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Downswing and Transition All clubs Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 3 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Stability at the Top of the Swing: 3 Transition Cues

Justin Parsons, director of instruction at the Butch Harmon School of Golf in Dubai, summarizes the transition using three key indicators observed in top players. A short video—more descriptive than practical.

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Justin Parsons
Justin Parsons · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemA Stretch Feeling at the Start of the DownswingPadraig Harrington · Intermediate / Expert12 minSame problemStart the Downswing with Your Legs: Unscrew the LidDanny Maude · Intermediate3 minFrom the same proChecking Your Ball Position: Two Simple GuidelinesJustin Parsons · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

The transition is the moment when the backswing ends and the downswing begins. According to Justin Parsons, the best hitters often have the best transitions. First key: a a club that consistently stays at the top, as if frozen for a moment, even though, like a duck's legs underwater, there's a lot going on beneath the surface.

Second reference point: the the lower body separates from the upper body and returns almost to its starting position. Viewed from behind, the knees return to their original position, and the left hip protrudes, an idea dear to Ben Hogan, which creates a delay. Third reference point: the The handle slopes slightly downward from its horizontal plane on the upswing—something he observes in the vast majority of top players. The video doesn't provide any specific drills: these are sensations you'll need to test out on the driving range.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Finish your backswing while feeling the club remain stable at the top.
  2. Let your lower body move forward while your upper body stays in place.
  3. Feel your knees return to their setup position at address.
  4. Move your left hip slightly toward the target.
  5. Let the handle drop slightly below its upward path, without forcing it.

Key Takeaways

The best hitters often have the best transitions.
At the top, the club seems stable for a moment.
The lower body separates from the upper body and returns to its setup position.
The left hip moves slightly toward the target.
The handle drops slightly below its rising plane.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Losing stability at the top: the head and spine tilting forward or moving.
  • Start the downswing with your upper body.
  • Drag the club down instead of letting it fall.
  • Shorten the backswing without completing it.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A short break at the summit to take in the sense of stability
  2. Left hip moves forward first
  3. Profile video to control handle drop

Your Questions

What does “a stable club at the top” mean?

The club seems to hover for a moment at the top of the swing, without any sudden movements. Justin Parsons compares this to a duck: calm on the surface, active underwater.

What role does the left hip play in the transition?

She moves slightly toward the target as her lower body separates from her upper body. That’s what creates lag, according to an idea from Ben Hogan.

Should you intentionally lower the neck below the fretboard?

He presents this drop as the result of a smooth transition, not as a forced move.

Learn More

All “Downhill and Transition” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Justin ParsonsAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Justin Parsons). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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