January 17, 2025
The Importance of the Follow-through
Ben Hogan stated that the most important part of the golf swing is the rotation of the hips from the top of the swing. We can debate what are the most important elements of a golf swing, but for this discussion I want to emphasis why I feel the proper follow-through is crucial for a good golf swing. Hogan started his downswing by rotating his hips and clearing them so the club would generate speed, but more importantly would facilitate the opening of body so the arms and hands would have an unobstructed path to swing through on the correct plane.
My students have heard this statement from me countless times. "The follow-through is getting the body out of the way, so the club has a path to swing through naturally." Whether you ascribe to a one-plane or two-plane swing, the principle is the same with the follow-through, the club needs to swing around the body to achieve maximum efficiency and power. If the hips don't get out of the way, you are restricting the centrifugal force that you are creating on the downswing by weight-shift and body turn. The result is like hitting against a brick wall and the outcome is slower clubhead speed and mandatory manipulation of the hands to hopefully square the clubface.
The Hogan follow-through is a thing of beauty. His hands finished above his head with his hips at 90 degrees to his target (belt buckle towards the target) and his shoulders rotating another 30 degrees. His follow-through accelerated through the hitting area and moved effortlessly to his classic finish. I find most amateurs think the swing is over shortly after they hit the ball. What they don't realize, is that they are only completing an abbreviated swing and that they aren't utilizing their full strength and clubhead speed.
Another sign of a faulty follow-through is feeling restricted or tight when they finish or are constantly falling off balance. The goal for a dependable golf swing is for the finish to be in balance and that you have allowed the club to swing unrestricted to its natural finish. Take notice of the players you see on television. They stick their finishes like a well-trained gymnast. Comes with practice, but it pays off in consistent ball striking.
Achieving a good finish is attainable for most golfers and requires three elements that should be physically reachable. First, make sure your belt buckle is facing your target when you finish your swing. Second, stand up straight and comfortably resting most of your weight on your lead front foot. Third, reach a little higher at the finish. This will create a longer arc. Your club should finish over your left shoulder for righthand golfers. As you practice this, make sure you go to your ideal finish position, even if you didn't get there naturally. By placing your body in the correct position, you are familiarizing your body with what it needs to feel. Soon that feeling will become natural and repeatable.
Finishing in the proper position cures possible other problems, because getting there requires other parts of the swing to follow the correct path. The key to good golf is doing the same thing consistently. A follow-through that gets your belt buckle pointed to your target and continues to a full high finish is a sign that this golfer knows what they are doing and, on the path to better golf.
