The Importance of Getting Your Hands in Front
- Hitting Down Through Impact. It’s basically impossible to hit down through the ball if your hands are behind the ball when you make contact.
- Holding onto Your Lag. This is a big one. ...
- Creating Backspin. Many amateur golfers get frustrating with their inability to create sufficient backspin on their iron shots.
What is the right hand position in a golf swing?
Your right hand's position is key to creating an effective and consistent swing. Your only connection to the club is your hands, and the better you swing your arms and hands, the better your body will respond and move throughout your swing.
How important is the location of your hands during the swing?
The location of your hands during the golf swing is a critical piece of the overall puzzle. If you think about it, this makes sense – your hands are your only connection to the golf club, so it stands to reason that their positioning is going to play a big role in where the ball goes.
Where should your hands be when you hit a golf ball?
At address, your hands should be slightly in front of the ball – exactly where you want them to return when you make contact. Also, make sure your left wrist (for a right-handed golfer) is in a relatively flat, firm position.
Should you use your hands during the golf backswing?
If you try to actively keep the club low with your hands, the tension created could lower your lead shoulder, which makes a full, proper turn almost impossible. Once the backswing is in motion, the next point of interest for the hands when they begin to hinge. For most golfers, this will occur at about waist height.
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Where do you hit the ball in a baseball swing?
The only basic difference is that in general terms with the baseball swing you hit the ball around about waist level or a little lower instead of off the ground as in golf.
How do you start a golf swing?
You start the swing by rotating the back hip which in turn puts the hands in a position to hammer the ball much the same as you do in the golf swing. As with the golf swing you create a certain amount of club/bat lag once the the body starts the forward rotating motion.
What does correct use of hands mean?
Correct use of the hands makes the body move in an effortless way without the need for much conscious thought. Apologies if you’ve discussed this already but Peter has done exactly what you say should happen in designing a teaching system based on the use of the hands and the golfing world hasn’t fallen in as yet.
Do golfers use their hands?
Most of the famous instructors at some time or another, will say that the world’s best golfers all use their hands in an up and down motion during the golf swing. But almost all of them leave it there, and don’t teach the rest of us how to do it. There is so much leverage, speed and control in using the hands, it just amazes me ...
Which Hand Should Be Dominant in Golf Swing?
The Left Hand. A golfer can experience some high level of success when they focus on matching up the back of the left hand and can control the club face with their left hand. An overactive right hand can lead to flipping the club and a lost of lag.
Some Keys To Using the Left Hand in The Golf Swing
The back of the left hand can serve as a focus point on where the club is aiming.
Final Thoughts
The key to building a swing that you can count on is having a place to practice and experiment. With a launch monitor, you can build a swing you can count on. However, it takes time and effort to develop the feels, understand the numbers and work on a consistent swing that you can own and be proud of.
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
How to swing the clubhead around your body?
Any of the three right-hand positions above will help set up your swing for success. Once you complete that assessment, put your feet together and tee up five balls to simply work on swinging the clubhead around your body. Initially, you should be looking for a ball to curve to the left.
What is the connection between your arms and your golf club?
Your only connection to the club is your hands, and the better you swing your arms and hands, the better your body will respond and move throughout your swing. To that end, it’s important to make sure your right hand is on the handle properly, because your right hand, forearm and elbow play a huge role in your overall swing path.
How to get better contact in women's golf?
Women’s golf tips: If you’re looking for more solid contact, check your right hand’s position on the grip. Your right hand's position is key to creating an effective and consistent swing. Your only connection to the club is your hands, and the better you swing your arms and hands, the better your body will respond and move throughout your swing. ...
Where is the right hand on a handgun?
In the picture below, you will see I have my palm on the side of the handle (left), on top of the handle (middle) and under the handle (right). Each of these placements will work.
How to get a ball to curve to the left?
Initially, you should be looking for a ball to curve to the left. Use this drill to get the feel of a proper turn with your selected right-hand position. After successfully doing that 10 times, spread your feet apart, and allow your body to shift and turn in response to the speed you have created.
What is the importance of your hands during a golf swing?
If you think about it, this makes sense – your hands are your only connection to the golf club, so it stands to reason that their positioning is going to play a big role in where the ball goes.
Where do you put a divot in golf?
As a point of reference, you can stick a tee in the turf near the ball (but outside of the path of your club). If your divot starts just after where the tee is located, you are doing a good job of getting your hands in front and hitting down.
Why do amateur golfers backspin?
Backspin not only helps you stop the ball quickly when it lands, but it also helps the ball climb into the air and fall softly onto the green.
What happens if you don't trust your downswing?
If you don’t trust your downswing and believe that you are going to make good contact, you’ll slow the club down and probably not get in front by the time you reach the ball. Once the swing starts, there is no turning back – just commit to it and swing all the way through to a full finish.
What is the difference between amateur golfers and professional golfers?
Generally speaking, pros are better across the board at the various skills needed to play golf. And that makes sense, of course – they are the best players in the world! But one area where they tend to be significantly better than the average golfer is getting their hands in front and creating a downward hit. In fact, an experienced golf teacher can check the position of a player’s hands at impact and quickly assess that player’s ability.
What is a bad setup position?
Also, make sure your left wrist (for a right-handed golfer) is in a relatively flat, firm position. If it is cupped at address, you’ll be more likely ...
Can you hit down through the ball?
It’s basically impossible to hit down through the ball if your hands are behind the ball when you make contact. If your hands are behind the ball at impact, the club is probably making its way back up away from the ground – meaning you are hitting up, not down. This is extremely common in the amateur game.
How to hit a golf club with your hands?
Let your arms hang down naturally, with the upper arms resting lightly against your chest. Hold the club with your normal golf grip; if you dangled a plumb line from your lips, it would hit your hands.
What is the angle of the club shaft?
At address, the club shaft is automatically set at an angle between 45 and 60 degrees to your forearms. You create the rest of the angle during your backswing. There are two types of wrist set. The classic method is called a "late set" or "late cock," where the wrists don't set fully until your hands reach the top of your backswing.
How does Schwartzel's elbow work?
Unlike McIlroy, Schwartzel's right elbow bends early and his wrists set by the time his left arm is parallel to the ground. Start bending your right elbow -- your left elbow if you're left-handed -- while your left elbow remains extended. This is where the early set differs from the late set.
Why do my wrists set earlier?
Because your elbow starts bending earlier, your wrists begin to set earlier. By the time your extended left arm is parallel to the ground, your wrists will have finished setting and your right elbow will still be fairly close to your side.
How to play left handed golf with McIlroy?
With his hands at waist high, both of McIlroy's elbows are still extended and his wrists haven't begun to set. Turn your shoulders until your left arm -- your right arm if you play left-handed -- is parallel to your target line and your hands are about waist high. Your elbows should still be fairly straight and you will have completed most ...
What should your elbows be at address?
Your elbows should still be fairly straight and you will have completed most of your shoulder turn. As a rough reference point, your left shoulder should be nearly under your left eye. At this point, your wrist angle will appear almost the same as it was at address.
How to bend McIlroy's elbow?
As his hands reach shoulder height, McIlroy's right elbow is just starting to bend. Pivot your arms up with the shoulder joints. Your right elbow will move slightly away from your side. With a late set like this, you want your elbows to stay mostly straight until your hands are just below your shoulders.
1. PULL DOWN
Guess what: Your hands are just as fast as a Tour pro’s. And turning that velocity into clubhead speed is a big secret to hitting pure irons. The first step is to get your hands to their lowest point in your swing, with your wrists hinged but loose (photo, above). This low point occurs not at impact but when your hands reach your right thigh.
2. PULL UP
If your hands reach their low point pre-impact, the only direction they can go is up! Good players pull up on the handle through impact. It’s physics—as your hands move up, the clubhead whips down, and your swing speed goes off the charts. You want to feel like you’re forcing the grip toward your belly once your hands reach your right thigh.
The Pros and Cons of High vs Low Hands at the Top
As a full-time golf instructor for the last 27 years, I have seen a many swing theories come and go, but one thing has come full circle: hand position at the top of the swing.
Stickney: The evolution of necessary technology in golf instruction
Over time technology has improved so that we (as teachers) can see and understand motion and forces in action during the swing.
The Wedge Guy: You can change your stripes
Over my 40-plus years in the golf industry and a lifetime in the game, I have had the opportunity to observe thousands of recreational golfers of all skill levels. I believe the common thread between all of us – from scratch player to high-handicapper – is that we all would like to get better.
Fingerprints of your swing: More thoughts from Phil Blackmar (with Tom Stickney)
One of the biggest debates in the instructional world is the “way” in which people should use technology within their lessons. Some of the older pros are dead against it and say we have gone too far (Brandel Chamblee). Other pros like to blend feels and science (Phil Blackmar).
