The banner is to inform visitors of an important message
.webp){kind=logo}
Want to improve your ball striking, distance, and consistency? It all starts with mastering the downswing sequence. Watch as Mark Crossfield uses OPTIMOTION technology to analyze the movement patterns that separate great ball-strikers from inconsistent ones.
00:00:00 – Introducing a shot drill that helps players feel their trail shoulder lower than the lead shoulder during the downswing — a key move for better contact and consistency.
00:00:10 – Using OPTIMOTION, we see that failing to keep the trail shoulder down drastically affects inclination to the ground and strike quality.
00:00:28 – Comparison of two swings:
00:00:47 – At impact, the poor swing shows a major loss of shoulder bend (from 37° to 24°), while the better swing stays close to tour averages (around 6° change).
00:01:33 – OPTIMOTION Feedback. Color-coded feedback (yellow vs. blue) helps visualize how even small deviations change strike quality. Good swing = yellow, stable pattern. Poor swing = blue, excessive lift.
00:02:24 – Maintaining your inclination angle through impact is key. Standing up forces inconsistent ground contact and demands unwanted compensations.
00:03:00 – Even elite players have quirks, but data reveals consistency patterns. The goal isn’t to be perfect, but to understand your movement trends.
00:03:17 – The improved swing naturally matches tour-level movement patterns. The bad swing needs compensations that reduce speed and reliability.
00:03:43 – Keep the cue simple: “Trail shoulder lower than lead shoulder.” It’s an easy way to produce better impact conditions.
00:04:13 – The cue isn’t about “more bend” — it’s really about proper tilt. The right feel and wording help players move correctly without overthinking mechanics.
00:04:37 – Tech like OPTIMOTION helps visualize improvement, while relatable cues make the feedback actionable.
00:05:00 – At finish, check that your trail shoulder sits below your lead. If not, you’re likely too upright, leading to weak or inconsistent strikes.
00:05:13 – Use this drill to train shoulder tilt and strike control. Track your results with OPTIMOTION for measurable, repeatable progress.
⛳ Trail shoulder down = better contact
📉Standing up kills strike consistency
🎯 Maintain tilt through impact
🧠 Simple cue beats technical thought
📊 Tech + feel = measurable progress
00:00:00 - I’m going to show you a shot and a drill that’s been really effective with my students. The focus is feeling like your trail shoulder stays lower than your lead shoulder on the downswing.
00:00:10 - When that doesn’t happen, as we’ll see on Optimotion, the difference in quality of strike is huge. It completely changes your inclination to the ground and impacts consistency. Let’s take a look.
00:00:28 - On the left, we have a common swing issue—thin shots, tops, inconsistent strikes. On the right, the new swing with that trail shoulder-down feel. Both start from similar setups, which is important.
00:00:47 - So, even though setup looks great, it doesn’t guarantee a solid strike. It’s just the foundation. Now, let’s move both swings to impact and look at what changes.
00:01:08 - Here you can see the difference clearly. On the poor strike, I’ve stood up significantly. Shoulder bend, which measures how much I’m tilted forward or backward, dropped from about 37° forward down to 24° at impact.
00:01:33 - Tour players typically start around 40° forward and move to about 34°—only a 6° change. In this case, the poor swing shows nearly a 20° difference, while the better one stays within that 6° range.
00:01:58 - Optimotion helps visualize this perfectly. The color codes make it clear—yellow shows ideal movement, blue indicates too much change. Even if the setup’s the same, that deviation affects contact dramatically.
00:02:24 - Look at the inclination lines to the ground. At impact, the bad swing stands up; the better one maintains its angle. That’s why the strike quality improves.
00:02:36 - If I stand up, it’s nearly impossible to bring the club back to the ground consistently. To compensate, I’d have to drop or tilt excessively, often leading to fat or thin shots.
00:03:00 - Yes, there are good players who make unusual moves and still play well. But tools like Optimotion show exactly what movements produce repeatable results for each player.
00:03:17 - My better swing falls closer to tour averages. I’m not forcing it—it just naturally aligns better. The other swing requires extra compensation, leading to inconsistent contact and less speed.
00:03:43 - What I love about this drill is its simplicity. Just think “trail shoulder lower than lead shoulder” through impact.
00:03:57 - Even though the trail shoulder stays below in both swings, in the improved version it’s much more dynamic, producing a more solid strike.
00:04:13 - What’s interesting is the cue itself. I’m not really talking about bending more—it’s actually about tilting correctly. But that “trail shoulder down” feel triggers the right motion for most golfers.
00:04:37 - That’s the beauty of coaching with technology. We use clear feedback but also tailor language that resonates with the student. Saying “more shoulder bend” isn’t nearly as effective as giving them a relatable feel.
00:05:00 - A simple checkpoint: at your finish, if your trail shoulder isn’t below your lead, you’re likely too upright. Bring that back to impact and you’ll see why it’s harder to make solid contact.
00:05:13 - So, if you struggle with strike consistency, this drill is a great fix. Focus on that lower trail shoulder, and use tech like OPTIMOTION to measure your progress—it makes the process even easier.
Ready to elevate your game? Book a lesson or fitting at your nearest GOLFTEC location today!
Schedule a time to chat with one of our expert coaches about our lessons, club fittings, or swing evaluations!
.avif)
