Do you try to ''smack'' the ball with your hands as hogan says?

[senorchipotle]

in his 5 lessons, mr. hogan tells us to ''hit the ball hard with both hands,'' but what does this really mean? is he telling us to come down hard from the top with both hands and simply swing through? or does he want us to actively try to give it an added punch at the bottom of the downswing upon impact?

personally, i've notice that when i try to smack it with my hands upon impact instead of simply swinging through, half the time i end up hitting behind the ball.

thoughts?

[ajschn06]

I kind of understand it, I didn't hear it from Hogan though. It sounds to me kind of like controlling the hands through the "impact zone". Thats just me though, I don't like to listen to tips, it causes me to think to much and ends up causing more harm then good. I like to play by feel, if I make a bad shot I can usually feel what I did wrong, and go from there.

[Paz]

What I believe he's referring to is a "slap" release. I've also heard it called other names such as the "puck" release, but it's essentially where you take your non glove hand and slap it through underneath your glove hand.

[James_Black]

What I believe he's referring to is a "slap" release. I've also heard it called other names such as the "puck" release, but it's essentially where you take your non glove hand and slap it through underneath your glove hand.

can anybody tell the difference between this and a flip?

thought a flip is meant to be bad.

[CarSB]

I tend to think that Ben Hogan was perhaps describing a feeling where the arms, hands etc are working in unison. I think taking that advice literally would be a mistake.

Also, I doubt he's referring to the "slap" release, and the bent left wrist that picture prescribes. In fact, I can't recall any kind of golf instruction that prescribes that hand action through impact. Where is that picture from Paz?

[Paz]

I tend to think that Ben Hogan was perhaps describing a feeling where the arms, hands etc are working in unison. I think taking that advice literally would be a mistake.

The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing by Nick Bradley. The slap release is used to generate a bit extra power. This would resemble scooping if in fact your body was out of position at impact. Such as your spine angle tilting too far away from the target. This image shows what the hands should be doing, although in this picture he's releasing it too early it looks like doesn't it? I've always been taught about the importance of a forward leaning club shaft at impact. I believe this is the motion your hands make after impact.

[Paz]

Yup in his book he says that the right hand should work slightly under the left hand slightly after impact.

[senorchipotle]

can anybody tell the difference between this and a flip?

yeah, i know what you mean. when i try this, i tend to get flippy and end up with a bad shot. it's not so bad with the driver cause it only affects the height of your drive, but with irons off the turf it can make a huge difference.

[Paz]

You can still hit down on the ball while doing this.

[saevel25]

Well if you look at swing sequences of the pro's you will find that there right forearm lines up with the club shaft at impact, the only way to do this is to have a slightly bent right wrist at impact with a straight left arm. Then after impact you break down your left arm and straighten your right hand. If you do a one piece take-away, take the club back a bit behind the ball, this is nearly the same after impact, you will form a triangle with your arms. Thats why pro's hit down on the ball, there low point is past the ball and there club is pointing at the ground past the ball. then they release to there finish.

[iacas]

What I believe he's referring to is a "slap" release.

He's not. Hogan didn't do that, and frankly, I don't see the point in many people doing it. The small amount of added power is likely not worth the inconsistency. Virtually everyone on this forum would do it too early.

Flat left wrist at and through impact. Maintain the right forearm flying wedge.