CONCEPT · BALL STRIKING INTERMEDIATE FOCUS
A properly sequenced downswing delivers the club through impact with effortless power and pinpoint control.
Skill split
01 · Overview
~2 min read
The downswing represents golf's ultimate moment of truth—where all your preparation either pays off with pure contact or falls apart in frustration. What separates consistent ball-strikers from those who struggle isn't raw power or perfect mechanics, but understanding how the body should sequence through impact and beyond.
Porzak Golf offers a game-changing perspective on downswing sequencing, emphasizing how your sternum should stay pointed at the ball throughout the entire motion, allowing your arms to pull you through rather than forcing the action with your upper body. This subtle shift in feeling can eliminate the common tendency to come over the top—a move that destroys both power and accuracy. The key lies in that crucial transition moment, where a slight gathering pause at the top prevents the compensations that plague most amateur swings.
Understanding proper shoulder turn dynamics changes everything about how you approach the downswing. When your lead shoulder moves across rather than pulling back during the descent, you naturally create the depth needed for solid contact. This concept, combined with targeted practice using drills like the pump drill, helps groove the proper sequence that leads to consistent ball-striking and improved club path control.
4 components that build the move
01 · TRANSITION PAUSE
The downswing begins with a subtle pause that allows the lower body to initiate while the club completes its backswing. This prevents the upper body from rushing and destroying sequence.
02 · LOWER BODY LEAD
The pelvis begins rotating toward the target while the arms remain passive. This creates the proper kinetic chain that generates speed and prevents over-the-top moves.
03 · ARM DEPTH
As the lower body leads, the arms naturally fall into position behind the body rather than casting outward. The lead shoulder moves across rather than pulling back, creating proper swing plane.
04 · STERNUM POSITION
The sternum maintains its relationship to the ball throughout the downswing rather than swaying or tilting excessively. This stable center allows the arms to swing freely while maintaining control.
02 · The Reference
3 of 402 · hand-selected
Editor's Pick · #1 · 0:42
Porzak reveals the crucial transition feel that prevents compensations by allowing proper sequencing from the ground up.
Porzak Golf · intermediate
Editor's Pick · 0:32
Athletic Motion Golf isolates the specific shoulder movement that either makes or breaks your entire downswing sequence.
Athletic Motion Golf · intermediate
Editor's Pick · 1:24
Hawkins explains how ground pressure creates natural motion rather than forcing positions, showing the true source of downswing power.
Brad Hawkins Golf Left Tilt Coaching System · intermediate
04 · The Experts
3 perspectives · same drill
04 · Practice it
3 drills
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 5 videos.
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 5 videos.
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 4 videos.
05 · FAQ
Answered from the library
According to Porzak Golf, focus on feeling like your sternum stays pointed at the ball throughout your entire downswing. This helps maintain proper connection and sequencing, allowing your arms to pull you through rather than the arms getting wide and creating an over-the-top move.
Bob Menzies Golf explains that a laid-off position at the top (where the shaft pitches forward) inevitably leads to cutting across the ball from outside-in. The slice often starts with improper backswing positioning, not just downswing path issues.
The Art of Simple Golf emphasizes thinking 'light then heavy' - starting the takeaway light and building momentum. Additionally, Porzak Golf suggests feeling like your hips and hands move together while keeping your sternum pointed at the ball throughout the transition.
Malaska Golf explains the 'feel vs real' concept - you often need to exaggerate movements significantly to achieve actual change. What feels dramatically different to you might only be a small adjustment in reality, so don't be afraid to overdo the feeling initially.
Brad Hawkins Golf emphasizes that 'pressure creates the motion, positions are just the result.' Instead of trying to hit specific positions, focus on how your body pushes into the ground and creates proper pressure patterns throughout the swing.
Tap any concept to explore the library
06 · The Library
YouTube-indexed · expert-graded
Video · 1:07
Tropicana Entertainment
Video · 11:03
Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach
Video · 1:36
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard
Video · 0:12
James Wiltshire
Video · 14:04
JChownGolf
Video · 0:13
CK Golf
Video · 1:01
Jimmy Ballard Golf 2.0
Video · 8:29
ChrisRyanGolf
Video · 0:44
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 0:55
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 1:56
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard
Video · 0:37
Rob Cheney Golf
Video · 1:29
Meandmygolf
Video · 1:00
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 0:52
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 11:50
JChownGolf
Video · 0:36
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 12:29
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 0:59
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 0:44
Hannah Holden Golf
Video · 0:38
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 9:57
Giles Gill Golf
Video · 0:55
Alistair Davies Golf
Video · 0:21
Porzak Golf
Video · 0:40
MONTE’S GOLF - Since 1954
Video · 12:25
Steve Pratt Golf
Video · 7:28
Golf with Coach Carolin
Video · 4:11
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard
Video · 9:34
ChrisRyanGolf
Video · 0:42
Alistair Davies Golf
Video · 21:03
Warren Bennett Golf Academy
Video · 0:28
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 0:15
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard
Video · 38:02
Meandmygolf
Video · 9:51
Ashley Knoll Golf
Video · 15:23
Athletic Motion Golf
Video · 0:11
JChownGolf
Video · 0:12
Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach
Video · 0:32
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 1:12
Hannah Holden Golf
Video · 0:52
Elite Performance Golf Studios
Video · 0:43
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 1:13
Brit Golf Dad
Video · 1:16
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 0:38
Brit Golf Dad
Video · 0:38
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 1:15
Jerome Rufin
Video · 16:44
Milo Lines Golf
Video · 8:39
Peter Knight Golf
Video · 0:46
Athletic Motion Golf
Work with our AI coach to ingrain the proper downswing feel through personalized feedback and progressive drills.