So..do you..uh..waggle?

[Chas]

Yes, every good golfer waggles consistently.

Pity that waggling consistently doesn't make you a good golfer though. Think of the time and money it would save ....

[talk of waggling in golf always reminds me of that episode in The Honeymooners - anyone remember it? Jackie Gleason's pal had a big and neurotic waggle but of course could barely hit the ball of course.]

[KingCobra]

I dont waggle. It actually makes me play worse.

[iacas]

Yes, every good golfer waggles consistently.

Nick Price just pointed out in a recent issue of Golf Digest (IIRC) that a lot of the good players these day don't waggle. Aaron Baddeley, I believe, was his prime example, and he cited Phil and Tiger as having a very, very, very small waggle.

That said, I waggle and try to stay every so slightly in motion right up through the "true" start of my swing.

[imtomtomim]

I used to set up and address the ball pretty calm and poised but I started waggling as I set up and it has done wonders. To keep moving helps me line up my body lines where it naturally bends and to work with it so my alignment is better. Waggling my club helps me to make sure I have the club facing the right direction, I can watch the club square up at what spot so that is my impact point. After picking up a waggle, my consistency is way up and I even release better and hit further. Movement makes miracles.

[uttexas]

I am now a firm believer in the waggle. I used to be very mechanical with almost no waggle. My tempo and ball striking has improved significantly since waggling. With no waggle, my swing was stiff and less dynamic.

[Chas]

Interesting post. I agree, when I was very "mechanical" in my stroke (too little feel in my swing), I hardly waggled at all. Now waggling sets me up for the kinesthetic aspect of the game, the feel of club weight in the fingers etc.

[DavidFehertysBike]

yeah..i shake my booty a lil bit...

as far as a club waggle..i really dont know. If i do waggle im not consious of it.

[wachesawgolfer]

I think the real benefit of the waggle is exactly as Hogan stated and that is, it helps the hands practice what they need to do in a good backswing which is set the club and hinge. To get to the ideal 9:00 position in the backswing where the club is parallel to the ground, butt to target, toe up and still on line, not inside, requires a lot of setting and hinging early in the backswing. An added benefit, no doubt, is the relaxing and tempo enhancing effects.

[glebert]

OK wagglers, here's the next question: do you take a practice swing, and do you waggle before that as well?

[PiKapp23]

OK wagglers, here's the next question: do you take a practice swing, and do you waggle before that as well?

I pretty much always take a single full-speed practice swing with everything but my driver, which I usually only take a soft half-speed swing with (unless I'm not driving well that day). I only take multiple practice swing if I'm not happy with first one or if there is something about the shot or lie that is different or I'm uncomfortable with. I don't waggle before a practice swing. The one exception to this and my practice swings is if I'm waiting to hit because of a holdup in front of me - at that point, I'll take practice swing exactly like a real swing, waggles and all.

[ChiChiIsMe]

Yes. I have a very BIG waggle......that's why all th e girls like me!

[st0wgolf08]

Nope, I have a static start, ground the club right before I'm about to start, then I'm off.

[Gordon McTavish]

No waggle for me.  I re-grip a couple of times, but contrary to popular wisdom, I can't start my take-away after too much fidgetting... I need to releatively still before I can pull the trigger.

[ohiolefty]

I'm not sure what we consider a waggle.

I don't do a 'traditional' waggle involving a wristy moving the club around thing. I used to, but I conciously stopped. Bad things happen when my hands get too active, so I don't try to rehearse something before a swing I don't want to do IN the swing.

However, I do rehearse my takeway and take a specific set of deep breaths. That's, essentially, my routine. The takeaway thing will vary depending on what I'm thinking of/working on at the time, but once I'm done with the takeaway drill (which is essentially my waggle), I take two deep breaths...trying to make sure my body and hands feel light before I draw the club back.

[sean_miller]

Not a fan of the wristy waggle or the resurrected dead thread.

[saevel25]

I don't like to waggle much because when i do, i shift my aim to the right, this has caused me huge issues. To me you can accomplish the same thing by just taking a deep breath. Research has shown that a person sighs, as a mechanism to relax. Notice after anxiety people usually take a deep breath. I try the same, right before i am ready to swing i take a deep breath and make sure i feel my shoulders relaxing, its like meditation.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

I think the waggle is very important for 3 reasons: 1) it helps you stay loose

This is the biggest benefit I get from waggling. Before I made a conscious effort to waggle, about every third hole I would just chunk a shot from being too tight.