A downswing initiation tip I like to give and common among teaching professionals is to squish the bug with the front foot. The reason why this tip works is because of the laws of physics associated with the swing.

No, I am not about to go into a long diatribe on angles and forces. Nonetheless, I do believe that if you understand why a particular swing motion is proper, you are more likely to incorporate it into your game and remember it. So let me tell you quickly about equal and opposite forces.

When you are transitioning from the backswing to the down swing, you are trying to accomplish two things. First, you are trying to bring a club that is above your head back down to the ball. Second, you are trying to bring a club that is behind your body to the front of your body.

In order to bring the club from above your shoulders down to the ball you need an equal and opposite force. By pressing your front foot into the ground, in effect pushing up off the ground, the club can come down with power and timing. Second, by shifting weight to the front foot, you have an anchoring force around which to move the club forward.

In fact, the second reason discussed is why the reverse pivot is so terrible. You have no forward anchor to move the club forward when you plant with the back foot instead of the front foot.

Incorporate this into your game and watch your score get lower.

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