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This was an interesting lesson because I used two different swing aids to help a struggling student, and as you watch you will gain some insight as to the way in which I prioritize problems and come up with ways to help, as well as learning how to properly use swing aids so that they don’t end up making you worse instead of better.
As you watch Brian’s first swings you will more than likely see exactly what I saw: lack of stability in the lower body and lack of structure in the arms. All of these problems are a direct result of the student’s desire for a “full” swing and a “big” turn, while unfortunately possessing a body that will not allow for either of those without completely compromising his technique. I have to show Brian how to produce power with a shorter swing, as this is his only option. Sliding the hips to the right going back while rolling the right foot to the outside, lifting the head, and collapsing the arms at the top are all “gives”, what I call the mistakes that are made when the body searches for an easier way to reach a point where the shaft is parallel to the ground at the top. Of course, history shows us that a “full” backswing is not at all necessary for powerful hits or precise play.
In order to get Brian to feel what I wanted him to feel (I usually resort to wrestling around with him) I used the Pivot Pro device to help him maintain his right leg integrity, and a Swing Extender, another, even simpler device that, when attached to the right arm above the elbow, prohibits the arm from bending more than 90 degrees. I explain to Brian that when using a swing aid, you need to get the feel of what it is helping you do, and then, instead of continuing to use it as a crutch, get rid of it and recreate the feeling yourself. With the Swing Extender I told him to try to not even touch it, instead of banging into it and letting it stop the collapse of the arm. This is a hugely important point: the idea is to not need the swing aid. So, if it is present, you are trying not to feel it help you. As you can see, when Brian swings without the boot on, he does a much better job of supporting himself on the inside of the foot so that eventually he will be able to push off and move his hips forward out of the box and get his weight left enough to forward lean the shaft on his iron shots.