Note: Thanks to long time WAX Nation citizen Chief Cowpie for forwarding me the attached video clip.
This is really getting out of hand – we’ve gone from a time where golf analysts were clueless about mechanics and so tried to explain and excuse swing flaws in a positive manner – i.e. the flying foot became “using the ground” and “vertical lift,” but we’ve reached bottom.
Now, we’ve got Bryson DeChambeau taking a swing flaw – the jumping leading foot to avoid snapping oneself in half due to not releasing the trailing foot – has turned it into swing instruction.
As in, you want to do this, and here’s how to do it:
I’ve got only this reaction to the video:
I don’t even have the words to express my dismay at the direction of golf swing instruction – all other sports are using science to advance, while golf is actively regressing.
I imagine this is how Bryson would teach a back-flip:
Perfect – Stuck The Landing
I’ll just ask you to observe some athletic motions and ask you, which foot is releasing and which one is staying grounded:
Javelin Throw – Which Foot Is Releasing?
Looks like the trailing foot to me, what do you think?
But wait, you’ll say – this is not a swinging action.
So, let’s look at swinging actions.
Hockey Slap Shot – Which Foot Is Releasing?
Looks like the trailing foot again! Something’s not right, if Bryson is correct.
How About The Baseball Swing – Which Foot Is Releasing?
The baseball swing is performed ideally by transferring the weight to the leading foot to leverage the baseball bat. Tell me, how many baseball swingers have you see doing what Bryson is teaching?
O.K., one final look at a swinging action, probably the closest you’ll find to the golf swing, from a different sport.
The Cricket Bat Swing – Which Foot Releases?
That’s the trailing foot, my friends – not only that, this is a classic “step-around finish” similar to what an optimal golf swing action would produce, as demonstrated by the Father of Modern Long Driving, one Mike Dunaway:
In no other sport, my friends, do you see anyone throwing or swinging in a direction and keeping their trailing foot anchored while the leading foot flies around.
No other sport.
Except golf.
Notice how, in every action shown above, the body weight is transferring to the leading foot while the trailing foot releases.
Now ask yourself – is it that every other sport has gotten this basic elemental component of athletic motion wrong, and that golf is alone in its glory?
Or is it that modern golf instruction has jumped the shark and is now heading for laughingstock territory?
I’ll amend my last statement – it’s already there.
WAX Golf 
This is a brilliant post DJ. Beautifully constructed. You’ve shown beyond any reasonable doubt the action of the trail foot. Why don’t they get this!!
Cheers Neil!
“Why don’t they get this?”
My guess would be, a woeful understanding (or a complete lack thereof) of proper athletic motion, which does include weight transfer.
These swingers are trying to make a rotary turn through the down swing, but they’re rotating on the wrong post or leg.
When you think of the money that is spent on equipment, analytical machinery and software, all dedicated to trying to fashion a golf swing model based upon improper mechanics right from the beginning (modern golf concept), it is staggering.
The research and analysis of the cricket bowling action and bat swing put golf to shame.
It’s really just appalling.
Are you familiar with the Golf Training Aid called the Explanar invented many years ago by Luther Blacklock?
I just looked it up, Neil – I remember using something like that if it wasn’t the same thing, back in ‘97 at an indoor practice facility.
I don’t think it’s effective, for several reasons, but that’s just my personal opinion.
The jury is out for me but my swing coach is a fan. What do you see as the shortcomings?
My issue with it is that it is a cookie-cutter method of trying to teach swing path.
The problem is, people are all different sizes, heights and of different strengths and weaknesses.
You can stand there all day and swing the club back and forth, and it will seem fine. But have you built the proper stance, do you have the proper weight balance, the proper grip, the right ball placement?
When you get over the ball, that thing will be of little use because it is no longer there to help you trace the proper swing path.
I would use it, feel confident, then move to a hitting station and proceed to swing exactly the way I had been before.
So, I dropped it after a few tries.
Nothing will help you build all of the above-mentioned components if you don’t learn them through explanation, demonstration and then comprehension of said principles.
Especially the proper address stance!
Even if you have the best health care coverage such as Canda’s universal healthcare, do not attempt the flying lead foot swing. There are no sure fixes for spinal cord injuries even if you have all the money in the world to throw at it.
Excellent public service announcement, Chief.
I am embarrassed to realize at this moment that I did not credit you for the video.
Please forgive me, old friend- I shall update the posting to rectify this oversight! 👊🏼