When all else fails on the course try the dead shot

• By Dr. Jerry Elwell, SwingFix instructor
• Mar 20, 2013 7:00 AM ET

When playing golf, there are some days that no matter what you try, the upper body and lower body just do not feel as though they are working together.

On days when everything is in sync, the hips leading and the shoulders, arms and hands following, then you have a very “positive” swing.

On days when you are out of sync, the hands are leading followed by the arms, shoulders and finally the hips. This is a “negative” swing and leads to all kinds of poor shots.

Eventually, compensations to try to adjust for the poor swings will lead to a reverse pivot.

The shot I’m about to teach you is a swing that will neutralize the positive and negative, and you will be surprised at how far this shot will go when the ball is contacted first.

My technique is to swing the golf club (wood or iron) and totally restrict the body movement. This will allow the arms to swing freely to make contact with the ball.

Here’s what to do:

• Take your regular stance.

• Bring your right foot in almost against the instep of your left foot, leaving three-to-four inches between both feet, and the right toe should be drawn back from the original toeline by about four inches.

• Now the left toe is turned right so it points toward the ball. This will restrict the hips from turning and the body is in a restricted, one-legged stance. Wiggle your arms and shoulders so there is no tension.

• You should swing the club back with a great deal of freedom in the arms and shoulders and then with the same free-and-easy motion forward.

Try this new technique and save your game when all else fails.

Take an online lesson with Dr. Jerry Elwell.