Triangles & the Golf Swing

Practice the triangle.

Your golf swing is composed of sections, which must harmonize for it to accomplish its purpose of hitting your golf ball squarely. If one section isn't fluent your swing becomes an exercise in futility. Your golf swing is like any composition, it needs a solid foundation, and without it the composition crumbles under its own weight. Whether you're a professional or a weekend golf warrior, the fundamentals of a golf swing are the same, and the congruity of your swing depends on starting and finishing it correctly.

The Triangle

The swing is always the same.

The triangle is an indispensable part of your golf swing, and consists of your shoulders, hands and arms. When you are in your stance your left arm is straight and your right arm slightly bent. Your golf club is an extension of one side of the triangle, and you envision a straight line from your left shoulder to the center of the club head. It's imperative to maintain the triangle throughout your swing. The triangle is the same for all shots.

The takeaway

Use you shoulder muscles.

To keep the triangle intact the first fundamental is to use your shoulders to bring your club back from your ball. If you lead with your shoulders the triangle will automatically follow.

To accomplish this, relax all the muscles in the triangle, hands, arms and shoulders, so the stronger shoulder muscles automatically lead. Leading with your shoulders, and not your hands, is something you'll probably need to consciously concentrate on, because, chances are, you'll habitually use your hands
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When you use your hands the power goes to their smaller muscles, which defeats the purpose of the triangle. When you use your shoulder muscles, though: the power goes to those larger muscles and you have a more powerful swing. Your hands should only serve as the outer point of the triangle, and to hold your club.

Left Arm Straight

Keep left arm straight.

Keep your left arm straight, when you swing. If the triangle is intact your swing arc is longer, which increases the centrifugal force in your club head. As a result, your club head gathers speed at the bottom of your swing, which increases its driving power when it hits the ball. Result, your ball goes farther on a straighter trajectory.

Head still

Head stays steady.

Keep your head still. Your head is the triangles pivot point, and the triangle turns around it. Your head and the triangle should turn together, not independently of one another. Compare it with the compatibility of the Earth and its axis, and how they turn together.

If your head and the triangle turn together, your club head should return to the same spot it started, on your downswing This enables it to hit the ball squarely, and propel it down the fairway, closer to the cup.

Summary

Don't concentrate too much on the triangle. Simply be aware of it, and enjoy it. Don't try to impel, build on or change it in any way. Let it naturally correct your golf swing, and thrust your golf ball those extra yards needed to lower your score.

References

• articledashboard: What is the Magic Triangle in the Golf Swing: articledashboard.com
• Golf Illustrated: Maintain the Triangle: Golf Illustrated
• saveamillionshots: Short Game Setup: The Golf Swing Triangle: saveamillionshots.com