You’ve been looking for a way to make consistent contact with the ball. Or perhaps you just want to increase the distance your ball travels every time you hit it. In that case, you’ve come to the right place.
By the end of this post, you will have all you need to know about how to perfect those elements of your game. It is through a golf technique called the Reverse K that promises much in terms of efficiency and consistency in your swinging endeavors.
‘But what exactly is the Reverse K Golf Swing?’ You may wonder. The Reverse K results from placing your hips a tad towards your target to level the hips and shoulders. It is the answer to the unevenness between your hips and shoulders due to dipping your shoulder lower.
This unevenness arises, depending on whether you’re right- or left-handed, as you grip the club in preparation for a shot. The stance, if not corrected, makes getting a powerful backswing and consistency when hitting the golf ball extremely difficult.
This is due to your hips and shoulders being on two different planes since your preferred hand is lower than its counterpart. Once your hips and shoulders are on the same plane, it’s the right address position for the shot you seek.
Getting the basic foundation of the golf swing right is the key to getting the desired result, every single time. A proper golf swing setup or address position is therefore critical to your success as a golfer.
Getting the setup right may be a bit intricate depending on your experience level as a golfer. Though once you get it right, you will be able to put your focus where it is needed most – on your precise swing thought.
What you should know about the Reverse K
First, we will assume you are right-handed (if you are left-handed, just switch up the sides). Your body forms a Reverse-K at the address position. This entails your left side being straight while your right side is kinked at the waist.
The position means you load into the right side and get back to the left foot as you downswing. This keeps the low point of the swing slightly behind the ball. It also enables you to put your weight back to the left side.
A player will get into the Reverse K position almost naturally, yet they should be conscious of it too. The Reverse K is therefore a reference to the position of the arms and legs at address.
This means that a camera or person facing you from the face-on angle will observe the Reverse K. This is because the top two lines of the ‘K’ are formed by your arms. On the other hand, the two bottom lines are formed by your legs.
The right hand by our assumption, has a lower position on the grip and creates the angled ‘K’ line. Not forgetting the slight bend of the back leg due to the shoulder tilt. This is the aforementioned angled line creating the bottom ‘K’ part.
While this may look technical on paper, it is rather simple once you get down to mastering the basics. It is the reason why it does not have to be overly dramatic when setting up the position.
This point is simple to overlook yet the setup can be overdone if with a far back leaning of your backside. Getting it right calls for relaxation and comfort at address. Check for tension in the shoulder or too much hitting up on the ball to ensure you do not take it too far.
Setting up for the Reverse K
Putting yourself in an athletic position, ensure your knees are bent. Adjust your hips marginally to the left, in the direction of the target. If you do not get the setup right then your golf shot will be greatly impacted.
Make sure you avoid these four pitfalls if you want to make the golf shot consistently.
- Aiming way right
- Aiming way left
- Bad posture
- Gripping incorrectly
Once avoided, the likelihood for a successful setup, which is crucial to the Reverse K, is all but guaranteed. Having your knees bent when you are in an athletic position at address ensures your legs can be leveraged.
This in turn means that you will be able to push off the ground. All this is done while you are standing tall and not while hunched over. Another important step to remember is the hip adjustment towards the target.
This plays to your advantage at address since your entire upper body gets behind the golf ball. Do not be a zealot by overdoing the hip push way towards the target. Doing so means you have drastically changed the angle and a proper weight shift becomes nearly impossible.
Weight distribution and the Reverse K
Weight distribution can be associated with the Reverse K. Weight distribution is the varying positioning of the total body weight percentages. This distribution is between your front and back foot, in addition to the heel and the toe.
The correct weight distribution, at setup, calls for 50% of bodyweight per foot, as the most relaxed and natural position. This evenness allows for balance maintenance throughout the golf swing.
When each foot is scrutinized, the weight needs to be slightly forward on the toes or balls of your feet. This ensures better balance and agility during the entire swing. If the swing starts too far back on the heels, it usually loses power and accuracy.
This is due to a fall backward of the golfer after the swing. That said, keeping the club face square and making solid impact is difficult if the swing starts on the heels. You, therefore, need to distribute your weight correctly such that your swing goes as planned.
The Reverse K with different clubs
Using a different club entails a different proper way to think about the Reverse K. Below, we discuss how the technique fits in with the mentioned golf clubs in a typical golfer’s bag:
Reverse K with Woods
With the Woods (the golf club category that includes the Driver and Fairway Woods), the Reverse K is very crucial. The proper setup allows you to load on your right side, keeping your head behind the ball.
Remember that this only applies if you positioned the ball off of your left heel. The position also facilitates the delivery of an upward blow to the ball, using the legs to generate more power.
The move, consequently, is the key to a better driver hit. This is because it increases the ball’s trajectory and total carry distance while reducing the driver’s backspin. Its efficiency had been debated profoundly for so long.
This was before a Stanford study put the matter to bed by proving it. Using a 3 or 5 Wood, the only adjustment needed is the ball position. Once it’s in the front center part of your stance, you can hit a pure fairway wood off the ground. Not forgetting to keep your posture the same for maximum effect.
Reverse K with Irons
Every player, given some experience, knows which golf club will produce which result. The correct setup when you are using the Irons set of golf clubs is a bit different from that of the Woods.
This is because you are aiming for a descending blow at impact. A Pure Irons hit calls for you to hit the ball before you hit the turf. The ball goes up when you hit down on it, all thanks to the loft.
This is usually the case for the shorter Irons that dictate this kind of movement. For Irons that are longer, the ball should ideally be placed in the center or front. This is unlike the case for shorter irons where you want it just ahead of the center.
In this case, too, the hips are moved a tad towards the target. Always keep this in mind. Setup is an important aspect that should become a natural part of your game, no matter the golf club held.
Reverse K with Wedges
The Wedges also dictate a slight change from the Irons or Woods. Your head needs to be a little ahead of the ball. This means you have to move the ball slightly back from the center position.
When your head and weight are slightly forward, a clean and crisp strike that traps the ball is possible. The resulting movement is one where the ball has less spin and a more controlled lower trajectory.
Final Points to Note
The right setup at address will improve your hits in immeasurable ways. This improvement will be so drastic that you will marvel at the consistency with which you hit the ball.
If you have been looking for ways to improve your shot consistency, the Reverse K is your long-awaited answer. It will make it simpler to assess your swing and consequently figure out where you are going astray.
Problem areas for some people have been being able to hit the irons pure but not the driver. It is usually observed for the latter to go all over the golf course. Correcting the setup and head position has provided a definitive solution in this case.
Therefore, evaluate your setup and head position so any problem points are addressed. Be sure to make video recordings of your swings as you practice. This is so you can review your moves from a different perspective.
Finding a golf app, that allows you to draw lines on your hips and shoulders, is a great idea too. These will greatly help with correcting your alignment. The Reverse K will soon be a ‘no-brainer’ when incorporated into your golf swing.
Conclusion
Setting up in the Reverse K position takes the work out of your swing. It leaves you with little else to do but turn your shoulders. When incorporated into your golf swing, you easily get the desired effect.
This is as the Reverse K helps when you come over the top with the Driver and the Fairway Woods. By bumping your hips slightly forward at the address position, you put your shoulders and hips on the same plane. This ensures consistency in hitting the ball farther.