Kinematic Sequence
Also known as: sequencing, the sequence
The kinematic sequence is the order in which body segments accelerate and decelerate during the downswing: pelvis → torso → lead arm → clubhead. Each segment slingshots the next for maximum speed.
Research on tour players shows nearly identical sequencing patterns despite very different swing styles: the pelvis accelerates first, peaks, then decelerates as the torso peaks; the torso decelerates as the arm peaks; and the arm slows as the clubhead reaches maximum speed at impact. Breaking this chain — for example by spinning the shoulders first — collapses the slingshot effect and loses speed. It is why physical preparation (hip mobility, core power) directly impacts swing speed.
Example
A golfer who "fires" the shoulders at the top of the backswing short-circuits the kinematic chain and arrives at impact with far less clubhead speed than their club speed suggests.
Related terms
- Ground ForceGround force in golf is the vertical and horizontal force a golfer pushes into the ground during the swing. More effective ground use translates directly into club speed and power.
- TransitionThe transition is the moment the swing changes direction from backswing to downswing. How the body initiates this moment determines sequencing, lag, and the resulting club path.
- SeparationSeparation in the golf swing is when body segments rotate at different rates at different times — most importantly when the hips lead the shoulders at the start of the downswing, creating torque.
- Kinetic ChainThe kinetic chain is the linked sequence of body segments — feet, knees, hips, torso, shoulders, arms, wrists, club — where each segment transfers and amplifies energy to the next.
Related guides & benchmarks
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