand grip. If we can put the left side in position, the right side WILL FIRE! Part of the reason for focusing on the left side, is to feel it coordinate with our core. The left hand and arm segment should work with the horizontal plane, (the core and the turn). When these two coordinate, we have a connected, one piece or coordinated swing!

When we address the ball, our body faces 90 degrees right of our intended target. In order to turn to our target, EVERYTHING we own, including the club we're swinging, moves over 90 degrees from right to left. It's very similar to a right footed soccer player kicking a ball. They always kick the ball with a draw, or right to left spin. We don't tell the kicker to do this, it's physics. Same physics apply to the golf swing.

Tee it up and hit it hard, but with the left side!