Save Your Wrists, Kill That Slice!
When we look at the anatomy of the arms and wrists, we quickly realize that we were built for slinging objects with great velocity.
In this video, we compare the release of baseball, hockey, fencing, golf and hammering, and we notice that… hey, there is no difference! When you use your body the way it is designed, you set yourself up for decades of strain-free use with high performance gains. Another side effect of this proper use? No more slice!
Watch the video to see how our arms and wrists are designed to be loaded, and then how the weight of our “instruments” release us through the task without any conscious thought on our part. Enjoy!
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!
Dill Pickleson
Mar 11, 2017 at 7:23 am
Shawn, I’ve taken lesson from many famous instructors and have seen all the others videos, too. I just came to say you are a great orator and keep up the good work. Hard not to enjoy and learn something watching you.
Ted
Mar 11, 2017 at 12:09 am
lots of ways to get it around on the golf course, this is one, may work for some not others…great thing about the game it is a never ending search for something to support the loss of one or two strokes in a round. Like the “Hammer” idea look up Jerry Heards Super Swing from 20 years ago…now that is the “Hammer” idea taken to the max…
Shawn Clement
Mar 10, 2017 at 8:48 pm
Hey man! All you need to do is try the drill!! You will feel for yourself how the weight of the club releases you! It is not your job to place the club; it is your job to use the weight of the club to perform a specific task with it! Try it and let me know how you do!
See also “hammer through shawn clement” “fencing for power shawn clement” and “how arms and club release shawn clement” as well as “throwing the club shawn clement” on youtube!
Bert
Mar 10, 2017 at 4:06 pm
Tried this today and while making sure my right elbow was ahead of my right hip, I hit quite a few really nice powerful high draw shots. Boy did they feel so much better than my weak fade.
DaveT
Mar 10, 2017 at 12:49 pm
You have to be careful with analogies. There are too many false analogies in golf instruction, and I think we’ve got one or two here. Just a few places where my mind rebelled:
(1) Throwing a football lines up the radius and ulna. True. But pitching a baseball has radius and ulna in what was presented as a “weak position”. So you can pick and choose your analogies, but there are others that make the opposite point.
(2) Continuing on this point, the hammer and sword analogies have the “impact” in the lined up position. If you did that in golf, you would hit the ball with the hosel, if you hit it at all. To get the clubface on the ball, you need the radius and ulna in what is called here the weak position at impact.
(3) The hockey analogy is all about what the biomechanics community calls the “hand couple”. But in golf, the hand couple is not providing the power through most of the release; power comes from the moment of the pull on the handle. Encouraging a golfer to focus on hitting the ball with the hand couple is likely counterproductive.
(4) “Engineers say” the force is 2000-3000 pounds per square inch. I’m an engineer, and I would NEVER say that. Pounds per square inch is a measure of pressure, not force.
(5) As long as “compression” is just a buzzword, harmless and meaningless, I guess I won’t complain. But if you’re going to use it as a serious argument, you should say enough to distinguish it from ordinary momentum transfer. I don’t see genuine understanding conveyed here.
Bottom line: there are so many errors in detail here that I don’t know what to believe and what to dismiss.
Shawn Clement
Mar 10, 2017 at 8:41 pm
Hey Dave! Awesome reply, thank you for taking the time!
Yes, agree with 1-Dustin Johnson would be the baseball and Bubba the Football; both can propel like crazy! 2-don’t agree there as there are G-forces at work tht you connot prevent the club head from being taken when in a full out kinetic chain; so the face of club comes around but only if the grip is strong enough…
3-not encouraging anyone to do that; if you simply performed the drill with the sword without filters and felt how the weight of the shaft releases your anatomy; it would be very clear
4-there are other engineers who say that (I am sure your clan is as varied as the golf clan as is the medical clan) and I am merely trying to demonstrate that there will be “an elastic collision” slowing down the club through impact that the Central Nervous System will compensate for in comparison to say “air or a whiffle ball” how would you describe it better so I can choose my words better next time?
5-ok, let’s make this one crystal clear: our students are our best coaches as they convey their golden feedback to us as we teach them; I start with a solid understanding of human anatomy-blend that with breaking par both right and left hand and playing just about every sport in the book and growing up on a farm-apply this to 20 years of proper teaching 80 to 100 students a week after cutting my teeth for 10 years and get this validated byDOZENS OF MD’s including several orthopaedic surgeons and you get what you see today; so when I do a video like this, understand that you have literally, a stadium full of people speaking through me saying hey, this worked for me!!
So please, this is not my first ride around the block; I have and continue to do my homework every day.
Steve Wozeniak
Mar 10, 2017 at 12:39 pm
WRONG.
This is teaching people how to shank it. At least he demonstrates how to do it correctly while hammering, and then screws it all up when telling people how it works at impact…..SHANK!!!!
Steve Wozeniak PGA
Shawn Clement
Mar 10, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Hi Steve;
This could not be farther from the intention; have you tried the drill? Did you feel how the weight of the instrument releases the anatomy? This is a universal movement of a human being.
doc_c
Apr 12, 2017 at 5:52 am
Dear Steve,
more constructive criticism would be helpful if you feel like there are errors. your trumpian like attitude is quite unbecoming. But maybe you play golf with the guy, so who knows.
Shawns anatomical understanding is spot on. As a physician, I can attest to that.
cheers,
doc c
JR
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:16 am
Hey Steve, you have crapped on Shawn twice in the comment thread, but you have failed to tell us the “right” way to do it.
Your attitude toward other golf instructors is a huge turnoff, dont know why anybody would take a lesson from you the way you conduct yourself toward other golf pros.
James
Mar 10, 2017 at 12:59 am
better have excellent hand eye control if your going to use this idea…this is the swing where you shoot 70 one day and 84 the next…major timing issues here…..I wonder how many new players watching this are going out and trying this idea on the first tee tomorrow…let me help “FORE RIGHT”.
SoCal
Mar 10, 2017 at 12:27 am
Ah!!! Don’t think so…
Joseph
Mar 9, 2017 at 7:33 pm
While I appreciate the comparisons, I’ve got to speak out against his thesis – that the timing of the wrist action is the same across various sports.
The main problem I had picking up golf was overcoming the comparatively late wrist release (rotation) I’d learned playing baseball. Hitting to the opposite field with power in baseball requires a delayed wrist release, i.e. the wrists don’t begin to rotate until well after impact. The same action in golf leads blocks and slices.
Consider the demos from the video, but imagine Shawn is wearing a pair of wrist watches. In the hammering motion, the face of the watch would be oriented about 90 degrees from the target line at impact. Same thing in the baseball demo; as the bat travels through the contact zone, the watch faces would be facing up and down.
But in golf, at impact, the watch faces would be oriented more or less along the target line, meaning that the release has already begun and your wrists have already begun to rotate before contact is made.
So for anyone struggling with a beginner’s slice, understand that, while the loading motion of the wrists is similar across sports, in golf, your wrists must begin to rotate in the last half to quarter of your downswing in order to square/close the club face at impact.
Shank
Mar 10, 2017 at 1:37 pm
You release at your target and not the ball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgI1ENI6fUo
Shawn Clement
Mar 10, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Exactly! You are talking about an action to a ball and not an action to a target THROUGH A BALL.
please see my “dynamic vs static shawn clement” video on youtube and you will understand more where this is coming from.
Ian
Mar 9, 2017 at 11:43 am
When I try swing like that – my brain screams fore left.
Jim
Mar 9, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Ian…Been there, done that! If I focus on releasing the club “at the ball” instead of following Shawn’s advice of releasing the club “To the Target” I can hit some nasty high hooks. OTOH, when I follow Shawn’s advice and focus on the Target, the same swing produces a tight, medium-high draw (his “Throw the Club” videos are awesome!) It’s kind of spooky, but changing the focus from the ball to the target down range makes the swing feel less powerful and more like a natural swinging / throwing motion, but the impact sensation is “WOW”…
WARNING: any impulse at the top to “Crush” the ball for extra power instantly changes your focus to the ball and will validate your brain’s “Fore Left!” screams and can produce some lethal OTT snap hooks that threaten the OB boundaries of the next fairway!
Ian
Mar 9, 2017 at 10:31 pm
Well said. I’m just not sure it’s worth the risk – OTT snap hook spells disaster and can wreck my confidence/score card at the same time.
Shawn Clement
Mar 10, 2017 at 8:45 pm
Awesome comment!!