I’ve been working for the past few weeks on that conundrum (for many) – how do you start a golf swing with the setup being balanced in a certain way, with a back pivot which transitions to a weight shift into the down swing, all with a stable head position?

The answer to that question is that you can have any number of swing models that purport to solve this riddle, but that they do so using unsound mechanical principles that will a) make it very difficult to master such swings and play golf with consistency and/or b) cause injuries to the swinger ranging from joint damage and muscle/ligament strains all to the way to catastrophic spinal injuries.

There is a reason for my hypothesis that the swing model which allows one to swing with full power and speed with the greatest reduction in injury risk is also the best way to swing for the purposes of accuracy and consistency – that is because one is swinging the way the body is designed to move from beginning to end.

You could likely gain more accuracy by plinking the ball with half-swings (Moe Norman), and you could possible gain more power and speed by throwing yourself Willy-Nilly into a swing motion, but neither of these types of swing would be ideal, especially with regards to playing competitive golf.

A proper and mechanically-sound golf swing is that where you reach the intersection of greatest possible speed combined with maximum accuracy and consistency together, and where moving from that center in either direction will reduce the efficacy of said swing motion.

“Ah, yes – the conundrum…”

So, you could possibly gain more speed, but at a double cost – accuracy/consistency and increased injury risk.

The other way, you might increase accuracy and consistency, but at the cost of losing so much distance that you can’t really compete.

With regards to the grip issue and one upon which I’ve been focused for some months now, it is the same as with all other aspects of the setup – if it isn’t optimal, one will never reach one’s potential in swinging a golf club.

So, I haven’t gone away despite the lack of posting in recent weeks – I’ve nothing to say right now about the swing, to be honest, that I haven’t already said, and I’m busy working on my mechanics theory with an eye to having it worked out this month before the outdoor season kicks off.

More to come!