Once you’ve mastered the first 661,243 elements involved in the game, golf is very simple: aim, swing, try not to kill anyone. This article examines one critical component of your game: the “Downswing”. The Downswing is defined as the motion between “Ow, my back” and “I’m pretty sure I didn’t whiff”. 

A full examination of each element of the golf swing can be found in the Chip Schotz book series: The 229 Most Important Parts of the Golf Swing, Part One. Due to space constraints, today’s article will deal only with selected components of the Downswing. And a few other ideas. But mostly, the Downswing. 

Each position of the club involves its own swing thought. Most golfers cloud their minds by trying to clear their minds which clouds their minds. Great golfers do the opposite:  they clear their minds by clouding their minds. And vice versa.

Element #11 – Grip Pressure

Grip pressure is a key component to the Downswing because if you don’t have any grip pressure, the club will fall to the ground. Grip pressure should be firm enough to maintain power but not so firm as to strangle a cat. Holding the club should feel like you’re shaking hands with an old friend to whom you a lot of money – but lighter than that. That guy is a jerk anyway. 

It’s essential to note that the thumb and the third finger on the trail hand of your grip should exert less pressure than the other eight fingers, like in fly fishing or NASCAR racing. To reference the specific grip pressures of each individual finger, see the Chip Schotz book “Good Grip, Good Marriage”. 

Surgically adding fingers to both hands can improve grip consistency and swing control. 

Element #22 – Weight Shift

There’s an old rule in golf: “Don’t wait to shift your weight.” This rule is attributed to the legendary Walter Hagen’s caddie, Mickie Flenderman. Mickie had a habit of smoking pine needles while offering old sayings to people passing by. Some notable Flenderman aphorisms include “Hey, watch your head. Because I can’t.” And “Tomorrow is another day. Maybe.” 

The weight shift on the Downswing goes: 80% back foot to 80% front foot to 80% other front foot, as smoothly as possible. Most Truly Terrible Golfers make this transition much too quickly, expending energy in a sort of “body vomit”. Make your Downswing “full” rather than “fast” and use as many “quotation marks” in your swing as you “possibly can”. 

Element #47 – Refinance Your Auto Loan

You’re paying wayy too much for your car loan and, unless you’re dealing with the Chicago Mob, you can save quite a bit by shopping the car loan through any number of internet portals. If you ARE dealing with the Chicago Mob, ignore the previous advice and say hi to Tony Smiles for me. 

Element # 59 – The Front Foot

As you move through your Downswing, consider your Front Foot. Is it in the proper place? Is it accepting the weight as you move forward? Is it angry at you for ignoring it today? Unless you’re playing golf in space, your feet are mostly the only connection to the ground so it’s important that you ground your feet on the ground. Have a talk with your feet. Let them know you care. 

The most important element of the 57 most important elements of your downswing is clearing your mind except to remember all the things you need to remember as you swing. Take everything from your subconscious mind and switch it with everything in your conscious mind and then wait for the next seizure. 

The other most important thing to remember of the 57 most important things to remember on your Downswing is that golf is just a game, like skipping rope or mixed martial arts. You’re supposed to enjoy games no matter how much they make you want to kill everyone around you. Take a sip of beer and don’t worry so much. 

Remember, the mortgage is due tomorrow no matter how you play today. 

Enjoy!

Chip Schotz is the world’s preeminent authority on the mental, emotional, and agricultural components of golf. Chip holds Ph.Ds in extraterrestrial kinesthesiology, contraneural logicisms, and delay of game theory.