The Minimalist Golf Swing – what it is

The Minimalist Golf Swing SYSTEM – what it encompasses

 The MGS SYSTEM (as presented at the World Scientific Congress of Golf 2012) is not merely a swing method or style or even  a scientific yet  unorthodox way to make a full-swing.

It is the world’s only 100% objective golf swing system* which results in an ‘ideal’ shot, time after time, with very little scope for error. The ‘ideal’ shot could be any one of:

–          Full-swing (straight with maximum possible distance and ideal trajectory)

–          A true-roll putt

–          A very reliable chip shot

–          A  high, soft pitch

(Shots such as fades, draws, pitch-and-run, bunker shots, cut-shots, shots with extra backspin would all be derivatives of the 4 basic shots).

Incidentally, ‘ideal’  implies that  the ball will always travel straight; the club will always arrive at the ball from the ‘inside’; and with each club’s loft appropriately presented. The only variables which would change would be the width of the swing’s arc for ball height, and the speed of the club for ball distance.

The objective three-step procedure is:

–          How should the ball travel (high or low, minimum or maximum distance?)

–          What club positions will make the ball travel as required? (swing arc narrow or wide, swing speed maximum or minimum?)

–          What body positions at address and during the backswing will allow the club to be returned correctly to the ball, time after time?

The MGS SYSTEM works for any skill-level of golfer – man, woman or child – who would like better ball-striking with less scope for injury.

* The MGS SYSTEM is termed the world’s only 100% objective golf swing system because although most good golfers and golf instructors will use the first two steps, never before has enough research been conducted to develop the third step.

What is MGS

The Minimalist Golf Swing System is designed to match body-joint positions to the type of ball-flight you want. You can simply FORGET THE CLUB, put your body into MGS positions and the club WILL be delivered correctly to the ball to create the ball-movement you desire!

 For instance, if you want a soft, high, pitch shot, the club must have a narrow swing arc, arrive at a descending angle at the ball, from the inside, and at controlled speed. There are some body-joint positions at the top of the backswing which make it easy for your body to deliver the club correctly at impact.

If you want to hit the ball the maximum distance he/she is capable of; straight; and with good trajectory, better positioning of the joints makes the job simpler, with less chance for injury.

Why do body-joint positions matter? Simply because the body’s joints cannot do just anything we want them to! For instance, make a bicep curl movement, quickly, without thinking about it. Did you pick up your arm in front of you or to the side? Chances are, to the front! Try bending your elbow in line with your body, with the hand in a fist, palm facing the body. Awkward? Yes! The elbow is only designed to fold (hinge) in front of the body!

So, what are correct body joint positions for the backswing, and how does MGS move them into place? Scroll down to try it out!

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Minimalist Golf Swing – ‘How to’
FIRST of all, make many swings looking in a mirror, to get all the positions right.

Rotate right shoulder shut

Rotate right shoulder shut

Isolate

MGS Set-up

(details for right handed golfers – left handed golfers please reverse)

• Feet square, shoulder-width apart
• Upper body forward of lower body (bend from the hips)
• Ball position as centered as possible
• Forearms 5-6” away from body
• Knees soft, not bent
• Body’s weight should look equal through both feet
• Twist the upper body ‘closed’ to the square-toe-line – this sets the head, and right side chest, shoulder and arm, all behind and below the left (someone standing targetward of the golfer should not be able to see the chest)
• Hands, arms and shoulders relaxed, at all times

MGS Backswing

• MAINTAIN the TILT of the right side of the body (from head to waist – as created by the twisted shoulders) all through the backswing.
• Isolate and lift a relaxed left arm rise steeply up the chest, literally touching it, and remaining a straight line from shoulder to clubhead (ie. no bend in either wrist so that both thumbs are horizontal at top of backswing) – this creates the very important WIDTH of backswing.
• Feel the left arm rides ‘up’, not ‘in’ – the ‘in’ happens naturally because of the shoulder rotation of address.
• The length of backswing: Hands go approximately as high as the chest for short clubs, and as high as the right ear for longer clubs.
• Keep all body parts quiet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, head – NO MOVEMENT IN ANY PLANE.
• At the top of the backswing:

1. The left arm and shaft must FEEL no higher than horizontal.
2. There is no stretch/tension in the left forearm, in fact a part of the left arm remains left of the chin.
3. When seen face-on, the right shoulder should be hidden by the left arm, (which has climbed steeply up the chest).

MGS Downswing

• LET the downswing happen (don’t make it) – the downswing begins with the club dropping down with gravity (not with the right shoulder)
• KEEP the right heel grounded for as long as possible.
• There should be NO intentional body slide/rotation until well past impact