Hinges, Levers, and Release

[iacas]

A good video to watch which explains a few things, including the fact that the left wrist cocks (and can turn and roll) while the right wrist folds/hinges.



Also, the video shows a very nice training aid you can (and probably should) build for yourself. It talks about what the best golfers in the world do absolutely (within reason) every time - hit the ball first and then the ground.



Note that there's very little to no "rolling" of the wrists through impact to "release" anything here, and note also that studies show that the people who hit the ball the farthest re-cock the club the quickest after impact - right after the point at which Martin Hall says the clubhead is as far from the left shoulder as possible.

[JGus]

Thanks, that really helped me understand the movements of the wrists, will definitely work on that at the range tomorrow.

[laxbballgolf]

I watched this video today - well actually just the part about the follow-through vs the finish towards the end of the second video - then went to the range with that idea in mind, and man did something click! Is this the same concept as holding the flying wedge through impact? If so, for whatever reason, the way Martin Hall explained it really worked for me. I have tried out the holding the flying wedge idea a couple times before but it just never felt quite right, so I stopped thinking about it (it's one the few pieces of Stack and Tilt that I kind of chose to ignore...I probably won't do that again, haha). Tonight, though, I just tried out the simple swing thought of aiming for that follow through position he describes, basically with both arms straight, and it felt awesome. Aiming for that follow through position ensured that I would accelerate through the ball but it also shortened up my follow through and sort of simplified how my swing felt a little bit (when I toyed with the flying wedge idea before it felt like I was decelerating - which I know is a terrible thing to do and is why I stopped trying it - but tonight it felt great).

There were two benefits I noticed. 1.) It felt like I was holding the ideal impact position for significantly longer than I used to - basically giving me more room for error. I've been able to feel the difference between a proper impact position and a flawed one for a while now, but wow, at least for tonight, it was flat out easy to hit that ideal position almost every time. 2.) It freed me up to really hit the ball hard because I was confident that every shot was going to be a nice inside out swing path.

Thanks for posting the video, Iacas. I really hope this concept keeps working for me!

[iacas]

I watched this video today - well actually just the part about the follow-through vs the finish towards the end of the second video - then went to the range with that idea in mind, and man did something click! Is this the same concept as holding the flying wedge through impact?

They're related but not really the exact same thing, no. That part of that video was more about chicken wingers and people who don't keep their arms straight after impact. Your right arm is typically still bent at impact and then straightens out after impact, and the left arm folds very late, so for quite awhile you have two straight arms. Ideally the handle will remain at least a little ahead of the clubhead, and that's where the wedge comes in. Flippers lose the wedge AND chicken wing it - this video is more about the chicken wing portion.

Maybe now that you've got this you can do the flying wedge drills again. It's not decelerating - you still hit the ball hard. The goal then is to stop the club (in the drill I posted anyway) right AFTER you hit the ball hard.

1.) It felt like I was holding the ideal impact position for significantly longer than I used to - basically giving me more room for error. I've been able to feel the difference between a proper impact position and a flawed one for a while now, but wow, at least for tonight, it was flat out

It sounds like this swing thought may have - as you suspected - helped you to maintain the flying wedge. That's the "proper impact position" part if we're on the same wavelength.

[colin007]

hahahaha!!!! this guy is awesome, so funny! good stuff.

[DavidFehertysBike]

That guy is funny. But he gives great common sense instruction.

[DavidFehertysBike]

But i think the idea sets up the proper chain reaction. What is done with the information is up to the player, i agree. You can definatly over-react and apply it in the wrong way.

[uttexas]

Great instructional video. The best video example explaining what the wrists do and don't do that I've seen.

[laxbballgolf]

They're related but not really the exact same thing, no. That part of that video was more about chicken wingers and people who don't keep their arms straight after impact. Your right arm is typically still bent at impact and then straightens out after impact, and the left arm folds very late, so for quite awhile you have two straight arms. Ideally the handle will remain at least a little ahead of the clubhead, and that's where the wedge comes in. Flippers lose the wedge AND chicken wing it - this video is more about the chicken wing portion.

Thanks for the input. I think the video helped me finally identify one of the ways I'll lose the ball to the right from time to time - I guess I am a chicken winger sometimes, haha. Like I said, I think I recognized the feel of it already, but this aiming for both arms straight in the follow through concept seems to really help me find that good feeling a lot easier.

As for the flying wedge drill, I am going to give that one a shot again. I sort of was already doing it yesterday - hitting and stopping quickly while focusing on the feel of both arms straight in the follow through. Great stuff! Thanks for the help.

[Paz]

Thanks for posting this. I always enjoy viewing your threads and generally learn a great deal.

[keiko]

Decent info but if one doesn't get into the proper position at the top, all is lost as it will be impossible to employ any of the information above.
One must get into a tray position at the top to have any hope of hitting a quality shot.
Learn how to swing to the top properly and you have 75% of the swing conquered.
Forget the paralysis by analysis stuff and remember "practice makes permanent"

[laxbballgolf]

Ha, I watched the rest of the video and Martin would sure be disappointed in my use of the term "impact position" above...oh well.

Keiko: I totally agree, this all assumes the prereqs of a good set-up, takeaway, position at the top, etc are in place. Nothing entirely new in the video to me, but it was the exact refresher I needed right now.