The cross lateral move, the sealed wrists, the locked “prop” or stance and the free swinging of the arms and shoulders are the major parts to the Joe Norwood Swing.
This article or post is dedicated to “The Cross Lateral Move”
The cross lateral move is in direct conflict with rotation whereas rotation of the hips, with most golfers, starts with the backswing and continues throughout their entire swing. This is easily detectible by watching yourself or other golfer. Watch the first 12 inches of the backswing. Really you can see it, usually, in the first 2 inches of most backswings.
The cross lateral move cannot be accomplished with continuous hip rotation because the hips move horizontally while the cross lateral move is a slight movement of the lower body in a straight or lateral move while the arms and shoulders are accelerating into the impact area with the hips slightly rotating, due to centrifugal force, after impact.
The hips do rotate before the swing is started by locking the hips in a position of 45 degrees (right hip direction) back or at 7:30 horizontal clock, 12:00 being the target. After impact and follow through the right hip is facing 4:30 horizontal clock rather than the typical 3:00 you see on virtually all golfers today. This idea of getting your hips out of the way or having them assist you after impact is not Joe’s idea.
When you look at a professional swing the club while hitting the ball, almost 100% of them get their arms through the impact area well before their hips so their hips are following, not leading whereas the typical average golfer leads with his hips and as he moves his arms through the impact area he moves his hips and in many cases the arms stop and the hips take over and a shank or (more commonly) a slice occurs.
The stance must be locked in position before the backswing starts. The arms follow the waist and the right arm and hand folds into the top of the right shoulder, the right forefinger knuckle curls into the right shoulder. The start of the downswing is a quick short move of the right forearm to the back of the right heel, as the right arm extends behind the right leg the left shoulder (pectoral) muscle straightens the shoulders to square.
It is at this time the cross lateral movement occurs while the arms are accelerating from the right side with the shoulders square. The cross lateral move is a small movement, it cannot be attained by trying to do it, it must be practiced in slow motion, preferably with your eyes closed. Practice in extreme slow motion.
If it is tried before the arms get into position then the hips will rotate and the movement is lost. If the arms throw down to the right toe instead of behind the right heel the movement will be lost.
Remember one thing. For every movement of the backswing a corresponding balance movement must be made on the downswing. 20 moves of the body on the backswing require 20 corresponding moves (at least) on the downswing to balance the body so the body can hit the golf ball.
The whole point of my grandfather’s golf swing is to reduce movement. When you stop to think about it then reducing the golf swing to 5-7 movements reduces the error and isn’t that what it’s all about, reducing error so you can hit a golf ball consistently.
Thanks for listening
Dan Norwood
Website:
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http://www.dan-norwood.com/golf.html
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067472/2/index.htm
