This is the second of two articles on the X-Factor—a concept and name invented by Jim McLean, one of golf’s legendary teaching pros. This article covers McLean’s Triple X-Factor concept.
If you’re looking to boost power off the tee, Jim McLean’s X-Factor concept maybe just what the doctor ordered. McLean invented the concept to explain what you have to do to generate power in the golf swing. We use in golf instruction sessions because it’s easy to explain and understand.
In our last article we looked at the X-Factor. It helps explain how you store and release power during the swing. To understand how it works, you also have to understand a second concept: the X-Factor stretch. Basically, it measures the difference in degrees between the position of your front shoulder and the position of your front hip when you’re at the top of your backswing.
X-Factor 1: Shoulder Coil
X-Factor 1 refers to the separation your front shoulder when fully coiled and your front hip at the top of your swing. If you were to draw lines through these points you’d create an X. The longer the stretch in degrees between the front shoulder when fully coiled and the front hip (X-Factor stretch), the more lag created in your swing. The more lag created in your swing, the more power stored for release.
This stored power translates into extra distance. For example, Sergio Garcia’s average drive on tour is 298.5 yards. McLean calculated Sergio Garcia’s X-Factor stretch at about 20+ degrees. A stretch of this magnitude stores lot of energy. When released, the stored energy translates into massive power. That’s why a smaller player like Sergio can hit booming drives.
McLean then expanded the X-Factor concept to include hip rise and head swivel. He called his new concept the Triple X-Factor. The Triple X-Factor includes refers to all three basics: the Shoulder Coil, the Hip Rise, and the Head Swivel. The last two “Xs” are explained below.
X-Factor 2: Hip Rise
X-Factor 2 refers to Hip Rise when swinging. At setup your hips are either level with the ground or slightly angled up—with the left hip higher than the right hip. As you go back, the left hip dips slightly as you turn away from the target, then rises again as it returns to its original position.
As you start down, however, both hips lower into a slightly sitting down position. This move helps load power onto the right side, then releases it as you turn your left hip back toward the target—a fundamental we stress at our golf instruction sessions.
If you drew a line through your hips and looked at it from the top, you could see where the lines cross to create an “X”. It’s at the point of your midsection, where the hip moves cross as they go from address to backswing and then from backswing to downswing.
X-Factor 3: Head Swivel
X-Factor 3 refers to your head swivel. It measures the amount of rotation your head makes from the point of address through impact. Usually, it’s just a slight turn. Swiveling your head increase upper body rotation as well as weight transfer to the front leg. It also decreases the stress in your neck and back.
A right-handed golfers, however, is usually right eye dominated (and vice versa). That means she starts swiveling her head toward the target while still keeping her right eyes on the ball as she swings. Eventually, though, she has to release her eye to complete her swing. The key to maximizing power is releasing the head and right eye simultaneously.
Golfers in our golf instruction sessions, however, sometimes let their heads get out in front of the ball when swiveling them. That sucks power out of their swings. To max out power, you must keep your head behind the ball as you swivel it.
Not A Revolutionary Idea
McLean’s Triple X-Factor concept isn’t revolutionary. It’s merely a different way of explaining three of the swing’s key power fundamentals. Regardless of how they’re explained, the basics dominate when swinging. Get them right and you’ll drive the ball farther and straighter than ever.
There’s a lot of information on the X-Factor concept on the Internet. This info includes YouTube videos and even a formal paper on it. The paper was presented at the Pre-Olympic Congress in 2000 in Brisbane, Australia.