Is your rhythm right

One of the most effective ways for your brain to master something like the golf swing is to set the motion to music. We all learned our ABCs by putting the letters to song. I've played some of my best golf while humming a Hootie and the Blowfish tune. Music plays a valuable role in the learning process.

When you start to move the club and your body into the swing, think of a melody. Make the song real music. Rap, with its staccato rhythm, is no good. To me, that suggests too much independent movement. The golf swing should be a smooth motion, so your song should reflect that smoothness.

Think of Tony Bennett, not Eminem.

Anyway, here's the first step toward adding body movement to the hands- and-arms motion described in the preceding section. Stand as if at address,with your arms crossed over your chest so that your right hand is on your left shoulder and your left hand is on your right shoulder. Hold a club against

your chest with both hands, as shown in the following Figure.

Now turn as if you're making a backswing. Turn so that the shaft turns through 90 degrees, to the point where the shaft is perpendicular to a line formed by the tips of your toes. As you do so, let your left knee move inward so that it points to the golf ball. The real key here is keeping your right leg flexed as it was at address. Retain that flex, and the only way to get the shaft into position is by turning your body. You can't sway or slide to the right and still create that 90-degree angle.

Your backswing should feel as if you're turning around the inside of your right leg until your back is facing the target. That’s the perfect top-of-the-backswing position.