Wanna add distance and consistency? Forget about lag and hitting down on the ball, cast the club, then swing the clubhead...

[senorchipotle]

DO IT!

[senorchipotle]

That's right, I said cast the club. So I've been thinking how to put the feeling of a proper momentum driven swing into words, and I think I've got it.

Everyone thinks of casting as a bad thing, which it is(if not done correctly). But I will try to explain it in such a way that you can implement it into your swing and improve it.

What do I mean by this? Well I'm glad you asked. ;)  I like to look at people's swings at the range to see if I can learn something, and what I always notice, is that pretty much everybody starts the club down in such a way that hitting a powerful, tour quality strike is impossible. Recently, I've noticed a lot of the guys are starting down by trying to hold on to the angle created at the top, something that I've been guilty of as well. But instead of holding that angle, I cast the club and swing the clubhead. This keeps me connected and brings my arms down and through the ball naturally by the centrifugal force created from the top.

I've never liked the phrase "hit down on the ball" because if you make a momentum driven swing and are set up correctly, then nothing you can physically do will keep the club from striking ball first, and flipping is a thing of the past.

Think about a hammer thrower in the olympics who for lack of a better phrase pulls the hammer with his body and resists in such a way that momentum speeds up the hammer. This is the way the way the club should be swung. To swing the club in such a way to maximize speed, the club must not be swung, but rather pulled. So, to hit the ball farther, cast the club from the top, then pull it through with as wide an arc as possible. When done correctly, you'll smoke it every time!

[Travtex]

I don't think the Lock and Cast swing is quite as effective as the Adirondack Chair swing.

http://toimprovegolfswing.com/the-new-golf-swing/

[saevel25]

Well everyone has to cast the club at some point, because the extenion happens after the ball, so you are fully releasing your hinge in your hands. So to say they hold the lag, might be a misnomer.

[senorchipotle]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Well everyone has to cast the club at some point, because the extenion happens after the ball, so you are fully releasing your hinge in your hands. So to say they hold the lag, might be a misnomer.

when i say "cast," i don't mean throw the club at the ball from the top. basically what i'm trying to describe by casting is to get a feel for the weight clubhead in order to swing it through with the widest possible arc, at the top you have to make the slightest unhinging of the wrist. not so much that you lose your angle, but enough so that you can "swing the clubhead." if you make a good swing and keep turning through the "release" is never a factor.

[iacas]

Are you prescribing that everyone employ a sweep release?

It will work but even a sweep release has "lag." The clubhead doesn't pass the hands before the golf ball. The lead wrist is flat or even slightly bowed at impact.

[senorchipotle]

Originally Posted by iacas

Are you prescribing that everyone employ a sweep release?

It will work but even a sweep release has "lag." The clubhead doesn't pass the hands before the golf ball. The lead wrist is flat or even slightly bowed at impact.

well, sort of i guess... and yes, it will create lag, lots of it if you swing fast enough. however, i'm saying forget about it because that will happen naturally. all i'm really trying to describe though is how to get a feel of the weight of the clubhead sooner in the golf swing. for me, that  makes it easier to get on plane and you get faster clubhead speed because of the wide arc.

[DeanS]

I'm right hand dominant. I bat & golf left handed and catch and throw right handed. When I golf I pull hard with the lead hand. What I had to learn early was to strengthen my trailing hand grip and pull the backswing into position. Then relax that grip and pull thru on the downswing. If my head moves I get into big trouble. Lots of interesting comments about feel lately, nice to read.

[hero12]

Sounds like your basically telling people to golf naturally, instead of calling it what it is your calling it "casting".  And no, not everybody "casts" the club after impact as somebody else said.  The wrists will rotate, but they should never flip, which will cause the "cast".

[CuppedTin]

This technique will seem to ensure that both arms are straight and fully extended at impact and it will make it much easier to hit through the ball as opposed to hitting at it... Just my thought.

[senorchipotle]

Originally Posted by CuppedTin

This technique will seem to ensure that both arms are straight and fully extended at impact and it will make it much easier to hit through the ball as opposed to hitting at it... Just my thought.

yes, except it's after impact where both arms are fully extended. but yes, you have the idea. and the best thing about it is, it keeps you turning through the shot because you've built up so much momentum from the top that it's nearly impossible to flip.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by senorchipotle

yes, except it's after impact where both arms are fully extended. but yes, you have the idea. and the best thing about it is, it keeps you turning through the shot because you've built up so much momentum from the top that it's nearly impossible to flip.

Want to bet?

I'm glad that you've got something that works for you. Your feel is not going to work for everyone, and most likely not even a small majority.

[CuppedTin]

Originally Posted by iacas

Want to bet?

I'm glad that you've got something that works for you. Your feel is not going to work for everyone, and most likely not even a small majority.

Then what works for the vast majority since you raised the question?

[CuppedTin]

This is a joke, why are my reply's being held?

[senorchipotle]

Originally Posted by iacas

Want to bet?

I'm glad that you've got something that works for you. Your feel is not going to work for everyone, and most likely not even a small majority.

well, if you don't swing through the ball without flipping, you'll stick the club in the dirt cause you're coming in from a shallower angle. so even if you don't take this swing thought/feel to the course, i think it's a good thing to practice.

[bunkerputt]

Is this thread really happening?  I almost can't believe it.  Only on the internets...

[bunkerputt]

I'd also like to add, try hitting it off the toe.  It's the fastest moving part of the clubhead.