Jump to content
IGNORED

Dropping Hands to Initiate Downswing


ProStuart
Note: This thread is 1712 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

If you want to play bad golf, keep thinking the word "hand" in your swing.  My pro has been hammering me about this problem.  The over-the-top creeps into my swing every year and I tend to cast the club as well.  It is ALWAYS because I get too handsy with the club which is a death sentence when trying to play good golf.

The drill I use is putting an impact bag behind the ball and swing inside to outside trying not to hit or touch the bag.  A lot safer than putting an alignment rod in the ground behind you and watching it fly out towards a fellow golfer on the range beside you.

If you watch Tiger's preshot routine where he swings outside-in I go from inside to out.  Greatly exaggerate it by going as far inside on your backswing and then act like your downswing is going 2 oclock out.  Its not the pretiest swing in the world but does wonders in getting me to quit going over-the-top.  Amazing how much more solid I hit shots after practicing that one move on the range.  I hit about 3 buckets but only hit easy half swings the entire time.  Folks who go out to the range and wack at 2 buckets of balls never get better. I was one of those folks so I know.

Now, if I could only ever get this lag and release thing down I can finally get under 10HC.  To me, by far the hardest move to learn.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Actually, zipazoid's 'swing-from-the-ground-up' should induce a good lag. While the feet and then knees and hips are doing their thing, the hands are dropping in behind the torso, but only as a consequence of movement of the lower body. You don't really 'do' anything with the wrists or hands at this point. That passivity while dropping down creates lag.

  • Upvote 2

dak4n6

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 2 weeks later...

Get to the top with the right inclination and use the knees and hips correctly in the transition.  It will become very clear what to do with the hands once they are in a position to hit.

[ Equipment ]
R11 9° (Lowered to 8.5°) UST Proforce VTS 7x tipped 1" | 906F2 15° and 18° | 585H 21° | Mizuno MP-67 +1 length TT DG X100 | Vokey 52° Oil Can, Cleveland CG10 2-dot 56° and 60° | TM Rossa Corza Ghost 35.5" | Srixon Z Star XV | Size 14 Footjoy Green Joys | Tour Striker Pro 5, 7, 56 | Swingwing

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by dak4n6

Actually, zipazoid's 'swing-from-the-ground-up' should induce a good lag. While the feet and then knees and hips are doing their thing, the hands are dropping in behind the torso, but only as a consequence of movement of the lower body. You don't really 'do' anything with the wrists or hands at this point. That passivity while dropping down creates lag.

Sergio Garcia is a great example of this -

First move is lower body & as a result the hands drop with lots of lag.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Sergio is a lag freak. I don't think anyone else creates more. I've seen frontal shots of him where his hands are even with the ball and the clubhead is still back around 9:00.

dak4n6

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by dak4n6

Sergio is a lag freak. I don't think anyone else creates more. I've seen frontal shots of him where his hands are even with the ball and the clubhead is still back around 9:00.

True, and part of the reason for the lag is the lower body movement. But yes, he's pretty extreme.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 2 weeks later...
  • Administrator

We may have different definitions of "drop" but I don't see it as much as you might seem to think here.

Red line is BOC at A4. Green line is BOC at A7. Hands never really "drop" per se, the right elbow simply re-attaches and the hands get on their final plane as a result of that. Never below green.

Everyone's hands will move "downward" because they've gone back, UP, and in and need to go DOWN, out, and forward.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Had the same problem, and 1/2 the same solution.  Had to widen my stance to give my hips room turn going back and starting down.  If you start your swing with your hips turning, the hands will drop into place naturally. Do not need to make an adjustment there.  Go to you tube and watch some of Hogan's swings. MJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Sorry, what does 'BOC' stand for?

Originally Posted by iacas

We may have different definitions of "drop" but I don't see it as much as you might seem to think here.

Red line is BOC at A4. Green line is BOC at A7. Hands never really "drop" per se, the right elbow simply re-attaches and the hands get on their final plane as a result of that. Never below green.

Everyone's hands will move "downward" because they've gone back, UP, and in and need to go DOWN, out, and forward.

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

This is something that I learned last season, just practice and practice and force yourself to do it, you really have nothing to lose.

Titleist 913D2 9.5 (UST VTS 65)

Titleist 913F 15 (Diamana S+)

Titleist 913H 19 (Diamana S+)

Titleist 714 AP2 (4-PW) (DG XP-95)

Titleist Vokey SM5 (52,56,58) (DG XP-95)

Ping Anser 2 Classic

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by iacas

Everyone's hands will move "downward" because they've gone back, UP, and in and need to go DOWN, out, and forward.

We're talking about not only the hands moving downward, but downward in the proper place (I call it 'behind the torso', but only because I don't know the proper terminology). On the course (but not on the driving range), my son brings his hands downward AND OUT because he rushes from the top using his arms and shoulders, rather than accelerating gradually from the ground up.

dak4n6

Link to comment
Share on other sites


It should not be necessary to drop the hands down and in to initiate the forward swing unless you are above your swings inclined plane. If you are on plane and crossing over the top of the plane slightly you can play your fade all day long.  If you get too far over the plane weal left to right shots result.

If you are on plane at the top pay attention to your down the line video to see how you are turning your torso and your pelvis.  A fair number of people also come over the top by pushing their arms

at the target line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


You snap it back and snap it forward, gravity is swinging your club.  If you tells you not to go over the top you will start going over the top. Get a good wrist cock on the backswing and it will help your down swing, you see the back of the right hand on impact and the club snaps as you get to the 8 oclock position.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Quote:

Originally Posted by dak4n6

Actually, zipazoid's 'swing-from-the-ground-up' should induce a good lag. While the feet and then knees and hips are doing their thing, the hands are dropping in behind the torso, but only as a consequence of movement of the lower body. You don't really 'do' anything with the wrists or hands at this point. That passivity while dropping down creates lag.


Dude, wow! Spot on!

I read the title of this thread in wonderment. But then again, there is no one way to swing a golf club. However I'll take a cue from my man, "the best ball-striker, ever", Mr. Hogan. Hands are the last thing to go on the downswing. I love this video I found a while back on youtube. You can really get the sense of a hold-off of the hands in each of the swings, even the little 50 yard pitches he hits (around 1m40s), they stay suspended up at the top forever, and then at the very last instance, right to the ball.

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 3 months later...
Note: This thread is 1712 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • Thanks for the feedback. @StuM, we are a "club without real estate" so no facilities or pro. We have a membership of around 185 players and we only play together as a group at our tournaments, which are held at public access courses. A group of us setup the tournaments, collect the money and dole out the prizes.
    • In general, granting free relief anywhere on the course isn't recommended.  Similarly, when marking GUR, the VSGA and MAPGA generally don't mark areas that are well away from the intended playing lines, no matter how poor the conditions.  If you hit it far enough offline, you don't necessarily deserve free relief.  And you don't have to damage clubs, take unplayable relief, take the stroke, and drop the ball in a better spot.
    • If it's not broken don't fix it. If you want to add grooves to it just because of looks that's your choice of course. Grooves are cut into putter faces to reduce skid, the roll faced putter is designed to do the same thing. I'm no expert but it seems counter productive to add grooves to the roll face. Maybe you can have it sand-blasted or something to clean up the face. Take a look at Tigers putter, its beat to hell but he still uses it.     
    • I get trying to limit relief to the fairway, but how many roots do you typically find in the fairway? Our local rule allows for relief from roots & rocks anywhere on the course (that is in play). My home course has quite a few 100 year old oaks that separate the fairways. Lift and move the ball no closer to the hole. None of us want to damage clubs.
    • Hello, I've been playing a Teardrop td17 F.C. putter for many years and love it. It still putts and feels as good or  better than any of the new putters I've tried and it's in excellent condition except the face has dings in it ever since I bought it used that kind of bother me. I was just wondering if it's possible to have some really shallow horizontal grooves milled into the face on a "roll face" putter. I think I would rather spend some money on it instead of trying to get used to a new putter.  Thanks
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...