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The other day at the driving range, I had one mission in mind: bomb it with my driver.
After getting myself a new big stick late last year, it’s been a struggle figuring out how to use it. It was a major upgrade over my previous one, but I’m not seeing the benefits yet, still averaging about 260 off the tee. This can be a common issue for a lot of amateur golfers, who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on better equipment, but still don’t see immediate improvements in their game.
Cleveland Launcher XL Driver
But one of the benefits of my job is having access to the top teachers in golf. So I recorded some videos and posted them to my Instagram account, which gave me an answer as to why I’m not getting the most from my new driver — because my golf swing sequence is out of whack.
Lucky for me, I was able to tap into the mind of GOLF Teacher to Watch Lucas Wald, who not only gave me a side-by-side analysis of my swing sequence compared to Dustin Johnson‘s, but also provided easy-to-understand tips on fixing my swing sequence.
Analyzing my golf swing sequence
In the assessment video, Wald focuses a lot of attention on my trunk, highlighting the importance of having a proper trunk balance.
From the start of my swing sequence, I go down toward the ball, which is affecting the top of both my backswing and downswing elements. Without first developing a proper backswing, I can’t have a great transition through the rest of my swing.
This is why triggering the correct sequence is important right from the start.
Wald told me, “if you don’t make the proper backswing, it’s going to lead to a faulty transition. You’re pulling away from the ball coming down. Sure, you make it work, but you’re not doing it in an efficient way. This will lead to a loss of speed, power and rotation.”
In the video, you can see how DJ has an initial upwards movement. Wald said this is necessary to make a proper hip turn.
“This allows you to move back closer to the ball and transition. If you don’t have that first trigger move, you’re going to crowd the ball and not have enough space to rotate.”
How to improve your golf swing sequence
Wald told me there are a number of ways to improve your swing sequence, but one of his favorite is using the right mental representations. This will help sequence it properly, which is something the great Ben Hogan used to do.
“Having it in your mind is important to see success. This is how Ben Hogan practiced. He meticulously worked from start to finish in the concentration drill — going super slow from start to finish. By practicing correctly, you will become deliberate in your reps.”
Wald’s goal for me is to reach a consistent 165-170 ball speed by the end of summer. While daunting at first, he reminded me that all elements of the swing sequence matter, as they reinforce one another for improved shots and better play.
“The engine of the golf swing is in the middle. How you move your core, pelvis, hips, spine, and legs ultimately determine how good your swing is. These are the key traits of the dominant golf swings in this game. You may see the greats get into different positions with their arms and club, but they all move their middle the same.”