Late release? Whats it really mean?

[allin]

Is it possible to release the club to late and still hit a draw? On my best shots I feel as thought my right elbow and arm begin straightening quite early in the downswing. I hit a slight draw and fairly high, some of my longest shots. When I feel as though my right elbow and arm straighten later I hit the ball lower with a much bigger sometimes out of control hook. I guess I have a poor understanding of what delayed release really means. TV tapes and articles seem to show the arm and elbow straightening rather late in the downswing, so the hands release powerfully as well. Is my intuitive feel wrong or am I way off on this?

[iacas]

Is it possible to release the club to late and still hit a draw? On my best shots I feel as thought my right elbow and arm begin straightening quite early in the downswing. I hit a slight draw and fairly high, some of my longest shots. When I feel as though my right elbow and arm straighten later I hit the ball lower with a much bigger sometimes out of control hook. I guess I have a poor understanding of what delayed release really means. TV tapes and articles seem to show the arm and elbow straightening rather late in the downswing, so the hands release powerfully as well. Is my intuitive feel wrong or am I way off on this?

When you release has only a little to do with shot shape. Some guys who hit draws try to "hold off" the release as long as possible (or they pull-snap it hard left).

If the swing path is from the inside relative to the face at impact, you'll get a draw (or a hook, depending on the amount).

[allin]

When you release has only a little to do with shot shape. Some guys who hit draws try to "hold off" the release as long as possible (or they pull-snap it hard left).

Then how do you tell if your release is to early, average, late? Is it just a swing result and not to be evaluated by itself? As a short hitter I constantly here the TV pros talking about late release as a power source. I just wonder if it is something they work on. I always thought it was a result of swing and primarially affected timing and ball flight height.? That isn't the context they are using it in however, they are referring to distance.

[iacas]

Then how do you tell if your release is to early, average, late?

If your shot starts too far right, it's late. If it starts too far left, it's early.

"Release" is different for everyone. Look at someone like Zach Johnson - it doesn't look like he ever releases the clubhead - he has almost a "hold off" finish. When I'm playing a punch shot, I hold off the clubface, too. So, while I understand that my answers may be frustrating, it's one of those things that are the way they are because they are the way they are. It's almost a tautology - a "proper" release squares the clubface at impact. Early or late will lead to shots going left or right.

As a short hitter I constantly here the TV pros talking about late release as a power source. I just wonder if it is something they work on.

That's lag. When pros talk about "releasing" the club it's about the clubface moving from open (behind the ball) to closed (beyond the ball). It's "rolling the arms over each other.

If you're wondering about LAG, that's an entirely different question.

I always thought it was a result of swing and primarially affected timing and ball flight height.? That isn't the context they are using it in however, they are referring to distance.

Yes, it seems you may be asking about lag...

[iacas]

Lag

Lag means maintaining an angle between your arms and the club shaft as long as possible prior to impact. At impact, your left arm and the clubshaft should form a straight line. At the top of your backswing, the shaft and the left arm form about a 90 degree angle.

Many pros decrease the angle of the lag when they start their downswing. Phil Mickelson, for example, gets to almost 45 degrees. He maintains that incredible angle quite late into his swing. Then he uncocks his wrists in a flurry of speed. His rotation, his arm speed, and the speed he generates by uncocking his wrists at the last possible instant generate tremendous clubhead speed.

The opposite of having good "lag" is "casting." That's where you lose the angle between your arms and the shaft quickly. By "lose" I mean it goes to 180 degrees - or a straight line - too quickly. If you do it really soon, you can "flip" your wrists through impact, scooping the ball.