'Getting stuck' is a problem many golfers face from time to time. It means that as the club head nears the ball at the bottom of the downswing, it and the hands are so far behind the player that they can't strike the ball properly.
So here it is, it's the SLOT. It is the one place that the golf club absolutely must go in order to get a good path and angle of attack on the golf ball. It is what Harvey Penick talked about in his ' Little Red Book 'It's what Ben Hogan wouldn't talk about because of the wonderment of his great golf swing. And the pent up secrecy of his magic. Its alright to have a loop in the swing, fred couples had a loop in his swing, he would raise his hands up and have a very high position and drop the club down into the slot. Furyk, one of the most accurate golfers in the past 10 years get is on plane with a wierd backswing. Don't be too caught up in the backswing, its over-rated. Now, go to the top of your swing and stop and rest the clubhead on the wall. Swing the club down at a very slow speed, keeping the clubhead on the wall. This will give you the feeling of being in the slot. To be a consistent player, you must get the club in the slot coming down. Practice it and it will be yours.
The shot (for right-handers) typically goes right because the face off the club is open, resulting in a push-slice.
Some players manage to flip their wrists at contact, resulting in a big hook. Getting stuck can be prevented by eliminating a couple of excess movements in your swing.
Take your normal setup, making sure that your arms are relaxed and hanging down comfortably.
Many players worry about remaining “connected” during the swing, but your upper arms should rest lightly against the sides of your chest at setup. This is all that is necessary.
Start your backswing by rotating your shoulders, also called “coiling your upper body.” Your arms should remain fairly straight as you swing the club away from the ball, even though they are relaxed. Many players fold their left arm across their chest, but that's not necessary to maintain the connected position you had at setup. By keeping your arms extended but relaxed, you will keep your hands more in front of your body.
Turn until your hands are near waist high. You have made what many teachers call a one-piece takeaway; both arms are still relatively straight and relaxed.
If you have been having difficulty with getting stuck, this will probably feel as if your hands are moving up rather than back. That is a normal sensation.
Let your right elbow begin to fold.
This will simultaneously cock your wrists and move your hands back and up above shoulder height.
If you have been folding your left arm across your chest, this move to the top may feel as if it is vertical lift, although it is not. When you finish, your wrists will be fully cocked and your club shaft pointed toward the target.
Start your downswing by feeling that your right shoulder and right hip move toward the ball at the same time. Players who get stuck frequently push or slide their hips forward too fast, causing them to lean backward (a reverse-C) and further slow down the upper body. By feeling as if you start your shoulder and hip at the same time, you will keep both your upper and lower body in sync as the downswing starts.
Because your shoulders are turned more than your hips, your lower body will still lead the swing, but by trying to start them together, you will turn your hips to the left rather than sliding forward too much. This will prevent you from leaning backward and actually make it possible for you to unwind faster.
Strike the ball and finish your swing. You will end up in a more balanced posture, with less stress on your back.
Chances are that you've heard of 'the slot.' It's a position halfway into your downswing from where you can hit the ball on a slightly in-to-out path. You might think of it as the lower part of your swing plane, starting at the point when (if you're a right-handed player) that your right elbow drops down close to your right side.
Address the ball normally. Everyone's setup is slightly different, but your feet should be about shoulder-width apart when using your driver and slightly narrower for the shorter clubs. Bend forward from your hips so your spine leans toward the ball and your knees are slightly flexed as if you were squatting to lift something. Let your arms hang down, with your triceps resting lightly against your chest and the club head behind the ball.
Start your takeaway by turning your shoulders, keeping your arms relaxed without bending your elbows.
With your triceps resting lightly against your chest and your knees slightly flexed, you'll be able to turn your shoulders and carry your hands (and the club) to nearly waist high before your right elbow will need to bend. You'll have made most of your shoulder turn at this point.
Bend your right elbow toward your right shoulder. This will simultaneously cock your wrists and allow you to finish your shoulder turn.
When you finish this part of your swing, your shoulders will have turned roughly 90 degrees from your address position, pointing the club shaft down the target line and parallel to the ground. A quick checkpoint: At the top of your backswing, your right shoulder will be visible underneath the upside-down V formed by your hands and forearms, and your right forearm will be parallel to your spine.
Your hips will be turned slightly to the right and your left knee pointing slightly behind the ball. You'll feel tension in your right knee as it resists your hip twist; this is what most golfers refer to as a 'weight shift.'
Drop into the slot by letting your knees return to their address position – both flexed – and let your arms drop slightly so your right elbow moves closer to your right side. Although this action causes a chain reaction. Your hips will start to unwind, your shoulders will start to uncoil, and your downswing will start. Dropping into the slot feels as if you are just exhaling so you can relax for an instant – but only an instant.
Hit the ball as hard as you want. The 'relaxing' started your hips unwinding and, as Ben Hogan wrote, 'After you have initiated the downswing with the hips, you want to think of only one thing: hitting the ball.' Once you're in the slot, it's hard to go wrong. All you need to do is straighten your right elbow, finish your downswing, and hammer the ball toward the target.