Traditional golf instruction sends mixed signals. Wind up your shoulders on the backswing (rotary), start unwinding your body on the downswing (rotary), but stop half way and throw (release) the club at the target (linear), then let your arms and club pull you in some direction to the finish, depending on how they released. Not reliable or repeatable. This in a nut shell is why many golfers fail. These two different concepts do not work together. If you want to be linear… just stand still and use your arms and hands to hit the ball. You will much more successful. But we all know that is not powerful. Now, what is missing with traditional instruction is… you don’t need to be linear at the ball. You don’t need to release! It happens naturally when the hands are passive. Nothing has to change at impact. Just keep turning and let your body turn pull your arms, hands and club, back down in front of you, as you turn through to the finish. The ball will go straight, as long as the hands don’t try to help. You get more power and more consistency when you trap the ball with your turn. This is very repeatable and reliable!
4 Comments
That is awesome that you too saw what I have been trying to relay for years to players that use their hands. They don’t realize, that they lose a bunch of potential power when they stop. When they learn to hit with their turn, everything is moving the ball. The body, the hands, the arms, the club as they continue thru impact. Hang in there Patrick. It does not take as long as you think once your mind and body accept this is a better movement. Thanks for the comment… Ross
I didn’t realize that I was linear until I video-taped my swing. I was surprised to see my hips completely stop before impact so that I could hit the ball with my hands.
After Ross pointed that out, I’ve been practicing rotation, simple turns without a club, and I hit about 15 – 25 balls at the range standing on my front leg, which makes me rotate.
I am hitting the ball more consistently, but I know I have a long way to go.
Thanks Ross.
I am not sure any are aware of this yet. It was my own discovery. You have to do both, keep the hands passive and know how to turn using the Large Muscles to contact the ball. Hopefully someone will discover my ideas. I know their game will improve.
Hi Ross
Are there any pros on tour who follow your methods i.e. using the big muscles and passive hands?
I’m hitting it further since i started using your method, and the more i have the hands relaxed the better, shoulders turn hips on the downswing.