Leg and Footwork; #1 Most Popular Golf Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[apopilot77]

Foot work changed my game. Playing for three years now. I was the slice king of my home club. As soon as I figured out the right foot should be planted throughout the swing. At impact it naturally lifts up due to momentum. Slice cured. 300 yards tight fade drives now with consistent iron shots. Keep that right foot down!

[eddiebutt1]

Great stuff kid you did it again best vid on footwork on the net, this has really helped me, I was always worried about the upper body swing plane etc. but when I focus on this everything else falls into place thank again if it were not for you I would be a 14 hanicap.

[Drsnaphook1]

In the downswing when the knees are rolling back towards the target and left hip pulls back I have a question. Is this a reaction to the arms in the downswing? Or of the plant and left hip pulling?

[Nuclearfueled1]

Love all of your lessons Shawn, great work. I wish I could manage the weight shift back to the front though after having great success with the one-foot drill. I can finally hit my Driver, but only with one foot!

[clemshaw]

@Nuclearfueled1 This is the beginning; I would highly recommend you get my DVD series as it will show you in priority how to get from feet together, to feet apart WITH THE CORRECT DOWNSWING WEIGHT SHIFT to the seamlessness of the "golf pro lesson ridiculously easy" video; there are certain things your central nervous system does not understand and your conscious mind is in the way of this process; when it gets it, it will get out of the way and learning can happen...Shawn

[cmterpsnskins]

On the downswing, should your left knee straighten instead of staying flexed?

[clemshaw]

@cmterpsnskins To see the purpose of the straightening of the left leg through impact, please see "golf pro lesson get more power and club speed", "golf pro lesson feet together and one leg update" and "golf pro lesson horse shoes and lassos"! You will understand completely after that! Jack, Sam, Ben, Moe, Kenny Perry and sooo many others do this; Shawn

[pawndominance1]

so in your swing model, there isnt a "rubberband" effect? (not saying that its wrong, just want to make sure i understand correctly)

[clemshaw]

@pawndominance1 Exactly; see my latest video called "golf pro lesson horse shoes and lassos" and you will see where you get even more juice; I am able to crank out some 7 irons over 200 yards when needed with this now; Shawn

[Baliol]

I understand that it may be advantageous to have feet in line with the target line for the middle clubs, a more closed stance (rear foot back) for longer clubs, and a more open stance (rear foot forward) for shorter clubs. I think that this was the practice of Hogan. Why would there be changes in stance for the different lengths of clubs. Do you advocate these changes for different clubs? Why or why not?

[clemshaw]

To answer this in 500 characters or less is very difficult; but the answer is about length of club and how it affects the center of gravity of the human body in DYNAMIC MOTION; when wedge is in play, the motion is much more up and down and much closer to the body and requires the left side to clear better to get out of the way of the swinging arms; more open is easier; with Driver for a shorter person with long arms (Hogan) there is more outward pull and the left leg braces better closed stance.

[Baliol]

Good answer...I think I get it...clearance of the swing path for the arms is the issue...as I work with dymamic motion my stance for different clubs will evolve as a function of my own height and arm length...this is very good insight...thanks!

[AlexC01293]

Hi Shawn!

When u start the downswing by using the right inner foot, what do u focus on your left foot? Do u put weight on the inner or outer of the left foot while the downswing?

[clemshaw]

Hey Alex!

Weight pressure should always stay inside the ankles; but as far as what to think of, you cannot be thinking body parts during a swing; see "golf pro lesson how to repeat your practice swing" for this as well as "golf pro lesson perpetual motion drill" Shawn

[finncox23]

In this video, you mention that the feet don't roll to the outside well. In my finish, I tend to end up with most of the weight stacked over my left heel (right-handed golfer) with the foot rolled out pretty significantly.

I noticed that you don't roll your foot out that much, and end up stacked more over the ankle joint. Lately my knee has felt a little tight, and something is definitely off. I think I need to alter this before I injure myself.

Any tips on how to avoid rolling so much??

[clemshaw]

Best is to work on the 2 best drills in golf: "golf pro lesson feet together drill" and "golf pro lesson one leg swing no weightshift"; you take the sway out going back and increase your rotational momentum coming through; the key here is the counter weighting in the follow through; when doing the drills, focus on keeping the left arch in contact with the ground to the finish; your butt will have to turn out of the way properly for this to happen; Thanks for the question! Shawn

[finncox23]

Thanks shawn! I also realized that, when casually doing drills like the "perpetual motion," I'm not always "throwing my posterior out" to counterbalance everything. Without the correct posture and throwing the posterior back, I "turn more into the knee," placing more pressure on it.

When I get in the correct posture, I find that there is much less pressure on the knee. I guess it's good to be conscious of this even when doing casual drills. Can't wait for the DVD I just ordered!!

[richypitchy64]

Hi Shawn, I love all your video's here and thank you for making so much great info available for free. I am looking forward to being able to purchase you dvd's in the near future. I have a question about this particular one regarding the right foot when the hips are clearing and through impact. On the backswing I find that my left heal needs to raise to comlete the hip turn and then on the down swing i feel that my right heal is raising as i clear my left hip and come into impact. is this ok?

[clemshaw]

Depends how high it is raised; this would be a tell tale sign that you are loosing the angle of the pelvic tilt; have a look at the "golf pro lesson feet together drill" and the "Golf pro lesson leverage uphill" and "golf pro lesson uphill downhill and sidehill" videos;

Shawn

[doug18able]

Shawn

When you come back with your take away do you keep the right knee bent or do you straighten it out on your way back.

[clemshaw]

The right knee has to straighten out SLIGHTLY going back to allow for a complete hip turn; see "golf pro lesson Head Bobbing" video for more on this;

Thanks, Shawn

[faust142000]

Hey Shawn I feel myself pushing off of the inside of my right foot to start the down swing I guess it helps me to get my hips to clear and to shift my weight to the left side. Is this a bad habit to start doing? My shot isn't suffering from it. Thanks for all the video's

[pointspreadpros]

Shawn,

I tried focusing in on the left foot rolling inward to start the backswing, and I was AMAZED at the chain reaction to this little move!.... I do it in conjunction with the right hip moving back to the target and I found that it really helps to get me back into the braced/tilt completed backswing.

I am hitting the ball so pure, and it is all thanks to your great efforts. Thanks so much.

[clemshaw]

Super! You are on the right track! Shawn

[Michael10659]

Hey Shawn, thanks always for your great teaching and communication abilities and sharing them with us. Question: In the downswing and at impact, how should the left foot be planted? Should we still feel as though we are on the inside? Do we end up with our center stacked on the left leg and left outer portion of the foot? Can't wait for your new DVD....

Thank you for all you do!

Michael

[golfgods]

Hi Shawn, was 34F and sunny here in northern Iowa last week, so I hit balls of course! Started with a LW, ARMS FALLING, YES! "fall, fall,.." Moved to a 6 iron hit a few and I realized I wasn't rolling my left foot properly, once addressed, it was a night and day difference. This really seems to make everything else in the swing happen effortlessly. It seems to guide my hip turn perfectly and starts the club on the proper path. This is a great piece of info! Thank you!

[scotttynes]

Shawn, in your backswing it looks like your right leg is straightening is it? I have been told to not let it. Can't seem to get full turn if I try to keep it bent. You look so awesome hitting that ball. what keeps you from playing in some pro tournaments or do you?

[clemshaw]

Used to play but was very lonely; I am a people person! :) Love the family life and teaching is my passion; playing too of course; see "golf pro lesson head bobbing" for the answer to this question and you are right by saying that you will not be able to finish the backswing by keeping the right knee flexed; but you should not hyperextend it either! Thank you for the nice comment! Shawn

[jdotson]

Hey Shawn. When I try keeping my right foot down it feels like I dont get as much whip and I feel more restricted during impact? Its possible I'm not just used to this drill right now. So it feels weird like anything you try and change. :) I will keep working on it.

[clemshaw]

Keeping the right heel on the ground through impact should not only get you more juice when you do it right, it will help clear your left side properly; see "golf pro lesson Leverage Power" for more details! Shawn

[wang1433]

Hi Shawn,

I just got to post another comment. I check my practice swing on camcorder and was amazed how much better it looked. As long as I keep my hands in front of my chest my hip will automatically toss them on to the right plane! As for the feel, I felt like I was sitting on a tall swivel chair through out the swing!

[clemshaw]

Very Good Wang! That is the feel!

Shawn

[wang1433]

Hi Shawn,

I tend to rotate on the heel of my lead foot on the follow through, and the toes of that foot would come off the ground a little bit. Also, the sole of my other foot would not face directly behind me on the finish, looking rather like I haven't finished my follow through yet. Can you tell me what might have happened?

By the way, Moe Norman kept both of his feet on the ground longer than anyone else I've seen; they are still planted way after impact.

[clemshaw]

Hey Wang! Thanks for the question and comment!

You simply have a balance issue that does not allow you to get to a full finish; have a look at my "Golf Pro Lesson finish position" and see if you can figure it out; also have a look at my "Golf Pro Lesson don't keep your head down" part 1 and 2 which has great insight on staying more over the ball back and through for better balance...Shawn

[wang1433]

Thanks Shawn! Got it right in just an hour!

[golfgods]

Hi Shawn, I've just watched a bunch of pros on swing vision and was amazed at how many of them have their right heel off the ground before impact. I used to do the same until you taught me the correct way! Keep up the good work.

[clemshaw]

Yes! A couple of good guys to watch out there on tour who have stood the test of time are Kenny Perry and Scott Verplank; they keep that back foot down until the very end of the swing when the head comes up for the finish...Thanks for the comment! Shawn

[golfgods]

Peter Kostis seems to think keeping the right foot down robs you of power, but I believe Kenny Perry's driving average was 290+, that's above tour average! I also notice Kenny gets into a very "clemshaw" position to start his downswing. Nice :)

[clemshaw]

Peter Kostis still needs to do some homework...:)

A great shot to practice is the fairway bunker shot; have a look at my "Golf Pro Lesson Fairway bunkers" video and see what I do to set my feet to allow this flat footed whip to happen automatically; I have had many career shots this way and very long!!! (5 iron 220 from this kind of lie) The right side staying down acts as an anchor to deploy the arms fully and clear the left side properly; and power is always from the ground up with everything!

[stahlbucks]

Hey Shawn, big fan. I was wondering; at the apex of the backswing dose the shoulder of the forward arm(for me the left) point at the ball. Or just forward of the ball?

[clemshaw]

Hey Man; thanks for the comment and question;

You will see that it is more the rib cage clearing out of the way so that the arms don't crash into it; shoulders only have 20 to 30 degrees of mobility before they crash the arms completely into the rib cage; have a look at the "Learn your golf machine" and "Be a solid ballstriker" videos and you will see what I mean; it should feel like you have enough backswing to whip the club effortlessly through to the target; positions are trivial...

[andypatnou]

Zach Johnson is a good swing model for this type of lesson

[honketyhank]

"Discombobulated"? Wow. My mother used to say that, but I haven't heard it in a long time. (At about the 1:20 mark in the video.)

For those trying to find it in a pocket-sized Berlitz: discombobulated = a feeling that all the parts are a bit scrambled or mixed up or improperly connected, especially in reference to one's own body.

Happy New Year to all. My wish is that we will all continue to improve our golf swings this year as much as we improved last year with Shawn's help.

[clemshaw]

Thanks Hank! You Too!

Shawn

[mixing2456]

Shawn,

In my downswing, my quick hip rotation causes 1) my right heel to be about 3" off the ground by impact, and 2) my left foot to point 10-20 deg closer to the target during my follow-through.

To stabilize the lower body, at some point in the downswing, do the hips stop rotating to allow the upper body to catch up, or does the upper body rotate faster earlier at the start of the downswing? Thanks for any insights here.

Great videos! Thank you for taking the time to put them together.

[clemshaw]

Hey Mixing! Great question and sorry to answer late; was on Holiday...:)

The drill you want to see is the "perpetual motion drill", "the feet together drill" the "Leverage power" (Uphill Shot Drill) and the "On the slopes" video with the "Fairway Bunkers" video (You will get it when you see it)

DO NOT TRY TO MANUALLY FIX THIS SITUATION; THE HIPS REACT TO THE MOMENTUM IN THE SWING!!

OTHER VIDEOS ARE: "Arms Falling Down Plane"; "Catapult Power", "momentum Toss" part 1 and 2...

[ironval]

Shawn,

When I started golf, I had a tendency to roll my left foot during the back swing. My pro told me not to let it rool and to ensure it was contacted solidly to the ground all along my swing.

However, first you do roll your left foot, and as far as motion is concerned, at the beginning of the downswing I can't see how you could plant your left foot if it is already solidly attached to the ground !

What is your opinion on rolling/or not the left foot?

Thanks a lot for your vids !

Val

[clemshaw]

Hi Val; Good question!

It is not just about the foot being attached, it is about how you apply pressure to it BEFORE the arms come down to prepare for the big centrifugal pull of the arms; the returning squat into the left side also maintains room for the arms to swing in front of the body and through the ball; have a look at my "How to clear the hips", "arms falling down plane", "Hammer Throw", and the "tilted Spiral" part 1,2 and 3; and also the "No Bones About it" videos; Shawn

[jetteelliot]

Hi Shawn,

I have been working on rolling the left foot in in the backswing.However, when I do I seem unable to stop my back from leaning left ( towards the target ) Any help with that.

Thank you in advance

[clemshaw]

Hello Jette and Elliot! Great Question!

The key here is to master the feet together drill which will show your body how to swivel the pelvis over the hips properly; you can also see the hands on hips drill from the "Weight shift" video which is very hard not to make the correct move with. Feel that swivel and then make sure you integrate that move in your swing using the "perpetual motion drill" and the "Momentum Toss" videos...Make sense? Shawn

[itubeutude]

Do all good pro players roll the left foot in?. I always viewed jack's swing as someone who accentuated this move.

[clemshaw]

Good question; many do including the best such as Moe Norman, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, and many others who do resist a bit still have foot roll although it is less evident; and the ones who don't should!:) It is very much a natural way to swing when the legs are not resisting the movement of the hips under the pelvis; Shawn

[itubeutude]

So to keep the left foot completely flat is wrong?

[clemshaw]

Well if the foot stays flat it means the left knee is not rotating to the inside which means that the hips are not turning very much which means that the pelvis and rib cage are not getting out of the way which means the arms are not getting the range of motion required to whip he snot out of the club effortlessly or the arms are collapsing somewhere or the grip is coming apart...whew!

Shawn

[golfrules08]

in your back swing shouldn't your right leg keep bent and not let it straighten thats what a pro told me to do when i got private lesson

[clemshaw]

Hey Bud!

There is a natural extending of the right knee in the backswing but it should definitely not extend fully, there should be enough there to secure the right foot to the ground and maintain the pressure against the left side with leverage. If the right leg does not change in flex, it will reduce the range of motion of the hips and this will in turn reduce the amount that the body can get out of the way of the arms and you will have a collapse somewhere...watch "Leverage Power" for more.

[jetteelliot]

Thank you for your wonderful lessons. They have been invaluable to me. I wish I was living in Toronto to I could take some lessons.

Thank you again, Jette from Vancouver

[mondeoclub]

long time no see.

always looking for your good lesson.

[clemshaw]

Yes I know;

I will have more soon as the winter sessions are now getting under way and the work of the in between season is almost done!

Thanks, Shawn

[jcastllo]

Great analysis ! thanks.