If you talked to 5 different instructors, you might get 5 different answers:
- Throwing from the top
- Passive arms from the top
- Pulling from the top
- Utilizing gravity from the top
- Directing the momentum
Some of our most respected teachers have different methods!
Ever feel confused with the game or golf and the amount of instruction that is currently out there? Tired of feeling confused as your stand over a shot? Frustrated with your lack of consistency?
Well, we are here to help! Golf can be a confusing game, but we can help! One question we frequently receive is how to start the downswing in golf.
Anyone that has followed the game of golf and studied the different approaches to the game understands that there are different approaches to beginning the downswing in golf.
How do you start the downswing in golf?
There are multiple options for golfers. The different approaches include throwing from the top, passive arms from the top, pulling from the top, utilizing gravity from the top or simply directing the momentum. The best instructors in the world have different approaches.
Below we will provide a comprehensive overview of 5 different approaches that can all work, much of it is finding an approach that fits your currency swing and what you are comfortable utilizing.
Some of our favorite golf instructors all have a slightly different approach from the top of the backswing to start the downswing. You can be successful with any of these approaches. They are worth diving into and getting to know more in depth.
Here are the 5 Methods we will breakdown below:
- George Gankas (Passive Arms)
- Mike Bender (Arms Driven/Throwing Motion)
- Bobby Lopez (Pulling Down)
- Shawn Clement (Gravity Driven)
- Mike Malaska (Directing the momentum)
I have a great amount of respect for each of these instructors and I have written full reviews on their approach on all but Mike Bender. One of the great things about being a golfer in today’s game is the access to top quality instructors.
The best the golfing world has to offer has put a high amount of quality content on social media for our benefit as we enjoy our journey to get better as a golfer.
Method 1: George Gankas (Passive Arms)
Gankas might have one of the biggest social media followings of all golf instructors. He is hip, revolutionary and can help people add distance. His approach from the top of the swing is a Snead-like squat with passive arms, allowing the club to shallow as the golfer turns and accelerates through the ball.
His most popular PGA Tour star is Matt Wolff who has now won on tour and is one long hitter. His approach of passive arms at the top allows the body to setup and the golfer can rely on the rotation of the swing to square up the club face.
The Gankas approach is one that is taking the golfing world by storm as many instructors are now helping people shallow the club out and a lot of this approach relies on the arms being passive. According to the videos Gankas has produced, the pulling motion can cause you to get steep.
He is worth checking out if you are looking for distance and are willing to change the swing. Keep an eye out for George Gankas in the coming years as he has some awesome younger players ready to hit the scene on the PGA Tour.
He believes he can get speed for just about any golfer out there. He commands a high hourly rate and does have a full online course that takes through a year of content and preparation for the swing.
Check out George Gankas Teach the Downswing Sequence
Method 2: Mike Bender (Arms Driven/Throwing Motion)
What really happens and what a golfer really feels are two different things according to Mike Bender. He has been around for a long time and is my favorite teacher at the time.
He believes the swing is driven by the arms from the top of the backswing. He compares the motorcycle vs the 4 wheel drive jeep.
The analogy is that your body is way stronger, while your arms and hands are much quicker.
He believes golfers try using their body to generate speed instead of allowing the arms and hand to accelerate the club as fast as you can to the ball. He shows some amazing swings with the arms only drill and how it is only 10 yards shorter than the body only provides 10 of the yards on a 170 yard shot.
The body acts as the resistor in the swing, which helps the arms and hands accelerate. He talks about the feeling that we want is that the arms and hands are driving the swing, but he has never seen anyone swing without the hips moving.
The total golf swing has everything moving, but the main feel or thought should be in the arms and the hands. Too many people use the body to lead the swing, leading to the over the top move that causes the slice.
The sequencing of how the club comes down is very important. He spends a great deal of time on impact with his student and the results are clear. He is one impressive teacher and believes in throwing of the arms and hands.
In my experience, his approach is the most impactful for me as I can control the 3 fundamentals in golf the best with his approach (see more below about the 3 fundamentals).
Check out Mike Bender giving a full explanation
Method 3: Bobby Lopez (Pull an arrow out of a quiver)
Bobby Lopez is more an old school instructor who loves to use video to analyze the swing. His main focus is keeping the golf “onsides” or behind the ball with the head and the front shoulder.
He believes that to start the downswing the golfers want to pull the arms down similar to pulling an arrow out of a quiver. He also uses examples such as pulling the bell or pulling a chain.
He cites some of the best golfers of all times and what their swing thoughts were. This approach is somewhat different from the George Gankas approach, but we believe you need to find the instructor that best matches with your current approach and the communication style.
They can all help your game significantly.
He believes in turning back, getting a full turn, and then throwing or pulling the arms down. Similar to Mike Bender, Lopez believes in keeping the upper body back, whereas Gankas has the upper body turning and the arms going with the body to create more of a rotational swing.
Is there a right way or wrong way for the downswing? We think much of it is a feel and what works best for you.
Give Bobby a look at the video below and see if it fits your game and your approach.
Method 4: Shawn Clement (Gravity)
Tired of positional based golf? Then Shawn Clement might be the perfect instructor for you. He believes in allowing gravity and the task you give your mind to naturally flow through the swing. Much of his work is done through the setup to control the curve of the ball and then giving yourself a task.
As far as the downswing, he wouldn’t necessarily break it down into finer parts, but the main goal or task of the downswing is to have a throwing motion way out in front of you.
He actually has golfers throw older clubs down the fairway or driving range to get the feel for what the release should be like.
His approach is rather unique, but overall he is allowsing the gravity genius that our bodies are to take over and make an athletic movement in the downswing.
He wants the golfer to be patient and if you see Shawn Clement’s actual golf swing you will notice a very slow tempo on the way back and a calm approach on the way down, but one with plenty of speed and distance.
More from Shawn Clement on Starting the Downswing:
Method 5: Mike Malaska (Direct the Momentum)
Another refreshing approach to the game of golf. One based on being athletic and directing the momentum of the club. Malaska spent too many years in his own career trying to hit certain positions in his backswing and downswing, resulting in many years of under performing.
Once he went to a more natural approach and back to his roots in baseball, he found success once again.
He is now on a mission to help all of us simplify the game and reach our full potential. As far as starting the downswing, Malaska would promote directing the momentum of the club back towards your target.
The feel involved in here using your hands to control the clubface and the direction of the golf club.
The pivot is the key and then directing the momentum of the golf club. A term you might hear with Mike Malaska is the “Malaska Move.” This move keeps your club from getting stuck, which is a major issue with many lower handicap.
He wants the arms to shallow and have the club move out in front of you. This allows you to direct the momentum down the target line.
More from Malaska on directing the momentum:
Which Is the Best Method? Our Recommendation!
All five of these methods are pretty amazing and can work for just about anyone. We believe in jumping into a system and giving it a shot. Learning from each of these instructors can actually help your game.
Whenever I look to make adjustments in my swing, it starts with a review and assessment using the 3 fundamentals in golf. You might ask, what those three fundamentals are. Here is a quick overview:
The Stack and Tilt Instructors said it best when they described what they believed were the fundamentals of golf. They explained it somewhat similar to this:
- The first fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing. The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
- The second fundamental is the golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over curving past the target.
- The third fundamental is the golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course. This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.
I have found the Mike Bender approach the best in allowing me to gain consistent ball contact, control the start line of the shot and have enough power to play a course.
In fact, I have gained 4-7 miles per hour with my driver as a result of the Mike Bender approach and combined with the SuperSpeed Golf Training System. (Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 to save $10)
Complete Review of SuperSpeed Golf System Post
These two approaches (Bender and SuperSpeed) have changed my game and I now am able to start the ball online 8 out of 10 times and have increased power. The ability to now manage my game as I play the course has become easier and more likely. I now have a greater clue on where the ball is starting.
However, I still use the visioning of the swing that Shawn Clement promotes. I also think of Bobby Lopez and staying behind the ball if I start to hook it or lack contact.
Mike Malaska provides great swing thoughts if I start to over swing. All three of these instructor have made my game better!
Another game changer that allowed me to experiment with the different approaches of each of these instructors is building a SkyTrak Golf Simulator in my garage.
Rain or Shine Golf provides some great packages and great financing options.
You might be surprised how affordable a setup is today (see simulator build links below). I have played over 700 rounds of golf on my simulator and have experienced a 4-6 shot reduction on my average golf score.
Below we provide what we believe the recipe is to getting better.
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.