It's good for your game

Slot from the top

Most golfers think that fitting the golf club into the so-called "pro slot" starts during the downswing. But to slot the club on the way down, you first must be in position at the top of your backswing.

The slot has distinctive characteristics, such as the club shaft bisecting the trail arm, a straight lead arm over a bent trail arm and a big separation of the hands from the back shoulder as the clubhead closes in on the ball.

Let's look at the necessary features you should incorporate to become a slot machine by inspecting Annika Sorenstam's top-of-the-backswing position. First, she arrives at the top with her back leg slightly flexed, which allows her hips to be active as she starts down. This avoids the locked-up condition that occurs when the back knee goes ramrod straight.

Second, her hands are in line with her right shoulder with her left arm at the same angle as her shoulders (relative to her spine), a perfect on-plane position. Third, her shoulders are turned twice as much as her hips to ensure coil, without which it's difficult to slot the club.

Once in position, Annika simply drops her arms downward, then turns and hits it.

One final note: If the top of the backswing position is so important, how do golfers like John Daly and Carlos Franco play well when their backswings have a lot of "extra things" going on? The answer is simple: All those "extra things," like high hands and a clubhead that dips way past parallel, are just window dressing. I assure you, the good player returns to an on-plane position and then slots the club. The "extras," while they can add distance, are not always upgrades because the price is wildness.

T.J. Tomasi writes for Universal UClick.

To get the feel of Annika’s top-of-the-backswing position, practice the “no backswing, backswing.” Pose as Annika is here, adjust until it’s perfect, then start your downswing from there.

When you start in the correct position at the top, slotting the club on the way down is easy — just drop your arms down.