Looking to “enroll” at the Harvard of golf? There is no such place, formally speaking, but the premier lessons of golf can be found in the common characteristics of the game’s greatest players. That is the conclusion of Brandel Chamblee, a Golf Channel analyst, who in “The Anatomy of Greatness,” takes a close look at the common swing positions of the masters of the fairways. It is notable, for example, that 48 of the top 50 best golfers of all time lifted their left heels on the backswing, according to the author, who works through each mechanical step of a golf shot, from the grip and setup to impact and finish.
Here’s an excerpt from The Anatomy of Greatness:
“Of the many differences between professionals and amateurs and even between the best professionals and those of lesser skill, a player’s success is largely related to how well the lower body is used on the downswing. This determines in what order, and in what manner, the parts of the body are used in delivering the clubhead to the ball. Proper lower-body movement depends in large part on the trigger motion of the right knee to begin the takeaway. Think of this part of the body as a starting block for a sprinter.
“Almost every great player kicked the right knee in to start the swing. Some, such as Gary Player and Mickey Wright, did it in a more pronounced fashion than others, but this kicking in of the right knee is one of the most important aspects in initiating the correct sequence of many movements that follow."
