Show/Hide Notes and Q&A
The Power of the Pendulum: A pendulum is a beautiful mechanical system because it naturally returns to the exact same predictable low point with every swing. In golf, visualizing your swing as a pendulum allows you to create a consistent arc that simplifies the process of making clean contact with the ball.
Adjusting the Low Point: When you swing with one arm and a centered stance, the club naturally brushes the ground slightly behind the center position. To move this low point forward—ensuring you hit the ball before the turf—you must shift your weight toward your target during the downswing. This weight shift adds energy to the system and places the bottom of your arc in front of the ball.
Effortless Divots: By combining two hands on the club with a proper weight shift, you can catch the ball cleanly on the downswing. This action creates a perfect little divot after the ball, rather than before it, with very little physical effort. This is the most efficient way to bottom out the club consistently on every single shot.
Trust the Geometry: You don’t need a complicated technique to improve your ball striking. By focusing on simple pendulum motion and a bit of weight shift, you align yourself with the natural physics of the swing. Trust the “tick-tock” rhythm and the geometry of the arc to do the work for you.
Questions and Answers
Q: Why do I keep hitting the ground before the ball? A: This usually happens because your weight is staying centered or hanging back on your trail foot. When your weight doesn’t shift forward, the pendulum bottoms out too early, causing a “fat” shot.
Q: Does this pendulum motion apply to my full swing or just chips? A: While it is most obvious in chips and putts, the physics of a pendulum and the necessity of a forward weight shift apply to every full iron shot in your bag to ensure consistent contact.
Q: How much weight should I shift forward? A: You only need enough of a shift to move the “bottom” of your swing arc from behind the ball to just in front of it. Think of it as adding a little extra energy into the system to guide the clubhead through the impact zone.
