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Shawn, I have that release down pat … almost. At home in the calm of the backyard, I release just fine into the net. However, on the course after 4 or 5 holes I start casting instead of releasing and end up hitting all the irons fat. (Except the driver and the wedges, which continue to release just fine.) Even tho I know exactly what I’m doing wrong, I can’t seem to stop it on the course. Should I stop playing for a while and just drill at home? Are there some magic words to use to get my swing back? Maybe I could sacrifice a chicken on the course. Very disheartening.
Just before you swing, what is your focus?
Hmmm, good question… I believe my focus becomes “Hit the Ball … hard.” (a bad thought!) I went back to your beginning videos and discovered I was loosening my grip to extend the backswing. I even wore a glove hole over the hand pad below the pinky finger. As you point out, when the grip re-tightens, of necessity, you get the equivalent of casting. Anyway I fixed it – most of the time. (Unfortunately, I have to concentrate on the hands for a while to make a permanent change.)
Ok, now you are getting somewhere; to connect the dots, connect the feel of this firm grip that creates more tone and use it to COMPRESS THE BALL INTO THE DIRECTION AND FLIGHT PLAN YOU WANT THE BALL TO FLY INTO. See “hammer drill” video on premium, and feel how solid the grip and arms and shoulders and core and legs and feet into the ground need to be to compress that ball through the bottom of the door frame and along the ground and out into the flight plan.
Shawn!
I am left handed. I feel like my left hand releases thru the swing and my right hand is along for the ride. Looking at the sword drill, it looks like my right hand should be more active.
I play right handed.
You are doing pretty good! Feels like a nice frisbee throw with a full gathered turning back to the target ready to whip the snot out of it effortlessly backswing. “lead hand release” and the “latest 2 tee drill” videos are very sweet!
Shawn – C. Riddoch, Professor of Sports Science, wrote a book called “The Golf Swing”. Good book. Supports your teachings in many ways. An important issue addressed is the ‘passive wrist release’ (pwr) and dual pendulum which you believe in as well. Where you seem to differ is that he suggests that from the top of the back-swing to hip level work is done by the body/arms and that from that point on one must relax (arms slow down nearly to a stop) to enable the dual pendulum and pwr to happen at peak speed. Then the momentum carries the rest of the swing to the finish. In your videos you promote more relaxing at the top (let it fall) and then pick up the work (push on the swing) when the hands reach about hip level or a bit sooner. My question is do you also relax just before contacting the ball to enable the dual pendulum and pwr?
Not quite, no; these are just feels or observations that occur naturally when performing a task. (see top 3 tasks and task trumps everything videos)
One of my favorites is the “throwing the club” video; and combine that with “predict contact” and “the goldie locks series” videos
Then we can talk some more! 😀👍
Does it matter much if one slashes through the ball (aka bamboo shoot) with the side of the hands (karate chop like), or with the back and palm of one’s hands (Hogan and Nicklaus like)?
Well yes, for sure! It is all a matter of timing Mark! Before the awareness of the back of the hand compresses the ball, there was a chop! This is why we either whip through the stem of the dandelion or throw to the target while predicting the stem is in the way OR we compress through the door frame (which would equate more to the back of the hand with a more neutral grip at address)
Hi Shawn….I have a strong grip but at the top I have a tendency to get the club pointed at the ground (open).
I’m fighting to keep from pushing shots or fading when I’m setting up for a draw.
Today I worked to keep the club square or closed at the top with way better results. I remember watching a video over the summer where you discussed the club being open at the top even with a strong grip. I wanted to watch and it and hear your explanation of that. Or if this makes sense maybe you could explain it.
Am I on the right track or off the rails?
Thanks!
This happens to me as well; where the club looks open at the top but it has a lot to do with the way that you deliver the release as well; one of the keys is to feel that both snuff boxes are hinging together and then re-hinging together in both directions as you perform the PMD
Next, apply the prediction before you deliver to the target and goldie locks the grip; too open, it feels like you will need to work hard at manipulating it closed on time during the swing (door frame it to ensure that it is not because you are loosing you directional focus and getting ahead of the ball which causes this feel as well)
And if the grip-club is too closed, then you will feel the need to hang on to keep it from hooking; that would requires a ton of effort too;
Shawn
Thanks Shawn…..comments really helped me to sort it out. Shot 74 today..missed my age by one! The poor grip over the last few weeks had me working so hard to keep the ball off the right side of the course.
By the back nine today, as confidence returned, I was able to work the ball in both directions!
ps: extra benefit was that it freed up my putting.
Very nice! Would love to hear about the putting bonus, what helped there?
Shawn, your videos just released are superb, many thanks. One thing pertaining to “release and snap”. How do you accomplish this, without the dreaded “hit impulse”, that destroys an effortless swing. My best results come when I swing slow and smooth. (out of the way, out of the way) Maybe I am too old , 75, for the snap. By the way I am playing great this winter. Thanks again Ron
The session going in this week in premium as a follow up to last week’s flow state series video (which you should watch if you have mot already) will help; also see “lead hand release” and “trail hand release” and “release fine tuning”
Glad you are having a great time!!
Shawn
Shawn, I viewed all three “release videos” you recommended. The results were unbelievable. The feeling I have is rolling the forearms over through impact. Do you agree with that feel? My question is do you release the same for all clubs, wedge through driver equally, or is the release more aggressive for driver than wedge? Your videos are excellent. Many thanks again. Made three birdies yesterday and should da, would da, could da made four more but the greens are over seeded down here in Georgia and tough to putt.
Shawn, I don’t want to be a pest, but would you please respond to my last reply. I know you must be very busy your insight would be much appreciated. Thank you . Ron
Oh, did not see that thanks!
Yes, the release is always the same but a different flavour since the length of the clubs are different; you are always allowing the club to release you in the direction you want to start the shot.