Jones: Prime the pivot for more power

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PGA TOUR players move powerfully through the impact because they have primed their pivot for maximum power by properly completing the backswing. Here's how its' done.

Prime the Pivot

The goal of the backswing pivot is to load the mass of the upper body over a stable right leg, fully behind the ball. The loading is initiated with the shoulders turning around the spine while the pelvis moves up and back at the right hip.

This sequence will separate the hip turn from the shoulder turn, with the shoulders rotating approximately 90 degrees and the hips approximately 45 degrees. This separation is the key to priming the pivot for maximum power.

Note: The head remains level, but should be free to move to the right to allow the left shoulder to move to a point just behind the center of the stance.

Match the Shafts Drill

Place a club perpendicular to your target line along the inside of your right foot. Now, frame the pivot by inserting a shaft into the ground outside the right foot mirroring the right leg, and one vertically into the ground approximately a hand width (4-5 inches) outside the left leg. Once address has been established, match a club shaft to the shoulders with the arms crossed over the torso.

Make your backswing by turning the shaft that is matched to the shoulders back over the shaft on the ground. As this happens gently resist with the hips to ensure the separation between upper and lower body.

Load

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