It is often stated that gravity plays a major role in the golf swing. The authors most often state this as a fact, not as a hypothesis. This is especially evident when discussing the downswing. These authors believe that the biggest creator of speed on the downswing is gravity, not force or power.
However, close examination of the scientific facts involved will show that this is impossible. There are several very important reasons for this.
They include:
- Gravity can only pull downward, that is, exert a force directly toward the earth. But in the swing the club and club head move in a circular manner. This means that all the force is not always directed downward but also has a corresponding horizontal force in which gravity does not play a role. In fact on your drives the club must be moving horizontally when contact is made with the ball. The amount of distance over which gravity pulls the club down is relatively short. In addition, the club is relatively light. As a result, it is impossible for the club head to generate much speed if gravity was the only force pulling it downward. If this was the case you would not have to concentrate on pulling with the arms or rotating the shoulders or hips to generate the force.
- If you kept the wrist cocked until the hands were about hip high, you would find that gravity would not even “break” the wrists because the club head is behind the arms. Gravity will pull the arm and club head down at an equal speed, but it will not unhinge the wrists to bring the club head around faster.
- Gravity can assist in helping you accelerate the arms and club head, but in comparison to the amount of force developed by the body, arms, and wrists, gravity plays a relatively insignificant role. In fact, if you wish to hit the ball even further, it is important that you increase your level of strength in the same manner as it is involved in the swing. This will give you the biggest and most productive increase in power which is needed to hit the ball further.
You are in control of the golf swing, not external factors. By thinking that gravity plays a major role it takes away your attention and concentration on the key body actions that produce effective force, capable of getting the ball to where you want it to go.