Instruction
Why golfers shouldn’t be frustrated by their release
What’s the “release” in a golf swing? For purposes of this article, I’ll define it as the point in the swing when the lead arm and the golf club begin to become a straight line.
Whenever the release occurs for you isn’t as important as this; you can play your best golf with the release you have right now. That’s why you shouldn’t be frustrated that you don’t have the late release of Sergio Garcia. His “lag,” which is golf lingo for a late release, might not be the best thing for you anyways. David Toms has an early release and has won 13 times on the PGA Tour, including a major championship. Had he spent all his time on the range trying to change his release, we might never have heard of him.
Let’s start from the beginning so you can see what I mean.
At the top of the swing, the angle between the lead arm and the golf club is usually somewhere near 90 degrees. Every golfer begins to diminish this angle at some point in the downswing to eventually arrive at impact at 180 degrees. When golfers do this establishes whether they release the club early or late.
Most everything golfers do with their bodies is a reaction to the straightening of this angle. If it is done early in the downswing, the body needs to react in a certain way. If it is done later in the downswing, a completely different series of body motions are required. The importance of the release point cannot be underestimated. That’s why golfers need to be aware of when they actually release the club, not when they’ve been told they should release it.
A lot of students tell me, “I know I come over the top and I cast.” My response is: “YOU BETTER!”
Why? Because if you’re over the top, you moved the bottom of the arc forward, or “late,” we might say. Add that to a delayed hit (called lag) and you have moved the bottom of the arc even further forward. Now you can’t get to the bottom of the golf ball at all. So you need to release — what some call “cast” — the club to catch up, but it’s really all the same thing; A player starts out slicing, learns to come over the top as a response, then starts casting out of necessity. What a vicious cycle!
So your teacher explains the problem and you work on hitting more “from the inside.” Now that same cast (or early release) that worked for the outside-in path is now an absolute killer. You’ll lay the sod over every iron shot you hit.
I don’t mean to be a prophet of gloom, but I’m here to tell you this: changing your release point is the hardest thing to do in the golf swing. Over many years of teaching I have seen very few change it very much, if at all. But there is a bright side: You may not have to change your release point.
Mind you, early straightening of the lead arm and club has its consequences. It make it much harder to hit down on the golf ball, it can cause you to lose speed and it generally requires at least one compensation — but you can make a choice for it to be functional. What you cannot do if you want to play your best is keep hitting the ground first or topping the ball.
If you have been playing for some time and learned to release early, you will have to accept a somewhat outside-in path and upright plane to play. It is a compensation for what you do naturally. Both out-to-in and upright paths are compatible with early-releasing.
If you learned to hook the ball when you first learned the game, you probably have an inside path. It may be inside-out or inside-in, but chances are you are hitting from the inside. And if you’re a low-handicap player hitting solid shots from an inside path, you probably have timed your release correctly. In other words, you have sufficient angle retention in your transition.
If you’re hooking the ball or hitting fat shots when coming from the inside, there is a good chance you are releasing too early. So you too have a choice. You could add a little more delay in your hit, or a little more up and over the plane in your motion. As I said, very few learn delay, but the ones I have seen have all been strong players who come from the inside. With hard work and dedication, you stand a chance.
I heard Tom Watson say many times that he learned a “secret” later in his career. He talked about the difference in turning his body into the ball more level instead of going under it into the “reverse C” position of his younger days. And I think what Tom found is that the reverse-C move is better for a player with an earlier release, which he had most of his successful playing days. Then we see Sergio Garcia, a very late-releaser, stay behind and go under.
The principles I’m describing apply to players of any level. The better player more consistently solves this release-body motion equation. No two release points are the same, nor do they have to be. Once you know your pattern, you can play with it, and play better.
Drills for an earlier or later release
As always, the thoughts below come from my teaching experience and reflect what has worked best on the lesson tee these last three-plus decades. If they help, consider them; if not, dismiss them. Remember, however, that changing your release point is difficult at the very least, and futile for most. The process of getting more on a correct plane and a better path is gradual. That said, if you are willing to invest a lot of time, you can get more lag. But its been my experience that some very good players have ruined their golf swings trying.
Here’s a drill that may help you with delaying your hit, if that be your goal.
Put a lie board or an aim stick a few inches behind the golf ball. Start your backswing on the front edge of the lie board or on the stick. Now try hitting the ball.
One of the curious things about early releasing is that it often causes LOWER ball flight because the player is forced to move in front of the ball to avoid hitting behind it. You cannot get adequate right side bend (axis tilt) with a very early release. That position is reserved for players with a later hit, or those who are really quick with opening their body early into the downswing.
If your release is early, you can add one or more of the following things to make you release later.
Above: An example of a player with an early release.
- Set up a little open to the target.
- Stay more centered on the takeaway.
- Swing more upright.
- Turn more level through the ball (not sliding under).
- Narrow your arc.
If your release is late, consider adding one or more of these things to make you release earlier.
Above: Sergio Garcia is an example of a player with a very, very late release.
- Set up slightly closed to the target.
- Move more to your right side in the takeaway.
- Swing a little more around (flatter).
- Stay a little more behind the ball with the upper body into impact.
- Widen your arc.
Golf is a game of trade offs. Most of us can’t have our cake and eat it too. Well, you could, but you’d be playing on the TV on the weekend and we would have all heard of you!
As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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Ed
May 5, 2022 at 5:44 pm
I just read your article on why golfers should not be frustrated by their release. I am going to classify myself as someone who has the opposite problem, for 35 years of golf I have not been able to release the club. I played well for many years with a handicap that hovered between 1 – 3. But now that I am in my 70’s I am neither strong enough or fit enough to make my methodology work. So, I am now trying to learn how to release the club, and have had some success. This is the feel and it feels like I am releasing the club very early; I try to maintain the position of my lead arm at the top of my backswing while I rotate and I release the club from that point and it works. It feels like there is no arm swing and the wrists do all the work. Not sure if you will see this, but I would be interested in your comments. Are you still teaching at the Renaissance? I ask, as I spend my winters in Ft. Myers which would be great to have a lesson. Regards, Ed.
Josh
Dec 21, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Click Here!
Justin
Nov 7, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Would an early release be the cause to hook hybrids, irons and wedges.
Justin
Nov 7, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Just the article. so I was wondering if I position the ball more towards the back would it work or would it be a quick fix?
Dennis Clark
Nov 19, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Sorry Justin I just saw this…when the posts get a little older I tend to not look back as I’m busy answering new ones, so my bad..
But yes, early extension of any club can cause a hook. Hold a club in your right hand and swing it down keeping the elbow a little bent and the wrists bent back a bit. you’ll see the club come down squarely (with a good grip) not extend the arm and let the wrist flatten, you’ll see the club close a lot.
marte
Oct 19, 2014 at 11:17 am
Mr. Clarke. Great articles. I just posted a question on your..”how far to stand from the ball” article. If you have a chance could you take a look at it and hopefully reply. Thanks.
marte
Dennis Clark
Oct 19, 2014 at 12:10 pm
sure ill take a look
Dennis Clark
Oct 19, 2014 at 12:14 pm
Marte, I cant find the question. What is it, you can ask right here…
marte
Oct 19, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Hi Dennis. Thanks very much. Yea, the article was from back in January about “how far to stand from the ball” and I just read it now. My post is at the very bottom.
What I said there…..
…Just read this very interesting article. Thanks. Bit slow here. Maybe you can clarify. Take my address…take right hand off grip and let it dangle. When I let it (RH) dangle it stays in position below my left hand and I can just move it back to take my grip. Is this correct? I’m guessing yes. Or, should the hands be dangling together (like palm to palm if there was no club in my left hand) and then I move the right hand down to take the grip? Hope you see this Dennis and have time to reply. Thanks. marte
Read more at http://www.golfwrx.com/173231/how-far-to-stand-from-the-golf-ball/#HePb518yie7lCCDq.99
Dennis Clark
Oct 19, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Marte. One of the ways to check your distance from the ball. If the dangling right hand is even with the left you’ll find that your hands are under your shoulders. If it hangs way inside you may be too far. Hope that helps.
marte
Oct 19, 2014 at 9:22 pm
Yes it does. Thanks for taking the time. Terrific articles BTW.
Bogeypro
Oct 18, 2014 at 9:20 pm
You said: Most everything golfers do with their bodies is a reaction to the straightening of this angle.”
I don’t know that I agree with this. If the downswing is started with proper sequencing, the lower body leads, then the core, followed by the arms. If your sequencing is off and you start the downswing from the top using the arms, then the body has to react to correct it.
I would argue that the release is a product of proper grip and downswing sequencing.
Dennis Clark
Oct 18, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Consider this possibility: I lead perfectly from the ground up but uncock my wrists prematurely. There is nothing in the sequencing of the body motion that will prevent me from uncocking my wrists early if I’m inclined to do so. If I do so of course I’ll hit the ground then discover ways NOT to hit the ground, which would then affect the sequencing. I see your point but have seen too many swings over the years to believe the reverse of the reaction I suggested is true. You’re right in that the player has a better chance in not casting the club by starting with the lower body, but this, in and of itself, is not a panacea. BTW, the most common motions I see of too early, are running the upper body ahead, raising the swing center, or shortening the radius, the dreaded chicken wing. Thx for reading
Bogeypro
Oct 18, 2014 at 11:20 pm
Do you conciously unhinge your wrists in your swing? Most would teach that the unhinging of the wrists should be natural and not manipulated. Sure, you could do it in theory, but it would be difficult when proper sequencing is followed and feel very unnatural. Wouldn’t you rather just teach to let it happen naturally?
Dennis Clark
Oct 19, 2014 at 12:10 pm
We in a theoretical world,we’d all be great players. But golf is not that way. MOST golfers release quite early,and the point of this article is as as stated: IF an early release is part of your golfing DNA, don’t sweat it, just play “around” it. Thx for reading
Jeffcb
Oct 18, 2014 at 10:20 am
What I’ve actually noticed when I release early is that all I have to worry about then is turning through the ball. Timing for me isn’t so big of an issue then and I’m less prone to hooking it and just hit a nice draw. Usually. So for me with my swing plane, in to in, lag is very detrimental. I try and release early and throw the club through the ball. Not cast but throw. Difference being is that casting is throwing the club away from the direction of the target. Zaps my speed through the ball.
Dennis Clark
Oct 18, 2014 at 2:19 pm
What is your flightscope or Trackman numbers path wise?
Jeffcb
Oct 19, 2014 at 10:28 am
Have never used either Dennis. I don’t have access where I live but I do come from the inside (divots) and I have a tendency to roll my hands during my release instead of releasing them up the plane causing hooks instead of draws. Sometimes I am too far from the inside as well but not often. I’m basically a single plane swinger and have been working on the correct aspects of that swing this year.
Dennis Clark
Oct 19, 2014 at 12:06 pm
See if you can get to a facility that has Boditrak. You’ll love it.
Jeffcb
Oct 19, 2014 at 7:20 pm
Will do Dennis, thx
spooky
Oct 15, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Priceless – deleting my comment.
Zak Kozuchowski
Oct 15, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Thank you for the edit. Now back to what the story is about.
Alex
Oct 15, 2014 at 2:23 pm
I’ve been an early releaser most of my life, but of late I decided to hit it “down”, esp. with my irons (I’ve always been inconsistent with irons). I’ve noticed a terrific improvement, my shots feel real solid. I think it’s what my teacher has been so insistent on: your hands lead the club through the ball. He never mentions the word release.
Perhaps I haven’t changed much, but it does feel different and great.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 2:57 pm
great Alex…hitting down is key when on the turf but it is as much a function of where the strike occurs in the swing arc. If you’re doing more to the right and earlier, it sounds like it’s working
Dean Blazier
Oct 15, 2014 at 12:38 pm
This is a good article. If a golfer tries to purposely delay their release, they’re gonna get an open clubface at impact, likely higher scores, and years of frustration. Stricker actually increases the angle from the top of the backswing, to the middle of the downswing, but he has never consciously tried to do that. He is simply squaring the clubface at impact. Hit into an impact bag to make your release more consistent, that will help your ball striking immediately, instead of wasting a season trying to increase lag
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:58 am
Remember I said hitting very early is not OPTIMAL. I merely suggested ways to make it FUNCTIONAL if that is your plight in golf.
CD
Oct 17, 2014 at 8:35 am
I do agree you shouldn’t mess and do not agree that a late release is optimal. I think most players I’ve seen face on start to release that angle when their bodyweight meets their left side i.e. their transition is completed, depending on your definition of ‘lag’ (mine is ‘weight’ of the clubhead) someone can release early and still have ‘lag’ although not an uncocked or ‘held’ wrists look. Eg Zuback, Scott, Mahan, Stricker, Toms. What I believe is as long as you are positioning your body and weight and ball through the downstroke correctly any release can be functional. I think it is a subconscious process, the mind g
CD
Oct 17, 2014 at 8:41 am
governing the release, accounting for musculature, body size and stimulus response time. You mess with that at your peril, it’s your natural pattern and we’re talking micro scale. That said, improve carefully – eg shift weight more efficiently until a better strike achieved if that appears to be lacking – and I’ve noticed a natural progression towards more ‘lag’ and a later release myself, which appears to me to be a product of making my body movements more functional for, I assume, my particular build, ‘wiring’ and ‘release’.
Dennis Clark
Oct 17, 2014 at 9:28 am
Yes. Once the center of mass gets under the hand path, a certain amount of hands forward is required. If the COM of the club gets above the hand path, the earlier release is certainly part of the equation. Most golfers who play a fair amount know this intuitively. It cannot be a conscious thought as you mentioned. Thx.
Jim Benjamin
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:33 am
Dennis… you’re making me feel much better about my golf swing. I took a video of my swing and made some images and I’m in the same position as the early releaser in your article except I’m even a little earlier but I think I don’t get to my left side until much later. I played for 25 years with a bad left knee and had it replaced two years ago. I have a hard time getting to my left side because I never could before. The left side of my body is much stiffer as a result but my right side turns maybe too much as I had to get my power somewhere. I shoot in the 80’s but know I can do much better. I can’t seem to take a divot and pick the ball. My left wrist breaks down during impact because the right hand comes roaring through as the resistant left side slows down. I think my release is ok, I just need to get to my left side better. Also trying to do this at 6’2″ and 344 lbs. It was 376 a three months ago so making some progress.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:34 am
Tiny ????
You’ll always have trouble hitting down with an early release. You may want to put more weight in your left side at address.
Pingback: Golf Swing 'Release' And Why Golfers Shouldn’t be Frustrated | Golf Gear Select
Alex
Oct 15, 2014 at 1:33 am
Interesting you call it an early straightening of the lead arm.
So if I’ve been kinda releasing it early, and I have tension in my lead arm because I’m trying to keep it straight, that’s probably why?
So if I actually kept my lead arm bent, would that actually change my release?
Just curious…never really thought about the arm straightening too early. Figured it should straighten asap or stay straight.
Also…what do you say to someone who is an early releaser but who also has secondary spine tilt and hits the ball high with a good divot? Stop worrying? Just curious because I can hit high draws with my release but on video my hands tend to lag behind me too much.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:44 am
Don’t miss the point; it’s described as when the GOLF CLUB STARTS TO BECOME A STRAIGHT LINE WITH THE LEFT ARM. Left can be crooked or straight in the swing but should be straight at impact. at the top the club forms a 90 degree angle with the arm.
marcel
Oct 15, 2014 at 12:09 am
kinda disagree with this article… but its not a bad article… however my point is – the whole release talk is over empathized “grayish” area that spans from your whole swing… more perfect swing has more lag and less perfect or hacker swing has no lag or even hitting in front… players at low technique level if trying to emulate Sergio’s lag will unwind swing release to the Right… then compensate with wrist flip to the Left… Lag is a consequence of swing motion not a separate thing – and should be kept far away to keep swing working!
marcel
Oct 15, 2014 at 12:15 am
the Lag is a consequence of Wrist Cock – if you dont cock your wrist you not gonna have the additional distance off the ball in Arch and thefore wont be lag… all the examples are amateur with no cock in their wrists. Sergio on the other hand holds his wrists in the position until release.
marcel
Oct 15, 2014 at 12:15 am
watch the Right Hand of Sergio and right hand of other players… they have no wrist action…
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:45 am
The amateurs displayed had plenty of “wrist cock” at the top of the swing.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:55 am
Steve Stricker has very little wrist cock but plays fairly well. Video Alan Doyle, you’ll get a kick out of that. Wrist cock is actually ulnar and radial deviation. Players with a weak grip have less of it because of the motion restriction. When you strengthen grip you are more in a flexion and extension motion which allows for much greater freedom of motion.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:41 am
30+ years of watching it on the lesson tee leads me to the reverse conclusion. Motion is a consequence of lag or lack of it.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:51 am
the gray area you describe is exactly what I mean. when a player releases or doesn’t is fine. both can work. and there is no perfect swing. in the golf hall of fame, there are hundreds of golf swings. Thx for reading and your interest.
marcel
Oct 15, 2014 at 6:37 pm
thanks Dennis – in no way i would like to argue. I am no golf instructor but taking lessons. playing around 12 handicap. 36yo 5’8″ with average 7i 169 yards. 4i 200 yards.
I was never lead into lag (maybe i never got to that level of getting coaching) but more into strong grip and wrist action… i noticed that only by proper wrist action I have added some 6yrds – which in turn created more lag by later release…
Look I am enthusiast and love breaking things down to understand them better.
Cheers and thanks for great article.
m
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Thx Marcel, I’m glad you enjoyed and appreciate the feedback. The is no question that “snapping” the wrists into the ball adds solidity to the hit, it’s just that some great players choose very little set going back and re-cock into the ball. The problem with early release is that very often you lose that snap. Thx. DC
Zak
Oct 14, 2014 at 11:21 pm
I’ve been golfing my whole life (I’m 23 years old), but I have had a few breaks here and there where I didn’t golf much (or at all). When I got back into the game in 2012 after a break of about 2 years, I made the decision to completely change my swing and fix the issues that I had. I had a steep backswing (broke my wrists almost immediately) and I would cast on the way down. I started making a wide backswing and a step downswing. The backswing was relatively easy, but the downswing needed props. I would take a tape and put it behind the ball and try not to hit it. It took me a while to get used to the changes, but when they finally took hold, it feels normal. I’ve never played better. I went from high 80’s, to now averaging 79.6 per round.
Dennis Clark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:47 am
glad that worked for you. There is always one drill or feel that will work for you. As teachers we work on a large canvas-thousand of students, so we’re always on the lookout for several things to relay. Great job on your improvement.
Dennis Clark
Oct 14, 2014 at 10:58 pm
Earlier or later? Do you have video comparisons to share?
paul
Oct 14, 2014 at 10:19 pm
I have found my wrist strength changes through the year (construction worker) and my release changes with it.
james
Oct 14, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Great article. I’ve also seen release become affected from things like swingweight, length of the club, flex of the shaft, and even how I’m gripping the club. When you add in all of those factors, it often becomes even more clear why someone may release early / late.
Dennis Clark
Oct 14, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Absolutely