forward press?

[mirv]

i understand that, as the name implies, you press forward a bit before actually starting the swing to induce the "swing the bucket" motion, but i've not been able to find anything explaining this in detail. i think i could really benefit from having a forward press, as sometimes my swing starts off feeling very fluid, and other times it feels totally mechanical and awkward.

so... how far forward do you press? does your weight shift at all? what all moves in the forward press? hands only? hands/arms? entire body?

any information is appreciated. thanks!

[Ryanrocksfender]

i would like to know also. i do this i dont know why it just feels comfortable for me.

[Stacey_E]

I press everything except the putter I suppose. For me it is just a swing trigger. I guess it's just an inch or two, mainly with the hands and to a lesser extent the arms. I'm not pressing my weight, body core or legs in any way. If I really am trying to pound a wedge I'll press a lot, thus delofting and presetting my wrists pretty hard. Otherwise its just a swing trigger that I now feel out of place without.

[MiniMoe]

A forward press can be good and it can be very bad. At address, your hands should be ahead of the golf ball, so the forward press to start the swing is not something that is going to get you is the right position. It acts like a trigger to start the swing. I don't forward press to start the swing, I tap my right foot, or I do something small to get going. If you want to forward press to start the swing, remember it is just a small movement to get going... maybe moving the hands 1/2 inch would do the trick. You also have to be careful because if you press too much you will get your hands and club face out of position and it might cause some changes in your swing plane and/or swing path.

[PingGKEN]

I dont know if what I've started doing is a forward press....

....I sort of kick my right knee towards the target an inch or two to begin my swing. I try to use what Shawn Clement demonstrates in this video: (GREAT video by the way!)

[Dub]

I typically don't do an active forward press so much as simply set up with a forward shaft lean with every club except the driver.

I often set up with my putter suspended slightly above the green....gripping very lightly. Sorta hard to forward press a putter that isn't grounded.