Shoulders in swing

Question

-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Eddie, a friend took me a video clip of my golf swing, and a notice the following, that I磍l try to explain you and perhaps you can give me some help/drill and tell me the probable reason why I do that.
Just after I hit the ball, in the downswing, my left shoulder is about 30 to 40 degrees up in relation to may right shoulder (front view), in other words, it seems that I have the tendency to lift up my left shoulder more than it suppose to be (I think so!). Also, in this moment, I see that my left arm is very close to my body and it tends to bend more and more from the elbow as the swing continues and the wrist of this left arm is also bending. My right arm seems to be straight. My (I am a right golf player)
left leg is straight and my right foot is starting to lift up from the grown. My hips are starting to turn towards the objective. In other words, it seems like I am trying to lift the ball. Another point is that is difficult for me to take divots out.
Eddie, I hope I explained this picture to you with the necessary information for you to understand, I think that
the mayor problem is lifting to much my left shoulder, and not maintaining a wide and good follow through. Is it possible that I am also not transferring weights?
Thanks a lot for your help and support.

Best regards

Bernardo Hernandez
-----Answer-----
Hi Bernardo.  The problem in this question I think is not being able to take a divot.  You feel as though you are trying to lift the ball.  When the left shoulder goes up too much in the downswing, the body stops turning to the finish.  The golf club stays behind you and you feel as though you slide through the impact area (not transferring weight).  Do this drill and tell me what you feel.  Get a long pole of some kind, say 5-6 feet long (like a long broomstick).  Put it on your shoulders behind your head and have your hands and wrists hang over the end of the pole as your arms are completely stretched out.  Now, take a golf stance, like you are setting up to hit a shot.  Now, keep your eye on the golf ball (imaginary) and slowly take your backswing turn to the top.  What did your left shoulder do and what did your right shoulder do?  Now, slowly, turn back to center and then continue to turn to the follow through.  As you turn past the center (impact), what does your left shoulder do?  I bet it just turns out of the way, not go up.  This is how your left shoulder should move.  So start making some small swings with an 8 or 9 iron.  Play the ball forward in your stance, and as you start the forward swing, feel your left shoulder stay more level and turn behind you.  Get the picture?  Once you start hitting balls again and getting a feel for doing this all together, you should start hitting it more solid and taking a divot.  Good luck.

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

Thanks Eddie for your help. I made the exercise you told me, and what I notice is that my left and right shoulder are almost level when I get to the center, in the forward swing. My left shoulder is just a little bit up in relation to my right one. I put the ball forward in my stance and begin with the drill, maintaining my shoulders more flat, but at this moment I hit the ball in the top almost all the times.

I didn磘 understand the concept you tell me that my left shoulder turns out of the way in the forward swing and that my left shoulder moves behind me, could you please explain me this?

Again, thanks Eddie for your patience and help.

Bernardo Hernandez

Answer
Bernardo:

Yes it could be a little confusing.  Basically, here is the drill.  Tee up a ball and play it opposite your left toe.  Set up with the clubhead in the center of your body.  In order to hit the ball solidly, as you begin the downswing, you will feel as though you are letting the clubshaft tip over (towards the ball).  As your shoulders unwind to make the forward swing to a finish, you will feel your left shoulder move downward and behind you.  As you turn through to complete the swing, your job is to swing the clubshaft out in front of you so that the club moves with the body turning.  So by moving the ball forward in your stance for this drill, in order to hit the ball solid, you cannot move your left shoulder up (when you start unwinding)or you will top the ball always or miss it.  We are trying to create the sensation of a more downward blow to the golf ball.  So make some small swings and feel the club swinging more downward to the ball so that you can start taking some turf out of the ground.  If your left shoulder moves up, you cannot hit the turf.  Practice enough and you'll start hitting the turf.  Then gradually move the ball back to center of you.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member