Minimize errors around the green
February 1st, 2007 | Published in Golf.com Pelz Vault
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Why you need acceleration
When you pull, or accelerate, your club-head through impact, it remains much more stable (and produces more consistent shot results) compared to when you slow down or decelerate. This applies to all swings, but especially short pitches and chips, where deceleration can mean fluffed shots and extra strokes. By no means, however, should you try to speed up at impact or “hit” with your hands to create acceleration. These efforts will ruin your rhythm and produce bad shots.
How to get it
To achieve the kind of smooth acceleration evident in high-level swings, follow this simple principle: Center your swing motion about two feet past impact. In other words, imagine producing maximum club-head speed (and maximum extension) two feet past the ball. This will give you a backswing that is shorter than your follow-through, and automatically produce smooth acceleration through impact. This is good, since smooth acceleration is what you need to hit the consistently solid shots you desire.
1) On this short pitch, your hands should move only 10 inches or so behind your back leg. Leonard Kamsler
2) Even on a short swing, max swing speed and full extension occur two feet after impact. Leonard Kamsler
3) The swing finally begins to slow down once your hands reach approximately waist high. Leonard Kamsler
Open face? Accelerate!
Now consider a totally different shot to the same flagstick position. To produce a high-lofted cut shot that will fly to the hole and stop, use a three-quarter backswing and a full finish (with an open stance and club-face). For any open-face shot like this, it’s absolutely essential for the club-head to accelerate through impact. A shorter backswing and longer followthrough will guarantee that happens.
