What is Your Trigger

John Stahlschmidt
PGA Director of Instruction
JW Marriott Camelback Golf Club
Scottsdale, AZ
http://www.jjsgolf.org
jjs.golf@hotmail.com

More Information

I found myself struggling during a recent round of golf. My grip pressure felt very tight and honestly I felt a tremendous amount of tension in my arms and entire body. I suppose being many over par will do that to you. I was having a difficult time just starting the swing. Desperate to try something new, I started to waggle on the back nine, just like Jason Dufner does before he swings. Amazingly, I felt the freedom to start my swing without any tension and the results were much better. I have performed this “trigger” every round since and every shot on the practice facility.      

Every great golfer has a trigger. Whether it is the head tilt of Jack Nicklaus or the foot tapping of Ricky Fowler, these triggers allow the swing to start without tension or technical thought. Triggers play an important role and should be part of your pre shot routine. If we watched 100 PGA and LPGA greats, we would see 100 different and distinct triggers that are unique to that golfer.  

Next time you are at the practice facility, I want you to try different triggers before the swing. These triggers can be anything from waggling the club to moving your toes and everything in between. I will be curious to know if it seems easier to start the swing. The only rule is that the trigger you pick should be the same every time. In other words, you don’t want to waggle 5 times on one shot and 3 times on the next. Make your trigger consistent and perform it every time.  I think you will find it helps immensely.

John Stahlschmidt is the PGA Director of Instruction at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. To comment or book a lesson, visit John’s website at jjsgolf.org or email john-j1@msn.com