It’s an interesting subject timing.

Up until a few years ago, I always looked at timing as – when to release the clubhead, or timing my move from one foot to the other. But timing is also about how to sync your body up with your arms.

Knee flex & regaining flexion

Understanding the constant change in knee flex during the swing is crucial, as this dictates the pelvis moving on a titled angle. Which in-turn dictates if the spine can function in a 3-dimensional manner.

The trail knee should extend (straighten) during the backswing and the lead knee should flex more. This allows the pelvis to tilt, turn and extend going back. Which in-turn allows the thorax to tilt, turn and extend going back.

During the transition into the downswing, the trail knee starts to flex again as the lower body starts to use the ground as a spring board. This moves the pelvis level again and the spine back into its original flex. By this time the arms and club have come back down and the shaft is parallel with the ground – p6.

Also during this time there is a delay is rotating the pelvis as this will send it into early extension, which causes the spine to lose its inclination to the ground. Here, the head will start to move prematurely upwards and backwards.

The movement of the hips should be more lateral rather than rotational from P4-P6.

To learn more about P1-P10 (Positions 1-10) CLICK HERE

tiger squatThis is otherwise known as ‘squatting’ or ‘sitting’ during the downswing, and all the best players throughout history have demonstrated it.

To stop the club from hitting the ground too early, there has to be extension with the body. This combined with the hips moving laterally also produces a side tilt with the spine by the time the club reaches impact.

To extend the spine in the latter part of the downswing – the knees will start to straighten which raises the belt line (or tucks the hips). This also raises the handle of the club and also keeps the arms straight.

The Magic Move – Regaining Flexion on the downswing

The change of knee flex between P4 and P6, and the external rotation of the trail arm allows the arms to start to move back down in front of the body and keeps the clubhead behind the hands. This flexing of the trial knee starts to once again flex the pelvis and also flexes the spine.

As the arms and club move back down to P6 (shaft parallel to the ground) the thoracic spine comes out of extension and back once again into flexion. This position of the body looks very similar to the setup position (P1) with both knees flexed and the spine in flexion.

It’s from this position that the thrust (extension) of the hips takes place.

The reason this improves timing is because it gives you time to allow the arms to come back down in front of the body from P4-P6. This will keep the elbows closer together (squeeze elbows together) and if performed properly allows an increase in lag.

I shot a short video explaining what my practice exercise looks like to regain flexion on the way down. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment or asking a question below.