Tighter Golf

The Five-Bar Concept in Golf Mechanics

Understanding the swing as a spatial mechanism rather than a list of positions.

1. What is the Five-Bar Model?

The five-bar concept represents the golfer’s arms as a closed kinematic chain. The links are:

  • Shoulder girdle (Link 1)
  • Lead humerus (Link 2)
  • Lead forearm/hand (Link 3)
  • Trail forearm/hand (Link 4)
  • Trail humerus (Link 5)

The club is not a separate bar—it is an extension of the forearm couplers, carried naturally by the closed chain. Because the chain is closed, geometry governs the motion, eliminating the need for compensations.

2. Why a Closed Chain Matters

A closed five-bar linkage has predictable paths and constraint-driven movement. Applied to golf, this means:

  • Clubface orientation follows naturally from geometry.
  • Balance against gravity is preserved by the chain’s structure.
  • Fewer compensations are required—physics governs the swing.

3. Balance, Constraint, and Alignment

The five-bar model embodies the fundamentals of Tighter Golf:

  • Balance: The system regulates the center of mass.
  • Constraint: Mechanical limits guide motion.
  • Alignment: When balance and constraint are satisfied, path and face orientation align naturally.

4. Contrast with Compensation Chains

Unlike Hogan’s swing, which involved layered fixes, the five-bar model requires no compensations. It is universal, not individual.

✅ The five-bar concept reframes the swing: a mechanical system where balance, constraint, and alignment emerge from structure.

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