If you’re like me, a good swing tip is a great way to turn over a new leaf and start playing the type of golf you want.

Whether it’s a simple positioning of your back foot or even a new mental thought, these little changes and tips help guide us into being much better players.

For those looking for more power, a crisp strike, and much more carry distance, the reverse K setup in golf is worth trying. Rory McIlroy loves this concept, and it’s something simple that you can implement today.

What is The Reverse K Setup in Golf

The reverse K setup in golf is a way of positioning your lower and upper body at setup to help improve overall ball flight and power. Although this setup is mostly preferred with a driver in the hands, the best players can learn how to benefit from the reverse K to hit shots with any club in their bag.

Here are the steps to get into a reverse K position…

Step 1: Take Your Typical Stance

Start by taking a standard golf stance where your hips and shoulders are square. For most golfers, with the right hand being lower than the left on the club, there is a bit of a dip of the right shoulder as it is lower than the left.

Step 2: Bump The Hips

One of my favorite things about this reverse k setup is how easy it is to get into. The key here is to simply take your hips and bump them slightly toward the target. If your original golf setup looked a bit like the letter K, you should not be able to see how it looks like a backward K.

The legs are the base of the K with an angle that is now pointing towards your target as opposed to away from it. The upper body is the top portion of the K and has a tilt opposite the lower body.

When you get into this reverse K position, expect that your lower body will have much more power and strength.

Step 3: Use The Legs As A Base For Support

Players like Rory McIlroy have switched to this reverse K setup because they notice how much extra power they get pushing off the legs. One of the most critical scientific forces in the game of golf is torque.

Torque and this extra resistance in the lower body give you something to push off of as you get through the golf ball. If you want that big bomb off the tee, with plenty of carry distance, high ball flight, and very little backspin, this is certainly the way to do it.

Step 4: Analyzing The Golf Bag

As with any other swing change or tweak in the game of golf, there are a few things you must clarify before implementing this throughout the golf bag.

The first thing to remember here is that you can’t over exaggerate the spine tilt, or you can get to a point where it becomes challenging to get the weight off the back foot. In addition, this address position will change a bit depending on which club you have in your bag.

With a driver in your hand and a slightly wider stance, the reverse K setup is very easy to get into and extremely effective. The tendency to sway and incorrectly transfer your weight is significantly reduced. In addition, players actually find it easier to get off their back leg and transfer weight.

However, as you move down through the bag into the irons and wedges, the amount of tilt that you want in the setup is usually a bit less. An excellent iron shot does require a descending blow with the golf club, and if you get a bit too low with the right shoulder, that becomes hard to do.

Try to take videos or pictures of your posture, stance, and set up, and then analyze them to see if you have maybe taken the concept a bit too far.

Pros of The Reverse K

The reverse K setup is used primarily to get golfers more power and distance in the swing. In the example of Rory McIlroy, we know he is not the biggest player on tour, but he can certainly hit it just as far as the big guys.

Rory chalks that up to the reverse K and the impact that it has had on his golf game.

When I tested this, I liked how easy it was to get into the position. It gave me a place I felt comfortable and could easily repeat time after time. Setting up on the tee box in the reverse K position really takes less than a second, but it can become a significant part of a pre-shot routine.

One thing that worried me was the ability to push off of that right side and get to the left. The tilt felt as though it might keep me back on the right side. However, after experimenting with this, it was actually quite the opposite.

The turf was much more efficient, and in return, the overall distance and ability to jump off that right side were greatly improved.

• Increases overall power and ability to push off of the right side
• Easy position to get into
• Higher ball flight
• Less backspin on the driver
• Feels powerful when in the position before swinging

Cons of The Reverse K

As with any swing change, problems can always come up. Some of the negatives of the reverse K have to do with pre-existing issues in your golf swing. For instance, some players that are not good at releasing their hands will find that the reverse k creates a larger slice.

It’s good to understand that some positions in golf are there to help us create more power and others are for accuracy. The reverse K is more of a power move. It’s not going to cause you to be inaccurate, but if accuracy is already a problem in your game, it’s something to be aware of.

You still need to ensure your lower and upper body are working together and that you know how to release the golf club. Things like clubface angle, spine angle, and spine tilt can be easily exaggerated, so pay attention to how you get into the reverse K setup and ensure you are not overdoing it.

• Some golfers will exaggerate the concept and get into a wrong position
• The higher ball flight is not always better
• Not as great for irons and wedges as it is for driver swing
• Still need to ensure you push off your lower body at impact

Final Verdict – Should You Use The Reverse K Setup?

The reverse k setup is a swing tip that has proven effective on the PGA Tour. When professionals use it, it’s hard to question whether or not it is effective. The bottom line is that we know the reverse K is effective; it’s just a matter of whether or not it will work for your game.

For golfers seeking higher ball flight, more carry, and distance off the tee, the reverse K setup makes sense. It’s a bit easier to work with in the driver and fairway woods than it is in the irons and wedges.

Start with this concept on the range. Give your hips a little bump towards the target and see how that impacts the ball’s flight and distance that you can obtain.

When I implemented this into my driver swings, I absolutely saw the difference and why golfers have decided to use it.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

Source link

Have you ever heard of the reverse overlap putting grip? Though it may sound a bit complicated, the reverse overlap is one of the simplest putting grips in golf. When it comes to putting, the reverse overlap is considered a conventional grip.

The reverse overlap grip has been around a long time and it has become the most popular grip on the PGA Tour. In fact, according to this poll, 68.5% of PGA players on the Top 70 FedEx Cup standings in 2019 used the reverse overlap grip.

This putting grip style is giving some golfers a huge advantage. Find out how it works and if you should use it here. After reading this, you’ll be able to decide if the reverse overlap putting grip will help you shoot lower scores.

What is The Reverse Overlap Putting Grip?

Perhaps you have heard of the famous overlap grip for full golf swings. Do you know how the overlap grip requires you to take your right pinky finger and lap it over your left index finger?

This putting grip works in a similar, albeit opposite fashion. Here’s a quick guide to how to use the reverse overlap putting grip:

1. Grab the putter shaft with your right hand first
2. Place the golf club into your right palm and make sure your right thumb points straight down the shaft
3. Loosely grip the club with the fingers of your right hand
4. Now place your left hand on the club
5. Curl your left index finger over your right pinkie finger

Why Some Golfers Use This Putting Grip Style

1. More Control of the Clubface

Most golfers love the reverse overlap putting grip because it keeps the putter more in the palms. This gives the golfer much more control of the putter’s clubface. 

More control usually leads to more stability and consistency on the greens. All of this adds up to a more confident putting stroke and more birdies on the golfer’s scorecard.

2. Prevents the Hands from Rolling Over

Another big reason golfers prefer the reverse overlap grip is because it helps prevent the hands from rolling over at impact. Golfers who roll their wrists during their putting stroke often struggle with finding the correct ball speed on the greens.

3. Simplicity

Other golfers like the reverse overlap grip because it’s a simple putting technique that has a long history of success. In golf, simplicity means a great deal to both amateurs and professionals alike. 

Not only is the reverse overlap easy to learn, most golfers feel it is incredibly comfortable. Comfort means everything, especially on the greens.

4. Grip Pressure

Lots of golfers get super nervous while on the putting green and they end up gripping the putter way too tightly. This makes it more difficult to sink any putt, especially a long one. 

The reverse overlap grip makes it easier for the golfer to lighten their grip pressure on their dominant hand. This leads to better accuracy and a more pure stroke.

Pro Golfers Who Use The Reverse Overlap Grip

Tiger Woods

We can’t leave the greatest golfer of all time off this list. Woods has used the traditional reverse overlap grip his entire PGA Tour career. 

Woods prefers to lap his left index finger over both his right pinkie and right ring fingers. The 15-time major champion is known as the best clutch putter of all time so the reverse overlap grip has worked exceptionally well for him.

Rory McIlroy

McIlory has been one of the best players on the PGA Tour for quite some time. The 4-time major champion switched to the reverse overlap putting grip back in 2011 and it has served him well.

Shortly after McIlory made the putter grip switch, he won his first major title at the 2011 U.S. Open. The reverse overlap grip allows McIlory to keep his left hand in perfect alignment with his target line. Though it seems as if McIlory has been on Tour forever, he’s still only 32 years old and should be able to win a few more major championships.

Jason Day

Though Day’s putting has declined a bit in recent years because of a whole slew of back injuries, he’s still one of the best putters on Tour. The 12-time PGA Tour winner uses the reverse overlap grip and it helps him keep his grip pressure light on the putter. This grip style also allows Day to keep his left forearm aligned with the putter face.

Day won the 2015 PGA Championship and, if he can stay healthy, should be able to make a run at another major soon. The 34-year old Australian has remarkable touch on the greens and the reverse overlap grip is a big reason for his putting acumen.

Other Common Putting Grips

Have you tried the reverse overlap grip and didn’t like the feel of it? Here are 4 other common putting grips for you to explore. Practice with each grip style to see which one works best for you.

Vardon Grip

The Vardon Grip was made popular by pro golfer Harry Vardon and is also known as the overlapping grip. With the Vardon grip, the right pinkie rests on top of the left forefinger. 

Though lots of golfers utilize this grip for a full swing, not as many use it for putting. Many golf instructors feel that the Vardon putting grip allows for too much wrist movement at impact.

Saw Grip

The saw grip is a popular choice for some golfers, but it is considered unconventional. With the saw grip, the left-hand holds the club in a normal, neutral position.

The right hand, however, forms a saw shape with the four fingers. The right thumb grips the underside of the golf club. PGA Tour phenom Collin Morikawa has improved his putting quite a bit since switching to the saw grip.

Claw Grip

The claw grip is similar to the saw grip, so much so that some folks use the terms interchangeably. With the claw grip, the left hand is also neutral. PGA Tour stars like Justin Rose, Tony Finau, and Tommy Fleetwood use the claw grip.

The right-hand forms a cupped claw, but the right forefinger points straight down the shaft instead of across the shaft like with the saw grip. Lots of golfers who have struggled with the yips have found relief by using the claw grip.

Cross-Handed Grip

The cross-handed grip is also known as the left-hand low grip by lots of folks in golf. PGA Tour golfers like Rickie Fowler use the cross-handed grip whenever they are in the midst of an awful putting slump. Fowler claims the cross-handed grip helps him get back to basics and helps him regain his feel on the greens.

As its name implies, the hands swap positions when using the cross-handed grip. With the non-dominant (left) hand lower on the golf club, the golfer’s shoulders are more likely to stay aligned properly throughout the entire putting stroke. Jack Nicklaus never used the left-hand low putting grip, but he famously said he wished he would have learned to do so during his epic pro golf career.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

Source link