Reverse Pivot

It is easy to see when some one is ‘reverse pivoting’ but pointing it out does not address the problem. In my experience a ‘reverse pivot’ is a result of a fault not a fault on its own.

The primary causes of a ‘reverse pivot’ can be; 1. Someone keeping their head ‘still’ or ‘down’ so the head becomes the swing centre causing their weight to move in the opposite direction to the swing. 2. A totally right handed/side dominated swing. So that the club is lifted away from the ball causing the left shoulder to go down under the chin instead of around. 3. Not understanding the ‘concept’ that the spine is the center of the swing and the body should rotate around it, thus, ideally, the centre of mass (your weight) moves with the motion onto your back foot at the top of the swing.

So to correct a ‘reverse pivot action’ I would be starting at the set up and looking at; 1. That the right side (for right handers) was passive and that the left shoulder was higher than the right with the spine angle tilted slightly right and that the ‘v’s’ of the grip were pointing at the right shoulder. 2. That the weight was slightly more on the right foot than the left and that the pupil was not ‘flat footed’ but had the weight tending toward the balls of the feet. 3. That the clubhead was not ‘jammed’ on the ground and was free to move when the swing commenced. 4. That the swing started with a body turn and not with a hand or arm movement. 5. That the arms fold around the body and do not lift during the backswing. In general your hands do not need to go above your ears.

Remember, we must watch the ball, not keep our head still. We must have our weight going with the motion so that at the top of the backswing we are balanced on our back foot. That has got rid of the reverse pivot and you are now ready to carry out Henry Cotton’s basic objective... "to hit the back of the ball with the center of the club face".