What Is Sequencing In The Golf Swing?

Sequencing is similar to “timing” or “tempo”. There are different positions in the golf swing that all need to be synced with your body turn and arm swing.

The sequencing of your arms and body is crucial to optimizing your power and hitting solid shots. The Gabe swing trainer and impact ball are a great way to establish the correct positions for sequencing. The drill described below is a way to really advance your sequencing to create more power.

You will notice that on the PGA Tour, professionals have all different styles of golf “mechanics”, but they all have great sequencing in their golf swings. This allows them to use their natural athleticism to hit consistently solid shots.

PGA Tour professionals work on their sequencing daily in order to optimize their power and consistency.

Step-By-Step Golf Swing Sequence

Below is explanations of the 8 swing sequences pictured above.

1. Set up properly (Picture 1)
   1. Hips, feet, shoulders on the same line
   2. Hands hang directly below shoulders
   3. Weight in the center of your feet
   4. Athletic posture
   5. Stance shoulder width apart (for 7 iron)
2. 1/2 way back (Picture 2)
   1. When club is parallel to the ground on back swing, club shaft is down your target line, club face is square to your spine. Notice, his hands do not reach out, they swing straight back inside the blue line
3. Top of the swing (Picture 3)
   1. Shoulders are parallel to the yellow plane line
   2. Left arm is parallel to the yellow swing plane line
   3. Hips are rotated approximately 40 degrees, while his shoulders are rotated 90 degrees. This is the optimal amount of coil to produce speed.
4. 1/2 way back down (Picture 4)
   1. Club shaft is in a neutral position to be “on plane”
5. Impact (Picture 5)
   1. Hand position is back to where they started
   2. Hips are slightly rotated open
   3. Shoulders are fairly square to the target line
6. 1/2 through – post impact (picture 6)
   1. Shaft is parallel to the plane line
   2. Shoulders are on plane
   3. Club face has released
   4. Right arm is extended
7. 3/4 through (Picture 7)
   1. Left arm begins to fold against his left side
   2. Most of his weight transfer has completed to his left side, 90%
8. Finish (Picture 8)
   1. Feet, on his right toe
   2. Hips are completely cleared, belt buckle facing target
   3. Holding his balance

Sequencing the proper muscles when swinging create the most possible speed in the swing

1. Turning correctly (Picture 1)
   1. Shoulders turning 90 degrees and hips are less at 40 degrees
      1. This causes tension in your hip and abdomen, which may not be possible for all golfers. If you can not achieve this full turn, make a shorter turn with the same separation of hip turn from shoulder turn (i.e. 70 degrees of shoulder turn, 30 degree of hip turn). This will still allow you to gain power from the proper turn sequence.
      2. If you over rotate your hips, you will develop slack in your turn (like a rubber band), and it will cause flaws. Flaws can consist of loss of speed and poor contact on the ball.
2. Transition down (Picture 2)
   1. Your mid section and hips start your downswing, while your arms are relaxed and follow the core muscles. This allows the club to fall in the right position and use your core muscles for power.
   2. Most commonly, we see amateurs use their shoulders and arms to start the down swing. This leads to swing flaws such as over the top.
3. Pre Impact (Picture 3)
   1. The arms and hands will release at impact properly if you complete the first 2 steps properly. The impact position is a fast motion that you cannot control. By ensuring you have completed the previous sequence positions properly, this will lead to you having proper impact position with out thinking about it.
4. Impact (Picture 4)
   1. Your weight transfer will be roughly 80% on your left side at impact if you have done the previous steps properly. This will allow all of your big muscles to power through the ball, ensuring optimal distance and solid contact.

Summary

Most golfers try to control the outcome of the shot, which leads to inconsistency and loss of power. If you can rehears the proper sequencing in the back swing while being relaxed, you will start to build the proper downswing and not have to think about it.

Drills For Sequencing

Step 1 – Develop muscle memory for proper swing sequence

1. 3 second pause with heavy club
   1. The heavy club improves your muscle memory 10 times faster than swinging a regular club. Doing this at home, without hitting a ball, ingrains the proper swing sequence positions. Hitting balls at the driving range at full speed does not improve your swing. You are developing a feel for what is comfortable, and most often times is flaws.

Step 2 – Gabe Swing Trainer for proper transition, back swing to down swing

1. The Gabe Swing Trainer gives you audio feedback so you know you are setting the club properly at the time. The “transition” refers to transitioning from backswing to downswing. Most often players rush their transition, leading to a variety of swing flaws, loss of power and poor impact position.

Step 3 – Sequence for speed

1. Once you have developed the proper swing position sequences and transition sequence, you can then start to take your speed to the next level with this drill. Jason Day uses an alignment stick or you can buy the speed sticks, which we use at the golf school. See the sequence for speed practice here.