Golf-FAQ.com

golf how much to bend over

by Fiona Champlin Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Spine Bend
Most amateurs bend over far too much; my recommendation is to err on the tall side. If a number must be assigned to the amount of forward bend, I'd use 25 degrees from vertical. This will vary between taller and shorter players but, nevertheless, it's a decent average.
Jun 1, 2004

Full Answer

How much should you bend your knees in the golf swing?

Let’s start with knee bend. Finding the proper amount of knee bend is not all that difficult, and for many athletes, is quite natural. In the golf swing, the explicit amount of knee bend is far less than that of other sports. In tennis, or baseball, athletes will bend a great amount at the knees to allow explosive and agile movements.

What is the average bend of a pro golfer?

Another note: Tests show that the average tour pro sets up with a bend of 36° forward from the hips. The typical amateur bends either too far, then lifts up during the swing, or not enough, forcing him to crouch or lean forward to hit the ball.

How should a golfer bend over the golf ball?

So far, it has been established how a golfer should establish proper knee bend, hip bend, and spinal orientation over the ball, as well as the weight distribution that should be felt in this setup.

Should a golfer bend their knees perfectly on this line?

It is not mandatory that a golfer bend their knees perfectly on this line, but large deviations from it will cause havoc in the golf swing, especially when a golfer locks his/her knees. Although one can achieve this lower body position while maintaining a perfectly vertical upper body position, it is far from comfortable.

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How far should I lean over in golf?

1:135:09Golf Swing Forward Bend - The Concept - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe próxima really be slightly different but about 40 degrees. During the backswing.MoreThe próxima really be slightly different but about 40 degrees. During the backswing.

What happens if you bend over too much in golf swing?

When you're bent over too much, you're prone to lift up. Your quadriceps (the muscles on the front and outside portions of your thighs) support your swing. Here's how to strengthen them: Put your back against a wall and slowly lower yourself into a sitting position.

How much should you bend at the hips in golf?

During the backswing, your trail hip should become higher than your lead hip. This should then reverse in the downswing, with your lead hip being higher than your trail hip at impact. Your hips should be around 45 degrees open in the backswing, and 40 degrees open as you strike the ball.

How far should you turn in golf swing?

90 degrees awayIn the backswing, your shoulders ought to turn 90 degrees away from the ball and away from the target.

What happens if golf ball is too far forward in stance?

If it's too far forward, it may be causing you to hit thin or fat shots and miss shots to the left. If it's too far back, you could be hitting tops, chunks, and missing the ball to the right.

Should you stand tall golf swing?

Standing tall makes it easy to turn through the shots and easy to turn in the backswing – it suits a lot of golfers. Jason Day and Rory McIlroy have very athletic postures because they work out a lot and this helps them really stand over the ball, but this type of posture might not be for everyone.

Are you supposed to bend your knees when golfing?

2:424:51How Much Knee Bend Is Needed in Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYes like say pull the old shoulder blades back. But then just feel like your chest is leaningMoreYes like say pull the old shoulder blades back. But then just feel like your chest is leaning forward over their toes he looks very sunken. Down weight kind of almost heeled based balanced on its but

Should you bend from the waist or the hips?

Bend at the hips and knees, not at the waist. Pull in your belly (abdominal) muscles and tighten your thigh muscles. Keep your spine straight. Don't try to tuck your buttocks under.

How upright should my golf stance be?

3:525:40How Your Golf Posture Can Affect Swing Path - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHe's a hip hinge. So we're gonna hit hinge forward from the hips keeping the leg straight.MoreHe's a hip hinge. So we're gonna hit hinge forward from the hips keeping the leg straight.

Can you turn too much in golf swing?

Ideally, you want your hips to be around 45 degrees open in the backswing, and 40 degrees open at impact. Too much hip turn in the takeaway will make it difficult to get your hips open enough when it comes to striking the ball, which can hurt your swing.

What happens if you don't turn your hips in golf?

A failure to rotate your hips properly can result in pushing or pulling the ball and inconsistent strikes on the club. You must continually rotate your hips throughout the entirety of your swing and in order to do this you can't sway them. The more efficiently you rotate your body, the better.

Do you rotate shoulders in golf swing?

3:098:52How to Turn the Shoulders in the Golf Swing (Golf Shoulder Turn)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork along that same angle see that as i'm working through the strike. Notice from down the lineMoreWork along that same angle see that as i'm working through the strike. Notice from down the line there my shoulders are still on that red line so i'm back up my shoulders rotate on that.

Why do you bend forward in golf?

In the golf swing, we need to bend forward at the hips to allow a proper weight distribution over the feet. This will keep us balanced throughout the golf swing.

How to get a lower shot in golf?

Opposite to the high shot, a golfer can produce a lower shot by either putting the ball further back in the stance, or narrowing the stance. Additionally the golfer must slightly open the stance in order to achieve a straight ball flight, as shifting the ball position further away from low point will increase the club path angle, favoring a draw. You must shift the plane direction to the left (aka aim to the left) to “zero out” the club-path angle caused by the change in ball position.

What factors should change dramatically in golf?

The only factors that should change dramatically are weight distribution and ball position, thanks to the uneven ground altering the low point of the golf swing, and providing an unstable base to swing on.

How to fade a golf ball?

To do this, the golfer should place the ball as close to low-point as possible, and with a driver, slightly in front of low point. This is done by either widening the stance, or placing the ball forward without altering the stance. Additionally, the golfer must slightly close the stance in order to achieve a straight ball flight, as shifting the ball position closer to low point will also decrease the club path angle, favoring a fade.

Why do athletes bend their knees?

In tennis, or baseball, athletes will bend a great amount at the knees to allow explosive and agile movements. In golf, we want these same movements, but in lesser degree, mainly because accuracy is paramount to shooting good golf scores. In order to find the proper knee bend, I suggest using a DTL view of your setup.

What effect can you produce in golf?

The first effect that we can produce is a high golf shot. In order to do this, a golfer must find a way to maximize dynamic loft as well as spin. More specifically, the golfer must find a way to maximize loft and spin while maintaining the flat left wrist that I talked about in my post about the Physics of the Golf Swing.

How to counteract slope in golf swing?

Also, you should bend the knees more, make sure your hands are at the end of the grip, and feel the weight on the heels to counteract the slope. During the swing, the tendency will be to “stand up,” but you must resist this and keep the knees flexed throughout the swing.

radiopreacher

I'm ecstatic over my last two driving range sessions as far as performance with longer clubs. But with shorter clubs I find myself having to bend over farther. Do you bend over farther for shorter clubs, or --

radiopreacher

Thanks so much. I'll work a bit more on my stance and swing before deciding to lengthen my clubs (in case its premature). Just 1/4" seems to be such a relief to me on the short irons.

RichieHunt

I used George Gankas' philosophy of the armpits being over the tip of the knees and near the balls of the feet. Obviously, there are different ways to do it, but I generally feel that if the weight in your feet is distributed close to equally throughout each foot...then that is how much forward to bend.

Pepperturbo

How far a person bends forward depends on the torso and arm length. I always have the same posture when addressing the ball. Club length determines my distance from the ball.

mattwood

To keep my setup consistent in terms of how far I bend over and how far I am from the ball, one thing I focus on is the angle between my left wrist and the club at setup. Too bent over the angle is too much and it brings the toe off the ground too much.

How far above the knee should a golf club be?

After that, take your chosen club and begin lowering it onto the front thigh. This club should touch approximately one inch above the kneecap. If this does not happen, you should alter the distance between the golf ball and yourself as necessary.

How does distance affect golf swing?

The distance between the golf ball and yourself will affect your golf posture and your swing as well. If you stand too far away, it will force you more effort to reach out with your club, with your arms straight completely and your elbows locked – this ruins any chances of an easy and nice swing.

What is the key to golf?

Your posture is the major key in golf. The position, which you set up before beginning your swing will have a significant impact on the ball flight that you’re going to generate. A lot of amateur golfers often use a poor posture to address the ball, thus, making it harder to create a high-quality shot. The perfect golf posture is not complex ...

Why is posture important in golf?

The right golf posture is imperative for powerful, accurate, and consistent golf ball striking. In contrast to what most of the non-golfers believe, we’re making an extremely athletic motion. It is necessary to prepare yourself with proper stance and balance just as other athletes. You should feel agile, comfortable and in a perfect balance before starting any golf swing.

How to check your angles?

Looking into a mirror is a good way to check your angles. Take a stick or a golf club, and drop it down from the inside armpit, this club should go through your knees and end at the balls of your feet or in the middle of your feet (relying on the physical features of your body).

What is the most important thing to know before swinging a golf club?

Stance. Before swinging your golf club, putting yourself in a well-balanced position is a crucial factor to achieve the most perfect golf posture in golf. The width of golfer’s posture, as well as golfer’s weight distribution, are of the greatest importance.

How to get good golf posture?

Bending knees. Knee bending is another essential element that help you to achieve the right golf posture. Just remember that, instead of “sit down,” you can bend your knees forward to allow the pressure to distribute equally to your low back, upper thighs and the balls’ feet.

Why do golfers stand tall?

Finally, golfers who stand tall at address often do so in order to protect themselves from fat shots. Adopting such a position puts them as far from the ball as their knee position alone will allow. On the flip side, these golfers are at a heightened risk of thinning shots.

Why is it important to use a position in golf?

The benefit of using such a position is that it is quite stable, enabling you to remain in perfect balance as you perform your golf swing. It is also easy to replicate over and over again, a crucial component in your quest for swing consistency.

Can knee flex cause standing up at impact?

So a golfer with a lot of knee flex can suffer from the standing up at impact swing error.

Do golfers stand up in front of the ball?

Rather than adopting more of an athletic position that a golf swing requires these golfers will seem to almost be standing up in front of the ball. One of the issues that arise with this setup is that it tends to move the weight towards the toes, instead of towards the middle of the feet.

Do golfers bend their knees?

At one end of the spectrum you will find golfers who bend their knees too much. Rather than allowing a small but definitive knee bend, these golfers will drop much lower to the ground than they need to. In doing so, they will bring their knees close to their hands, which they will need to extend out in order for the two to avoid being on ...

How to swing a golf swing?

Step two: Bend forward from the hips, keeping your back straight. No slumping! Step three: Flex your knees a bit, and stick out your rear end for stability. You should almost feel as if you're sitting down. Try to keep your back straight throughout your swing, the way Tiger and Adam Scott do.

How to get stronger swings?

Your quadriceps (the muscles on the front and outside portions of your thighs) support your swing. Here's how to strengthen them: Put your back against a wall and slowly lower yourself into a sitting position. Hold this position for several seconds or until your quads start to burn. Do this exercise a few times a day, and you will build a stronger foundation for your swing.

Where should you bend in golf swing?

While most teaching pros advocate maintaining your spine angle during the swing, others prefer to phrase this as keeping your forward bend at the hips. The difference may seem like mere semantics, but it could help you achieve this critical fundamental. First, note that you should bend at the hips, not the waist.

How far does a tour pro bend?

Another note: Tests show that the average tour pro sets up with a bend of 36° forward from the hips. The typical amateur bends either too far, then lifts up during the swing, or not enough, forcing him to crouch or lean forward to hit the ball. Both actions produce ugly results.

How to tilt a golf ball?

Tilt from the waist. Of course, since this is the overall topic of this article, it only makes sense to get started with this point. When you stand over the ball, you want to make sure that you are tilted from the hips in order to allow your upper body to bend out over the ball. It is important to understand that you want to keep your back straight while taking your stance – the tilt should come out of your hips, while your spine from your waist up to your neck remains as straight as possible. This tilt is crucial to the quality of your swing overall, as it will allow you to turn back and through the shot properly. A player that stands up straight at address is going to have a hard time making solid contact, and that same player will lack for power as well.

Why do tour pros bend their hips?

Bending from the hips promotes a straight spine and easy rotation of the hips and shoulders, while bending from the waist causes the back to arch. This makes it difficult to turn properly and can lead to injuries. Another note: Tests show that the average tour pro sets up with a bend of 36° forward from the hips.

Why is my swing plane steep?

When your upper body becomes too tilted out over the ball, your swing plane will be steep and you will likely stick the club into the ground prior to making contact. It may be that you are setting up with too much tilt, or you may be allowing your upper body to bend out over the ball during the process of the swing.

How to keep hip bend on backswing?

A good way to maintain your hip bend is to visualize your head propped against a wall at address, then keep it touching the wall from takeaway to finish. Maintain Forward Bend Throughout Swing.

How to check hip bend?

To check your hip bend and posture, stand with a full-length mirror to your right (for a right-hander) and set up to a ball. Ideally, the shaft will intersect your body at a 90° angle. Teachers also recommend tilting the spine slightly to your right at address, about 5°.

Why is it so hard to shift weight back and forth in golf?

Having your weight further over the balls of your feet not only inhibits balance during the golf swing but makes it extremely difficult to shift your weight back and forth. Golf weight shift is how you create power and shallow out the swing plane.

What happens when you bend over too much from your waist?

When you hinge and bend over too much from your waist it influences your ability to make a smooth takeaway with the club on plane.

How to correct golf posture?

5 keys to the perfect golf posture 1 Both feet should be pointing on a slight angle outwards at address. 2 Hinge at the hips, lean forward with your arms hanging relaxed so your hands are sitting right beneath your head. 3 Ensure you have a slight flex in your knees just enough to help keep your spine angle in a nice straight line. 4 Tilt your spine about 6 to 8 degrees away from the target doing the drill as described in the video below. 5 Feel the weight in your golf posture at set up over your ankles.

What do you need to do once you have the proper golf posture?

Once you have the proper golf posture you need to work on getting the correct takeaway and backswing.

What is axis tilt in golf?

Axis tilt is when your upper body is leaning slightly away from the target at address and your lead shoulder will be slightly lower than the rear.

Why do golfers struggle with consistency?

Most golfers struggle with consistency in their golf for reasons not what they think. They hit slices, fat and thin shots, and look for answers to their problems in all the wrong places. When you examine their golf swings, it’s not unusual to see them set up in poor posture at address.

Can golfers make mistakes without knowing?

This is a big mistake that many golfers make without realising it, which can result in long-term injuries to your back.

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