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.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
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 “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, 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!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
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 “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, 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!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
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” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, 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.
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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