Hello,

My right leg is locking out fairly early in the backswing and I was wondering whether anyone has any drills or tips to help encourage keeping it bent?

There doesn't seem to be much on google, I found one about keeping a basketball between your knees (but I don't have a basketball) and another one about keeping your arse against a chair, but that one's not really practical on the range.

So has anyone got/fixed this problem and have any tips to share?

Dave

Full meniscectomy and cruciate surgery fixed it for me.  Probably a bit extreme though...

Try putting a golf ball under you right heel. My cause other issues but will defo keep your right knee (back knee) bent

Sounds nasty Tim, well if these drills don't work it will be my only option...

Thanks Phil, I'll try that. Only problem I see introducing is maybe keeping the weight on the left side. I think all drills introduce some kind of other fault don't they? the trick is to get the right "feeling" from the drill and then try to apply that to the full swing as quickly as possible.

They have those clicker wedges that are supposed to promote weight transfer. I wonder if a wedge of wood to put the weight on the inside arch might help the knee bend.

Hi David,

Without seeing your swing it is impossible to say what will keep your right knee bent. Is that really what is needed to help you play better? If it is there are many ways to fix this, but which way is right for you?

You mentioned that you right leg is locking early in the backswing, this would usually be related to the hip movement. Learning to improve this may stop the locking, but would it fix your shot pattern? Remember, the ball doesn't care what your knee is doing!

Good luck!

David McCallum

DMcC,

I wasn't going to post on this thread but feel that your comment that the ball does not care what the knees are doing requires challenging.

I will comment on each knee in turn, beginning with the right knee:

When driving the right knee should be bent slightly inwards with any weight in the right foot being felt on the inside of the foot.  This scenario potentially creates two healthy processes: (a)  It does not prevent 'hip slide' but is a great encouragement not to do so. (b)  For some players the inside of the right foot is a very effective mechanism off which to fire a fast right hip action as one surges into the ball. With other players it makes them too fast, and their arms just can't handle (i.e. keep up with) that amount of hip speed. The bent right knee has other functions but this is a forum post not a lecture.

In my opinion the left knee (for a right handed player of course) has an even more vital role when driving, and if it does not work properly then expect to lose a lot of yardage:

It locks the leg straight and as rigid as possible at impact. That creates 'kinetic compression' between a fast moving right side of the body, and a 'stone wall' left side. Arguably the basis for some sort of golf definition concerning arguably a massive source of power.

For both me, Johan Tumba, and some other longdrive competitors, when we are hitting well we bounce backwards after impact off a severely braced left leg as we throw everything at it.  All of which is only facilitated by the left knee fully locking out at impact.  

I believe that the ball cares just about every part of our body, even our hair. That's why I keep mine short as overheating is potentially fatal.  http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.gi
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SLD

SLD,

I only mean that the ball is only influenced by what the club is doing (ie face angle, path and angle of attack).

Your point is valid in that the knees help the body motion to provide power, but without seeing David's swing, I don't know if that is what he needs (which was really my only point!).

Just a quick example, let's say David is hitting a slice and he changes his knee action to something more orthodox, would this help square the club face through impact? Possibly.

It would just be better to see the swing before judging what would improve it is all I am trying to say.

David McCallum

David,

Fair comment. You have though brought out a major difference between how I teach a driver swing and how many other coach's teach.

My system has not had a label put to it, and perhaps few of us embrace the concept, but its foundation is composit movement. Although it may from time to time be necessary to explain micro concepts the larger picture is never lost sight of. Perhaps better expressed: If you change one aspect of a swing it very often changes other aspects, and it is arguably best to always keep sight of the wider picture and holistically improve a swing rather than simply patch a tear. 

Usually no singular swing adjustment by itself produces optimal results. Everything has to be seamlessly sewn together with an acceptance that everything is related and everything matters.  

SLD

SLD,

Maybe we should get back on topic and try to help David with his swing. We could discuss swing theories on our own thread if needed.

David, maybe you could post some video of your swing then it would be possible to give a more informed opinion? I would be more than happy to take a look...

David McCallum

David,

OK if you are intent on getting ratty:

You made a comment which was patently incorrect. If I had not corrected it then very likely another Golfshaker would.

At no time have I got into swing theories. I simply corrected a blazing error and then went on to put swing corrections within a wider context.

I  very recently helped a golf player who was a victim of  spina bifida. If I was previously not aware of the vast importance of the role of knees I very certainly am now!

There are many views to be potentially argued, and likewise theories, but one would have to have totally lost the plot to fail to draw a causual relationship between knee action and ball action.  Such is neither a view nor a theory, but rather a fact.

Whatever you meant to say your words said something else. If one posts advice it needs to be both explicit and correct. 

Didn't mean to start a fight here guys! Haha

I just wanted an idea to get the right feeling in my back leg, short of doing endless practice swings emphasising bent knees. That might be the best idea anyway.

I think it's generally accepted that the back knee should remain athletic at the top of the backswing. it was my local teaching pro who filmed and analysed my video (so I don't have it). Keeping my knee bent was part of his advice. I know it will straighten some, but it shouldn't lock, like mine, and certainly not so early (before 9 o'clcok). I'd like to concentrate on attaining that more althletic position at the top of the backswing - I'm sure that won't fix all the problems but at least I'll have a more stable base to start from and then the pro can assist from there. I have started weekly lessons in a group of 12, I wanted to work this out myself and come back next week in a better place for him to advise.

Thanks for all your help so far and I'll end this thread if no-one has anything else to add.

Cheers

Dave

There is obviously a breakdown between your brain and your leg, Dave. It must be the simplest thing in the world to bend ones knee. There will certainly be no drills for it.

Since most members are probably reluctant to give advice for fear of being aggressively corrected, I'll give you what bit I can, which may help.

I've tried to make my right knee lock on the backswing and here's how I did it. I kept my weight mostly on my left side and my hips straight.

So how to undo it: - During set up, bend knees slightly and feel as if you are sticking your arse out a bit. then during take away, transfer your weight about 70 percent onto your right side. And with your head still, rotate around your spine.

Good Luck.

DT,

The answer to your question is to take a 16" piece of half inch (or a little thicker)  timber and place it under the right side only of your right foot. That will provide the necessary feeling and eventually you can remove it and everything will be automatic.

Apologies for upsetting folk. That was never my intention. Knees are important for balance, stability, swing positioning, potential energy kick off, and (changing the subject slightly) one's left knee provides the brace into which the right side hits. Without it a massive left side power leak ensues and ball flight and distance is massively influenced. All basic stuff. Sorry to ram it home but it's absolutely vital basics. 

Hi David

Without seeing your swing the cause of your problem could be a number of reasons so it is impossible to give you a fix that will definitely work that will not have a negative impact on some other part of your swing or inhibit the development of your stance & swing.

Sanders has given you a good tip of raising your right heel, i would recommend you try this simple option, this will promote your weight on the ball of your right foot and keep you more upright and over the ball,  but i would say also you should focus on your set-up and stance.  You need to keep both knees flexed so you rotate your hips.  Remember to try to keep your shoulders level when you rotate your shoulders and not just swing your arms.

I know you claim your right (back knee) knee will straigten some, i ask you what do you call 'SOME' and if this is happening to your right knee then what is happening to your left knee.  AND HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU ROTATE YOUR HIPS AND SHOULDERS.  How does it feel when you rotate / turn / coil your body on the back swing, or do you slide / sway or tilt.

I am of the opinion (and this works for me) that when you have taken your stance and you start to take your club back and through to the top of your backswing, the flexion in your left and right knee should have remained very similar (this does not mean the left and right have to be identical).  If this is not the case you need to address the problem, weak or gammy knees, hip problem, insufficient knee flex to start with. Poor swing.

I would recommend that you also focus on how much left knee movement you presently have and which way it moves, too much movement can be a problem to the right knee, your knees have to work together.  Try keeping your left knee flexed but firmer and see how your right knee responds.

Your stance may be too wide or open, you may play better with a squarer or more closed stance.

Your stance has to fit you as the individual, so you build your golf swing etc around your own body mechanics.

On a flat surface find the bottom of your swing for each type of club, from there you should find your most suitable ball position for your body mechanics.  I would recommend you make a written record of your findings and thoughts as it will be easier to put your findings into practice.

David T , I wouldn't worry to much about it , I've always swung like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz9dilCAzB0  ; down to 7hcp , every body that has looked at me has tried to stop my right leg straightening. I always let the ball flight decide wether i'm swinging right or wrong. Ive always maintained its how you come into impact area most important.Good luck. 

Thanks for all the replies.

DL: Nice, what camera did you shoot that with?

Prob a casio exilim fh20. That's prob 400 frames per second. They go up to 1000fps but quality drops

sarahs correct, it was filmed @300fps

sarahs correct, it was filmed @300fps