Pushing with the right hand (for righties)

[Maverick]

I've noticed that when I'm hitting my irons the best is when it feels like I'm pushing with the right hand at and through impact. Anyone else?

[mnel]

I had this feeling one day hitting balls at the range. For some reason, every shot that day was absolute magic. Crisp striking, beautiful rythm, it just FELT right. That particular day, I was concentrating on pushing with my right. Went back to the range a week later and it was just gone, to my utter dismay of course. I lost that lovin' feeling. I worked on getting it back, thinking carefully about my swing mechanics. The other day, iacas commented on a Swing Check video of a member, commenting on attempting to get his right shoulder beneath his chin on the follow through. I thought about it, tried it out... and voila! I'm feeling the rythm and solid strike again! In "pushing with my right", the right shoulder does a lot of work on the follow through for me. (Thanks Erik!)

[LarryK]

The other day, iacas commented on a Swing Check video of a member, commenting on attempting to get his right shoulder beneath his chin on the follow through. I thought about it, tried it out... and voila! I'm feeling the rythm and solid strike again! In "pushing with my right", the right shoulder does a lot of work on the follow through for me. (Thanks Erik!)

I've also found this works well on mid-length to longer putts. The question is how much right hand/right shoulder is too much? Many pros (John Daly for one) recommend doing full swing chip shots just holding the club in the left hand. I tried it at the range yesterday and couldn't do it. It was comical. I'm thinking that may mean my right hand is a bit too dominant.

[iacas]

I've also found this works well on mid-length to longer putts. The question is how much right hand/right shoulder is too much? Many pros (John Daly for one) recommend doing full swing chip shots just holding the club in the left hand. I tried it at the range yesterday and couldn't do it. It was comical. I'm thinking that may mean my right hand is a bit too dominant.

Keep trying what Daly says to do - you'll get it eventually. I think it helps with rhythm and controlling the clubhead a little bit, and it's easier if you hit down on chips with one hand rather than scoop. Can't scoop with just your left hand and hit the ball well.

A full swing is also different than chips and certainly putts. For some people, their right hand may be dominant in putting... but not in full shots. They're really so different I don't think making comparisons between the two - or taking advice given for one thing and applying it to the other - is wise.

[LarryK]

For some people, their right hand may be dominant in putting... but not in full shots. They're really so different I don't think making comparisons between the two - or taking advice given for one thing and applying it to the other - is wise.

I didn't do a good job explaining what I meant. I simply meant that getting the right shoulder (and the putter head) down the line on longer putts was helpful. It's really just a full follow through.

But your right, of course, that there is very little in common with the putter stroke and a full swing.