The more I have studied the golf swing throughout my coaching career, the more I have realized its similarities to a throwing motion… but not just any throwing motion. The movements necessary to properly swing a golf club are remarkably similar to the way an elite, efficient NFL quarterback throws a football.

Why a quarterback and not a baseball pitcher? Pitchers throw the same distance every time (60 feet, 6 inches) with a ball/strike percentage of just 62 percent. An NFL quarterback has to be more accurate and precise under different circumstances, making a variety of throws from different lengths. As for their accuracy? Often a quarterback’s 30-yard pass is into a windows the size of a receiver’s hands, and the difference of a few inches determines whether a pass was a huge success or complete failure.

I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the best in the business, Todd Downing, quarterback coach of the Oakland Raiders, to discuss the similarities.

“The longer the motion, the more margin for error,” says Todd Downing, quarterback coach of the Oakland Raiders.

When it comes to throwing mechanics, Downing works on limiting motion to develop speed, consistency and efficiency. He works on shortening the stroke of the throw to make it as efficient as possible. “The second an extra moving parts start to go, a big sweeping motion with the arm will occur, which is not necessary,” Downing says about a quarterback’s throwing motion.

In golf, when we limit excess movement, players will have a greater chance of a consistent and a more efficient strike, and more efficiency equals more speed and distance. If you look at any sport, great athletes seem to do more with less. For example, a quarterback’s effortless throwing motion producing a 60-yard throw; a simple golf swing producing a 300-yard drive; or the smooth home-run swing of Ken Griffey Jr.

The similarities between the two motions — a quarterback’s throwing motion and a PGA Tour player’s golf swing — as well as how they are taught is striking. In both sports, the target is in front of you and both motions should be trained to produce forward inertia, with the body moving toward the target. As it turns out, there are also several misconceptions about the two motions.

The Setup

In both golf and the quarterback position, getting into the proper setup is key to making an efficient motion. The better position we start in, the better chance we have to succeed. In both sports, we have 100 percent control of our posture, so both should be practiced, maintained, and put us in a position to make the most effortless, efficient stroke possible.

In golf, when a golfer sets up with incorrect body angles at address, then he or she will have to “find” the correct impact position on the downswing, requiring more motion and timing to be successful. That results in inconsistent shots.

“It starts with the setup,” Downing says.

When a quarterback is not in the correct posture when he throws, for example, or had to throw with his body in the incorrect position with bad balance, the chances of accuracy are diminished. The quarterback has to try and find his correct throwing shape or posture. If both a golfer and a quarterback start correctly, the chances of accuracy are increased.

The Coil and Throwing Position

This position has by far the most similarities, as well as misconceptions. In the golf swing, the backswing is a coil, which should have a golfer’s body move the proper direction and amount. This allows golfers to swing down and through in the most efficient way possible: going toward the target.

Note that I used the word coil and not the word turn. This is a common misconception; I’ve found that golfers who think about turn tend to get what I call “over-rotated” and/or turned in the wrong direction, which causes a lack of power.

If you correctly fold up your right arm in the backswing with the correct sequence, you can allow your glutes to load and body to be pulled into the proper coil position. Attempting to consciously create a bigger shoulder and/or torso rotation is not required and is a false sense of power. Over-rotating or consciously trying to turn your upper body from the start can result in your body tilting toward the target and downwards, as shown below, which is incorrect.

“Why would you twist [your torso] when you want to drive forward?” Downing says.

This goes back to the false sense of power previously mentioned. in both athletic moves, a big rotation away from the target is not required.

Below is a great drill to feel the proper coil. Get into your correct golf posture with just your right arm holding the club. Fold up your right arm, and then grip the club with your left hand. As your left arm moves around to grab the club, allow your right glute to move back and the left side of your body to move out. If this changes your backswing position, it will be for the better. You’ll notice how much more powerful the new position is as you swing the club into impact.

The same is true with NFL quarterbacks, Downing says. The quarterbacks that struggle are “the ones that feel like they need that long, throwing motion to develop speed.” Downing works to tighten loose throwing motions, making them more efficient and resulting in more speed.

The Finish Position

Downing teaches what’s called the “flamingo finish” for his quarterbacks, which can be translated to golf and is a great drill for many golfers. A flamingo finish is one where a quarterback can lift his trail foot completely off the ground as the right shoulder is over the lead foot. This drill is especially great for golfers that hang back with their upper body in the swing.

Below is a picture of the NFL Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the “flamingo pose.”

How do we use this for our golf swing? Getting your right shoulder over your left foot (for a right-handed golfer) in the finish position is a great way to make sure your right side has rotated around through the shot. “Standing tall” in the finish is a product of your upper and lower body working properly through impact.

As a drill, hold your finish and make sure you can lift your right foot off the ground. This is an indication that your weight has moved forward through the shot.

Lastly, a point about work ethic. Downing usually starts his day at 5:15 a.m. and leaves at 9 p.m. The quarterbacks he works with tend to share the same work ethic. The desire to constantly improve is a requirement for both a player, and a coach, to reach the peak of your sport.