Welcome back to another edition of the Imagen Golf Podcast! I am your host, Daniel Guest, and as always, we are here with one simple mission: to help you play the best golf of your life, simplify this crazy game, and get you having more fun on the fairway.
If you’re driving to the course right now, or maybe you’re stuck in traffic dreaming of the weekend round, turn up the volume. Today we are going to talk about a visual cue that is so simple, yet so misunderstood. It’s a "silent killer" of power for so many amateurs, but when you get it right... oh man, it changes everything.
I’m talking about your knees. Specifically, seeing the light between them.
So, let’s dive right in. I was reviewing some swing analysis videos earlier this week with our students, and I noticed a pattern. It’s the classic "power leak."
We all know we need to rotate, right? We hear it all the time. "Turn your hips," "Load into the right side," "Coil." But what does that actually look like?
Here is the problem: Most golfers, when they try to turn, they actually slide. Or, they do the opposite—they collapse.
Imagine looking at a golfer from face-on (looking right at their belt buckle). When they take the club back, if that lead knee (the left knee for righties) collapses and touches the right knee, what happens? You’ve lost your base. You’ve got no tension. You’ve got no torque. You’re just... soft.
Onthe flip side, if you keep those knees frozen like two pillars of cement, you can’t turn at all!
The Golden Visual: The "Window of Light"
Here is the visual I want you to "Imagen" today.
When you make a proper backswing—a true rotation around your spine—your lead knee moves inward and points toward the golf ball, while your trail leg straightens just a tiny bit (but stays flexed).
If you do this correctly, looking from face-on, there should be a distinct gap of light between your knees.
Why does this matter? Why is that "light" so powerful?
1. It Proves You Are Rotating, Not Swaying
If you sway to the right (sliding your hips), your knees often stay the same distance apart, but the whole structure shifts. You haven't created power; you've just moved your zip code.
But when you rotate, that lead knee works away from the target. It creates a dynamic angle. That "light" between the knees tells me that your hips have turned deep, but your feet are still grounded.
2. It Prevents the "Knee Kiss"
I see this a lot with senior golfers or people trying to get a "long" swing. They let that left knee collapse all the way until it touches the right knee. If your knees are kissing, you are in big trouble. You have zero resistance. You can't fire from there. You have to re-plant the heel, shift the weight, and then turn. It takes too much time.
Keeping that daylight between the knees means you have maintained width in your lower body.
3. It Creates "Torque"
Think of a rubber band. To shoot it far, you have to pull one end back while holding the other end stable. That space between your knees? That’s the tension in the rubber band.
If the space disappears (knees touch), the rubber band goes slack. If the space doesn't change (no turn), you never stretched the rubber band.
The "Flashlight" Drill
So, how do we feel this? I want you to try this next time you are on the range or even in your living room.
Step 1: Take your setup.
Step 2: Imagine there is a flashlight strapped to the inside of your right knee, shining at your left knee.
Step 3: As you swing to the top, don't let your left knee block that light. And don't let your left knee run away from the light.
Step 4: Feel the left knee move towards the ball, while the right hip goes back.
You should feel a stretch in your right glute (your butt cheek). If you look in a mirror, you should see daylight—a nice, athletic gap between the legs.
Key Takeaway: The lead knee moves, but it respects the space of the trail knee. They are neighbors, but they don't live in the same house!
When you maintain that gap, you are loaded. You are ready to transition. From there, all you have to do is plant that left heel and let the hips unwind. But if you’ve collapsed that gap, you’re stuck.
Final Thoughts
Golf is a visual game. At Imagen Golf, we believe that if you can see it, you can do it. Stop worrying about degrees of rotation or complex biomechanics for a second. Just look for the light.
Next time you film your swing, pause it at the top.
Do you see daylight between the knees?
Does it look athletic?
Or does it look like your legs are tangled up?
Keep that space. Keep that tension. That is where your power lives.
All right, that’s it for today’s quick tip! I hope this sheds some "light" on your backswing—pun absolutely intended.
Get out there, keep it simple, and as always... get the clutter out of your head so you can play the game you were meant to play.
For more tips, head over to imagengolf.com, check out our lessons, and let’s get you dialed in.
Until next time, keep imagining better golf!
Here is the "Window of Power" Practice Plan, designed to help you lock in that proper rotation and maintain the gap between your knees.
⛳ The "Window of Power" Practice Plan
Focus: Creating Lower Body Stability & Torque Goal: Eliminate the "Knee Kiss" and create space for a powerful transition.
Daniel Guest: "Welcome to the practice tee! We aren't just hitting balls today; we are building a structure. Remember, we want that daylight between the knees at the top of the swing. That gap is your battery—it’s where the energy is stored. Here are three drills to help you feel it."
Drill 1: The "Bucket Barrier" (Tactile Feedback)
Best for: Golfers who habitually collapse the lead leg.
This is the ultimate 'anti-collapse' drill. We are going to put a physical obstacle in the way so your lead knee literally has nowhere to go but the correct direction.
The Setup:
- Take your normal stance with a mid-iron (7 or 8 iron).
- Place a standard range bucket (standing upright) directly between your legs, positioned right between your knees.
- Squeeze the bucket slightly with your knees at address to feel engagement.
The Action:
- Take a slow backswing.
- The Goal: Rotate your hips and shoulders to the top without your lead knee knocking the bucket over.
- Your lead knee should move forward (towards the toes) and slightly inward, but the bucket prevents it from collapsing all the way to the trail knee.
Why It Works: If you knock the bucket over, you know you’ve lost the "light" and the tension. Keeping the bucket standing forces you to turn your hips around your spine rather than sliding them.
Drill 2: The "Wall Slide" (Rotation vs. Sway)
Best for: Golfers who sway off the ball instead of turning.
Often, the knees stay too close together because the golfer is sliding sideways. This drill ensures you are rotating deep into the right hip, which naturally creates that athletic gap between the knees.
The Setup:
- Stand with your back to a wall (no club needed).
- Your heels should be about 4–6 inches away from the wall.
- Get into your golf posture.
The Action:
- Cross your arms over your chest.
- Make a backswing turn.
- The Goal: Feel your right butt cheek (trail glute) slide back and touch the wall.
- At the same time, keep your left butt cheek off the wall.
Why It Works: When the right hip goes back (touching the wall), it pulls the right knee slightly straighter (but not locked). This movement naturally creates space between the knees. If you slide sideways, your hip won't touch the wall, and your knees will look weak.
Drill 3: The "Freeze & Check" (Visual Confirmation)
Best for: connecting the 'feel' to the 'real'.
This builds the mental image we talked about in the podcast.
The Setup:
- Set up in front of a mirror (face-on view) or set up your phone to record face-on.
- If you don't have a mirror, use a window reflection.
The Action:
- Swing to the top and FREEZE. Hold it for 3 seconds.
- Look at your knees.
- Check 1: Is there daylight between them?
- Check 2: Is the lead knee pointing generally toward the ball (or slightly behind it), rather than at your right foot?
- Check 3: Do you feel pressure on the inside of your right heel?
- If you see the light and feel the pressure, hit the ball from that frozen position (at 50% speed).
Why It Works: This programs your brain to recognize the correct position. By hitting the ball after freezing, you are teaching your body how to unleash the power stored in that "gap."
📝 Daniel’s Practice Note
"Don’t rush these. The goal isn't to hit the ball 300 yards right now; the goal is to feel that torque in your legs. If your thighs are burning a little bit after these drills, you’re doing it right! That burn is power waiting to be released."
