First Thread: Question about left heel action

[kc8kir]

Hello all:

First post on this forum. Read through a lot of posts already and I really like the scientific approach to understanding the swing, but also the emphasis to learn the proper associated feels. As an engineer and musician, I kinda need both for my swing to function.

Ok so here is the first question. The left heel in the golf swing. Why oh why did we (meaning mainstream golf instruction media) start getting away from teaching that the left heel should raise in the backswing, and replant for the transition? Harvey Penick was adamant about this action, along with the right elbow returning to the body, as the key move in golf. My dad does this all the time, plays great, and practices swinging with just the left arm and this footwork to stay in tempo. I have seen many tour pros practice with the left arm only, but very few on tour now with any sort of visible left heel action.

I am slowly figuring out (playing for just over a year now) that without that action, my swing is a total crapshoot. As a young flexible guy, I was told I should swing with keeping the heel down. Yeah, right, and have no tempo, feel or whip to my swing at all? Almost all of my best shots have been when the left heel was raised.

With long clubs, I cannot get the club to approach from the inside and square the face, without the left heel action. Despite all this, I still have instructors telling me that the left heel action is a fault. If it's a fault, how come the greats all did it?

Hogan, Snead, Norman, Nicklaus, Watson, ... the list goes on.

I'm new to the "Manzella" ideas... but I'll venture that the left heel action promotes me "snapping the kinetic chain".

Ideas? Thoughts?

Looking forward to lots of good learning on this forum...

[Brian Manzella]

Originally Posted by kc8kir

Why oh why did we (meaning mainstream golf instruction media) start getting away from teaching that the left heel should raise in the backswing, and replant for the transition?

When the idea of resistance, became all the rage.

Right now, not only does "pop" instruction want you to keep your heel on the ground, they want you to to keep your head forward and dead still.

It is sorta like an annuity for me, however.

I have seen many tour pros practice with the left arm only, but very few on tour now with any sort of visible left heel action.

Like you, they have be told it is a fault.

[quote]I am slowly figuring out (playing for just over a year now) that without that action, my swing is a total crapshoot...Almost all of my best shots have been when the left heel was raised...With long clubs, I cannot get the club to approach from the inside and square the face, without the left heel action. [quote]

Most folks can not the club DEEP ENOUGH and HIGH ENOUGH on the backswing without LOTS OF and EARLY hip turn, some head movement, a flat shoulder turn, and maybe even lifting the feet.

If you don't get the club DEEP ENOUGH you have to try to FIT IT IN on the downswing to approach the inside of the ball, leading to misery.

Despite all this, I still have instructors telling me that the left heel action is a fault. If it's a fault, how come the greats all did it?

The reason there is so much bad instruction in the world is simple, the VERY FEW TEACHERS who can teach well with multiple solutions to a wide range of golfers, have never been watched by the masses of instructors.

Perfect example:

The TOTAL JUNK lesson given to golf digest's writer by the "whisperers."

If that was an audition to teach for me, they flunked.

Yet, 1000's of teachers saw it, and I don't see any outrage.

I'm new to the "Manzella" ideas... but I'll venture that the left heel action promotes me "snapping the kinetic chain".

Absolutely, babe.

[kc8kir]

Thanks for the reply Brian, and the confirmation of my swing thoughts regarding the left heel.

I'm gonna start telling those know-it-alls that if they don't like my heel lift, they can tell me about it when they catch up to me in the fairway.

I haven't seen too many threads yet where people put up swing videos, but if that's allowed, I get one together and put it up for critique. Here's to telling those X-factor resistance junkies to go take a hike (out of bounds!).

Brian, I'd really be interested to hear your thoughts on why the average score for amateur golfers hasn't improved despite new technology. My theories:

1) Mass Media Instruction and Confusion
2) Inattention to the development of real ballstriking
3) The age of grip it, rip it, and pray
4) Huge departure from time tested swing fundamentals

[Guitar Hero]

The left heel lift on the back swing is used by all great players! Not lifting it just B.S.

[EdStraker]

I find initiating the backswing with tapping the right foot and letting the left heel during the backswing has improved my tempo dramatically and then the downswing starting with the planting of the left heel.

My last 2 rounds on a course with a slope of 130 has been 74 and 75 with so-so putting.

[Brian Manzella]

Originally Posted by kc8kir

I'd really be interested to hear your thoughts on why the average score for amateur golfers hasn't improved despite new technology. My theories:

1) Mass Media Instruction and Confusion
2) Inattention to the development of real ballstriking
3) The age of grip it, rip it, and pray
4) Huge departure from time tested swing fundamentals

1. Poor Instruction (teachers, TV, mags, etc.)
2. Courses have gotten harder

[Deadly_Scope]

With regards to footwork, it is best to to not allow superfluous movement of the knee bend and ankle joint by the lifting the foot at the metatarsal-phalangeal joints independent of the hip motion pivot just to raise the heel for no reason whatsoever. Any foot action that does exist should be to facilitating pivot motion with an economical action.

Most average golfers I see at the range do not pivot well enough to try to be economical. I would rather see someone lift the heel of the foot (but keeping the phalanges on the ground) and pivot better and not being economical than have total economy in their footwork for the stunted pivot they strain to preform.

[Deadly_Scope]

Originally Posted by Guitar Hero

The left heel lift on the back swing is used by all great players! Not lifting it just B.S.

I don't know about that.

Tiger Woods, Moe Norman.. just two straight off the top of my head.

[Guitar Hero]

Originally Posted by Deadly_Scope

I don't know about that.

Tiger Woods, Moe Norman.. just two straight off the top of my head.

If you look real close you will see the left heel off the ground a little bit in Tigers swing. Also if you look at a young Moe you will see it as well. The real problem is when the golfer tries to keep it down or tries to lift it. With the correct pivot the left heel will come up as a result.

[Deadly_Scope]

Hmmm No...



I could show a thousand more pics showing the same thing.

Moe Norman "Throughout the swing, you never see any spikes on my foot, neither on the toe or the heel" - pointing at left foot...

Its never a good idea to try to fit your ideas with the realities of real model.