Note: This article was written by Ken Duzich, G.S.E.M. and Tom Stickney, G.S.E.D.,
both are Authorized Instructors of The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley
Did you know that the physiological shape of your body will influence your natural
swing’s shape; and thus, you will more comfortable with some type of shots
and some clubs in your bag rather than other ones? For example if you have naturally
wide shoulders then your swing plane will tend to be more rounded and if you
have smaller shoulders then your club will tend to move more vertically during
the swing. If you don’t make provisions for your bodies influence on your
swing’s shape then you will become a one-track type of ball striker; you
must change factors like your stance width, the loading of the clubshaft by
cocking the wrists earlier or later, and/or changing your workout habits. In
this article we will show you Tour Players exemplifying the three body types
and how they compensate for their tendencies in efforts to hit all the clubs
in the bag from tee to green more effectively.
• Ectomorphic- Davis Love III, Charles Howell, Jesper, and David Gossett
1. These are the players built with narrow shoulders and narrow hips- the slender
or “lean” type of built player
2. This body type tends to force the swing to be slightly more vertical than
the other body types
• Mesomorphic- Greg Norman, Tiger Woods (now), Nick Faldo,
Shaun Micheel
1. These are the players built with wide shoulders and a muscular body build
2. This body type tends to force the swing to become more rounded
3. This plane tendency will be exacerbated if you work out with weights
• Endomorphic- Tim Herron, Tom Kite, and Doug Barron
1. These are the players built with narrow shoulders and wider hips
2. This is the most common body type for golfers
3. This body type tends to force the swing to be less vertical than the Ectomorphic
build, but not as rounded as the Mesomorphic build
Now that we have identified the three body types how can you make sure you are
adapting for what your body shape tries to force your swing to do?
• Ectomorphic
1. This player must widen his stance slightly wider than arm-pit width to allow
more lower body stability so that the body can rotate the clubshaft more “around”
to compensate for this body type’s tendency to work the club up and down
too vertically
2. The wrist hinge of this type of player must be delayed, widening the arc,
to allow the club to move “deeper” behind the player into a slightly
“flatter” position that what the body tends to do naturally
3. Use the feeling of the club setting around “chest-high” to make
sure the club moves deeper behind you into the start of the backswing; the mid
to late wrist set will make sure the club moves upward enough to be in a position
at the top that is not too flat or too vertical for all your clubs
• Mesomorphic
1. This player must narrow his stance to arm-pit width to aid the club in moving
upwards easier- with a wider stance the club would tend to round itself into
the backswing
2. The wrist hinge of this type of player must happen very quickly into the
backswing or the club will become laid off and get stuck behind the player too
early
3. Use the “Split-Hand” Drill on the grip of the club to feel the
club setting earlier (around belt-high) and moving more vertically to compensate
for the natural “around” swing that this body type will force you
into
• Endomorphic
1. This player must widen his stance to arm-pit width to allow more stability
as the body rotates the clubshaft more “around” the body to compensate
for this body type’s tendency to work the club up and down too vertically
2. The wrist hinge of this type of player must be delayed, widening the arc,
and allowing the club to move “deeper” behind the player moving
into a much flatter position that what the body tends to do naturally
3. Use a feeling of the club “lagging” behind the wrists in route
to the top to allow the hinging of the club not to happen too early (not before
chest high,) as well as, making sure to focus to allow the pivot motion of the
body to move the arms, hands, and clubshaft into the more correct backswing
position
Now that we have identified the three body types on Tour, where
you fit in, and the way to circumvent their tendencies your next step is to
understand and feel what is being said. Check to see just how these types of
swings influence the swing’s shape by going to the practice facility and
see if the flaws you see match up with what is stated above…map out your
changes and have fun! Golf is a marathon NOT a sprint!
Questions or Comments: www.tomstickneygolf.com or (850) 267-8156