Many have asked how Mike Austin started the backswing. Here’s how:
Remember, when you took the proper stance, the trailing leg was flexed. The trailing leg now goes into extension, meaning it straightens.
For right handers, the right hip gets a bump to 4 0’clock.
The arms begin to move because the body begins to move.
The arms do not swing independently!
Copyright llenroc enterprises LLC , July 2010
Mike Austin’s pivot differed from the modern pivot. Before getting into the details, check out the overall move. Both types of pivot are used by today’s Tour players.
An example of the modern pivot is Camilo Villegas. Note how the feet are anchored to the ground in the back swing for stability. The knees are often kept wide to inhibit lower body movement. The upper body is then turned against the stable lower body.
Source: You Tube, bignogga
Compare that move to the Austin-like pivot of Bubba Watson. Power is generated through mobility versus stability.
Source: You Tube, golfer 221
In Mike Austin’s opinion, the modern swing led to “arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and lots of other -itises”.
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
“I am interested in Mobility, Not Stability!”, Mike Austin would growl, forever imprinting a new golf secret into your psyche. Mike didn’t agree with most of modern golf instruction including: taking a wide stance, anchoring your feet to the ground and torquing the upper body against the lower body.
Mike advocated supple quickness, not rigid slowness. It started with the stance, including the width of stance.
To promote mobility, Mike advocated a narrow stance. A wide stance causes the knees to work against the hips. A narrow stance, on the other hand, enables the ankles, knees and hips to work in unison as the engine of the golf swing.
Further, a narrow stance promotes balance. The narrow stance allows a shift to the back leg during the backswing, and then a shift to the front leg on the through swing.
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
Like many of you, I watched quite a bit of the U.S. Open yesterday. Two comments of Johnny Miller regarding Dustin Johnson caused me to pause. I’ll have to paraphrase the comments, but they went something like this:
1. “He’s a real solid player, even with that wrist bow.”
2.”Look at that old time leg action – like Weiskopf.”
Funny how today’s commentators view swing features that differ than that presently taught under the “modern approach” (flat left wrist, lower body steady with upper body torquing against the lower) as swing flaws. Here is a guy leading the Open and launching it over 300 yards. Perhaps that bow and leg action are far from swing flaws. Perhaps they are key factors as to why Dustin can stripe it huge distances under pressure.
I know one person who would love the bow in the left hand and that leg action – Mike Austin.
Didn’t want to leave you hanging on the second part of the Mike Austin Golf Stance. So, here goes:
In Part 1 of the Stance we: (1) stood erect; (2) allowed the derriere to move back until our arms hung freely above the tips of our toes; and (3) clapped our hands together. (We did not squat with the knees.)
Now, we know that the trailing hand (right hand for righties) must go from the clapped position to a point below the left hand. We get there by flexing the right knee and allowing the right hip to drop. This sets the right shoulder below the left shoulder. Here’s a view from head-on and then down the line.
AND HERE’S THE KEY BENEFIT TO MIKE AUSTIN’S SET UP: YOU CAN NOW HIT IT WITH EITHER “HUND”!
Here’s Mike using his leg to nudge the back of the student’s right knee. The student now feels the motion of going from an extended right knee to a flexed right knee. This allows the right hand to lower properly below the left, with the resultant lowering of the right shoulder.
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
Thought it would be fun to open up the discussion at various times to let people share their experiences with Mike Austin and/or the Mike Austin golf swing.
Please share your stories.
Who among you met Mike or took a lesson from him?
Anyone play with Mike before his stroke? Witness him at a long drive contest? See him hit balls?
Anyone possess any newspaper clips or photo’s?
What about your experiences with the Mike Austin swing? Best drive? Best hole? Best round?
Any one given up on the swing? How come?
Thought it would be fun to open up the discussion at various times to let people share their experiences with Mike Austin and/or the Mike Austin golf swing.
Please share your stories.
Who among you met Mike or took a lesson from him?
Anyone play with Mike before his stroke? Witness him at a long drive contest? See him hit balls?
Anyone possess any newspaper clips or photo’s?
What about your experiences with the Mike Austin swing? Best drive? Best hole? Best round?
Any one given up on the swing? How come?
Here is part one of the stance taught by Mike Austin in detail:
“98% of the swing is in your stance and alignment. All the angles: Your arm angles; your angle of your spine; the angle of your legs in relation to your hips, so that you have yourself balanced . . .”
Stance keys:
Don’t squat your knees. Maintain as much of your height as possible.
Standing erect, move your derriere backwards and your head moves down. You didn’t move your head independently.
What brings your head down, is the movement of your derriere.
Move the derriere back and let your head come down until the arms hang down above the tips of the toes.
That action gives you the proper angle of the spine.
Now, put your palms together.
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
Here is part one of the stance taught by Mike Austin in detail:
“98% of the swing is in your stance and alignment. All the angles: Your arm angles; your angle of your spine; the angle of your legs in relation to your hips, so that you have yourself balanced . . .”
Stance keys:
Don’t squat your knees. Maintain as much of your height as possible.
Standing erect, move your derriere backwards and your head moves down. You didn’t move your head independently.
What brings your head down, is the movement of your derriere.
Move the derriere back and let your head come down until the arms hang down above the tips of the toes.
That action gives you the proper angle of the spine.
Now, put your palms together.
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
“You have to go to kindergarten before you graduate college!” I can still hear Mike’s voice ringing in my ears.
I witnessed him work miracles with students in a very short time “building a foundation before you put the roof on”. Fortunately, I can save you hours of sweat equity and provide detailed demonstrations at each step. I can also have you side-step my personal experience with the all-to-often documented flubbed shots and resultant tongue-lashings.
I also spent hours with Mike on instruction on the short game, speciality shots, and the secret parachute shot.
But, I’d like to have your input. What interests you? Does it help to see my swing? Thanks!!
The clip evidences a rather direct approach.
The clip below debunks the cryptic myth by evidencing Mike’s “hands-on” approach”.
Few were as passionate in their craft!
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
The clip evidences a rather direct approach.
The clip below debunks the cryptic myth by evidencing Mike’s “hands-on” approach”.
Few were as passionate in their craft!
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
There, I said it. I’ve sat back for years now reading forums, blogs, and the like on Mike Austin’s golf instruction. My blood has boiled. Some of the commentators and self-proclaimed gurus never met the man, yet alone took lessons from him. Several sought him out in the twilight of his life when his health limited his teaching to his front yard and in later years to his living room Barcalounger or motorized hospital bed.
My face reddened while reading mischaracterizations that his teachings were “mystical” and “cryptic”. I grew disgusted by those who claimed that they discovered the secrets, yet never studied under the man. My blood pressure sky-rocketed by unsupported and self-serving assertions that Mike’s teachings were only aimed at long drivers.
My name is Chuck, president of llenroc enterprises LLC, and for over 5 years I spent dozens of hours with Mike in one-on-one instruction. I was also fortunate enough to be allowed by his side while he gave hours of lessons to numerous other students.
We sweated together, challenged each other, and had a lot of laughs. We became the closest of friends. Mike was gracious enough to permit me to document those lessons and witness and document the small miracles that he worked with other students.
I promised Mike that I would, when the time was right, make sure that his teaching legacy would not be abused or forgotten. That time is now . . .
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
There, I said it. I’ve sat back for years now reading forums, blogs, and the like on Mike Austin’s golf instruction. My blood has boiled. Some of the commentators and self-proclaimed gurus never met the man, yet alone took lessons from him. Several sought him out in the twilight of his life when his health limited his teaching to his front yard and in later years to his living room Barcalounger or motorized hospital bed.
My face reddened while reading mischaracterizations that his teachings were “mystical” and “cryptic”. I grew disgusted by those who claimed that they discovered the secrets, yet never studied under the man. My blood pressure sky-rocketed by unsupported and self-serving assertions that Mike’s teachings were only aimed at long drivers.
My name is Chuck, president of llenroc enterprises LLC, and for over 5 years I spent dozens of hours with Mike in one-on-one instruction. I was also fortunate enough to be allowed by his side while he gave hours of lessons to numerous other students.
We sweated together, challenged each other, and had a lot of laughs. We became the closest of friends. Mike was gracious enough to permit me to document those lessons and witness and document the small miracles that he worked with other students.
I promised Mike that I would, when the time was right, make sure that his teaching legacy would not be abused or forgotten. That time is now . . .
Copyright June 2010, llenroc enterprises LLC
Mentored By The Legend - Mike Austin 