Golf Tips: Belt Buckle

Playing defense in football is tough.  The running back or receiver is coming at you, he makes a juke move, then leaves you standing there befuddled as he scores a touchdown.  You were faked out by his moves.  Defensive coaches constantly tell their players not to watch the head or shoulders of the player.  They tell them to look at their belt.  Where their belt points is where they are going. The same concept applies in golf. A golfer's belt buckle tells him/her where the shot is most likely to go. How often have you heard the term "release the hips" in golf?  The best way to understand what this means, and understand the belt buckle concept is to imagine that the belt buckle will always point at the ball. If the swing is not finished and the hips release too little, the belt buckle and hips will be pointing right of target (for right handed players).  If the hips are released too much, the belt buckle will be pointing left of the target at the finish of the swing.  The ball will likely follow. Concentrate on your belt buckle and try to make sure it and your hips have finished in a position exactly 90 degrees perpendicular to the target line, pointing directly at the target.  Perhaps the best player to use as an example is Rory McIlory.  When he releases his hips properly, there's probably nobody in the world who can beat him, or hit the ball farther. Next time you practice at the driving range, concentrate on your belt buckle and point it at the target when you reach your finish.  That finish is part of a balanced swing, which we will discuss in more detail next Tuesday, so stay tuned. Photo credit: Hooked On Golf Blog