Transition
Also known as: change of direction
The 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.
The transition is arguably the most important moment in the golf swing. An ideal transition begins with the lower body (pelvis shifting toward the target) while the club is still completing its backswing arc — creating the kinematic separation that shallows the shaft and builds lag. A poor transition (arms and shoulders pulling first) sends the club over the top, destroys lag, and narrows the margin for good contact. Tempo and ground force both live in the transition.
Example
A player's lead hip shifts toward the target before the club reaches the top — the correct transition that shallows the shaft.
Related terms
- Kinematic SequenceThe 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.
- ShallowingShallowing is when the club shaft flattens (becomes more horizontal) in the early downswing, allowing it to approach the ball from inside the target line for a powerful, in-to-out delivery.
- LagLag is the acute angle between the lead arm and the shaft in the downswing — the loaded position that releases into club speed at impact when timed correctly.
- Over the TopOver the top means the downswing starts by throwing the club outside the backswing plane, producing an out-to-in path that causes pulls, pull-slices, and loss of distance.
- TempoTempo is the overall timing and rhythm of your swing — the ratio of how long the backswing takes versus the downswing. A smooth, repeatable tempo is what makes contact consistent.
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