The ATHLETIC Low Point – Giving the Go Ahead for Power

The ATHLETIC Low Point – Giving the Go Ahead for Power

The Athletic Low Point is a saying that I’ve developed to describe the perceived ability to deliver more old school release and centrifugal force. So this is definitely an old school golf swing inspired article and can only somewhat be applied to modern golf (because of how the club is or isn’t released).

The low point in itself in a golf swing can be measured from reading your divots or just a trackman number if you are indoor.

But it’s not the full story.

Your perceived low point (together with the blade’s relative close/openess) is one of the biggest reaction inducing elements in a swing.

The Athletic Low Point = The Feeling of your Perceived Dowswing Low Point

So I’ve kind of made up this saying because I just like it.

If I feel that my downswing low point (matched towards my release style of course) is way after the golf ball then it gives my brain the “go ahead” to unleash the club. I guess that everyone playing golf are somewhat afraid of chunking.

Let’s switch it around. If I get my low point too far back (chunk if released) then I from a brain perspective become hesitant to unleash the club. I step into a push the hands limbo which creates all sorts of problems from an old school swing perspective (primarily a too open face too late and some not very nice body tilts).

So getting your perceived downswing low point forward after the ball creates the feeling of being “allowed” to add speed.

Mesured Low Point = A marriage of downswing and follow through properties

Again, the low point can be measured in a singular point but that’s all that is. A measurement.

The actual input for creating this singular point is your overall body position, your downswing activity AND your follow through intentions.

Let’s talk about the follow through here because if there’s one common denominator of all great old school ball strikers it is this: Their follow through action was much more potent than what happens in most modern swing. It was more of an aggressive upwards movement. So this leads you to believe that this probably sends the low point backwards right?

That’s exactly how it works in my own motion. My downswing low point goes way forward and my follow through takes it back. Almost like V feeling from a face on perspective of the swing.

Athletic Low Point Forward = P4->P5 Goodness

Long story short, if you can influence your early downswing to be more “low point forward” then you will mechanically make your body react much more towards your intentions that you aim towards your engine (the club, hands and arms). It will make your ground force usage better, it will induce lateral slide and it will just make it easier to clear your hips and get that synchronized follow through rotation. WITHOUT you having to think about it.

To wrap it up. This is indeed a difficult topic but what I say can really be seen in anything from Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie or why not the modern beast of Scottie Scheffler.

Check out the Forgotten Master Moves homepage here.

The FMM Project – the swing style that I teach – has it’s overview page here.