Hi Paul,
Thanks for this video.
The heavy club sensation feels funny. It’s as if one is not holding the club
firmly enough. I think this is when Human Nature steps in.
This video hits the nail on the head. Thanks again.
Eriab, Be careful not to let go of the club. You are holding on but the arm muscles are not locked up. I think you are getting it. Now, keep doing it until you love this feeling.
Great tip have one question, when i am swinging the club even lightly , alot of time i feel my weight going out more onto the balls to toe area of my left foot rather than going towards my left heel ,any idea whats causing that sensation,i feel like iam starting the downswing with my lower body. whats the best drill for balance finish.
Barry, Typically, the weight would go to the toes if you are swinging over the top. Why not do swings with the weight on your heels? Then roll the weight into the middle of the feet.
Hi Paul. Do you know that to this day I do this drill as part of every single shot. Why not? A gentle reminder of how the wrists are about to feel as you embrace the weight of the club head. And I add the sensation of keeping my balance around an axis. Do you do this too.
I wish you included more talk about the axis in your descriptions. Its a very important thing that the axis be kept fairly still while this intense winding of a pretty heavy piece of metal and truly keep my axis from tilting both forward as I swing this club out in front of me, and then from tilting the axis toward my target as I throw my wt from back to front foot in a whirling motion. I think the problem we all face every time we swing is keeping that axis at the correct position.
And add to that there really are two different axis as you move up towards the driver. Would you agree there are two separate axis formed as we move our wt onto the back foot we establish one axis, and then as we unwind in a totally circular fashion our wt must also shift to a new axis. And as we approach that new axis there is a stop point, where the whipping really occurs. Right?
Now, how are you lately with your right arm in all this? Are you finding more power and aim by getting that right elbow to bend a bit more and cave in towards the belly. It really helps my fairway hybrids.
Thanks for all the help to get to a nice tie with my 28 year old son the other day as we really kept our score and kept it fun. At the end we both actually shot an 80, for which I am very proud. I am shooting pretty much in the low 80s now and its lots of fun.
When you fire the lower body the upper body (axis) should tilt back in the downswing. Be careful not too keep your head too still.
The right arms should be folding on its own. If not help it to do so manually until it is doing it without you thinking about it. The Iron Byron does not have a right arm. I don’t want you even thinking about it once it is working:
That’s great you are playing some good golf. 70’s are not too far off. Keep on making the positions even more perfect and you will get there in no time.
Thanks Paul. Your time is much appreciated and I really will use this. I looked at the video and had all my questions fully answered. Your appreciation for all the Geometry and physics of the golf swing motion is your Revolution my friend. Its truly a learning method that stands out Paul.
Very nice…………………….
I am getting back to letting my arms be loose again. Its easy to start falling back to thinking we can ADD something. Its strange.
I found a tip that is really helping me achieve what you are saying. I heard that it is useful to try to develop a feeling of pulling on the club at impact. At first I had NO idea of how you can think that.
Then I thought well if Im not pulling them am I pushing the club. Isnt pushing going to be using my muscles and stopping the natural hinging? So,pulling actually helps you get your arms looser. Weird hugh??
You can use this idea of pulling at impact if you want in a video. I think it also helps get the sense of whipping the club. Think of what we do when we whip a towell at someone, we reach a point that max snap happens when we PULL……………
Show people this in a video. Snap the towell…….. snap the club.
Hi Paul, just a little confused. You say that you shouldn’t be swing a heavy club because when you switch to your club it will feel very light. I’m just wondering if that is true, why do you promote the Momentus
The traveler is not all that heavy because it’s a half club plus it fits in your suitcase. That is why I promote it. Too many people have too many excuses as to why they are not practicing. Now there is no excuse.
I swing, and practice a lot in my garage, and back yard, so I personally speaking I don’t think this is a problem for me. Now, as far as going to the driving range, I don’t have a lot of time for that. But this shouldn’t be a problem as long as I’m working on the correct positions, right?
Exactly, focus on the positions and building a great swing. A great swing will hit great shots. When doing practice swings there is no ball to hit so you should be thinking of the positions and feedback because there is nothing else to think about. Stay focused and you will get it.
Paul as usual your teaching is spot on. I watched the accompanying video which supports your negative comments on swinging a heavier club. Powerless arms maybe a swing concept difficult for some to pick up on. Especially for someone like me who believed this game was a hitting thing. If only I could have understood from the beginning that is a swing, not a hit. As I have said before and continue to tell my fellow golfers at the Club I play at, “You’re the man”. I am getting repeated comments from my fellow players that my ball contact, distance and shot making has improved over the past year. I keep telling them about your teaching method and swing concept is the reason my game has developed. Keep up the good teaching!!
Hi Paul:
It’s me again. The swing speed is coming along for my March 1st self test. Guess what I just did ??????? I thru out my weighted warmup club !!! GREAT TIP !!!!
Dave
Hi Paul very well put. This is a much needed reminder for all golfers. As a Junior golf instructor and Coach I only use a weighted club that has a grip trainer on it so the golfer gets the proper r connection and hand position for the hold of club and I find that when they swing this club the golfer can see and feel how the hands and arms are working together. Then when doing their warm up with their own club they can check to see if the hold of the club is correct , as well as the rest of the positions that happen when they turn their body and the club swings through. For the Junior program and all “green golfers” I start them with practice clubs that have correct size grip trainers on them and have had very good success regardless of what type of hold of the club the golfer elects to use. I find that I do not have to remind/ correct the hold of the club the golfer quickly establishes the ability to check this on their own …..what I feel is one of the most important fundamentals….. The hold of the club.
Thank you and keep reminding us!
Golf is a game of opposites. ……Coach Ahrns
I really don’t like anyone swinging this heavy club. I would get some shafts without the head and put a training grip on it. Then have them swing this. If they do their clubs will feel heavy which is what you want.
Paul ,I object to the idea that swinging a weighted club is always bad .I swing both :a heavy MOMENTUS driver ,to BUILD strength ,and a very light MOMENTUS SPEED WHOOSH ,to promote. speed .
If you listen to MIKE BAUMAN ,the long drive champion ,inventor of THEULTIMATE SWING TRAINER (which you recommend ),h
Object all you want I just showed you a video that proved the point. Mike asks me for help with his swing I will point this out to him next time I talk to him.
What I said about swinging a very heavy exercise club is just a quote from MIKE’ BAUMAN4s instruction manual “STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE DAY “:he became a long drive champion exercising this way .
Famous ( late )HARVEY PENICK in his “LITTLE RED BOOK ” recommends also to swing a weighted club .
So ,what is right and wrong ,after all?
Mike was standing right there off camera when they shot that video so he knows about this. Here his comments to your statement:
It does not say weighted club. It says a steel shafted driver with a head cover duct taped onto it. The slight resistance strengthens the muscles and makes a golfer feel the CLubhead at the top of the swing. It helps to creates a bend or lag in the shaft the golfers cannot really do on their own.
And:
It’s for training for strength/ endurance muscles and not for speed which is the biggest factor for distance.
Also:
Paul, I helped to make that video happen with Dr. Rose. I’m off camera. I sent then documentation about how bad that was for golfers trying to gain speed!! I ve had that on my website since its inception.
So there you go. He is not telling you to swing a heavy club to gain more power. It is an exercise for building your strength.
Paul; your combining the best of golf technique with the intelligence of exercise and sport science is very impressive! I think that there are probably more sports myths out there that could be busted if others followed your lead of playing smarter, not harder! You should do a segment or two on Myth Busters!
Thanks. I saw this video a long time ago and found it again. I just thought everyone should know.
I wasted many years of my life just beating balls and practice the wrong things. Hopefully, I can keep passing this on to the members so they don’t make the same mistakes.
Hi Paul, does a heavier club swing weight help with this? Does a d6 as opposed to a d1 help with powerless arms or does it really depend on the golfer? Would like to hear your opinion, thanks Tom
You want to be using the swing weight that is right for you. This is different than swinging a weighted club. I prefer D2. I think this is the right weight for me. When I swing a heavier club I am really working too hard although this would give you a heavy feeling of the clubhead. I think you need to demo some clubs to see the heaviest club with the fastest swing speed. If you get too heavy you will lose power.
Hi Paul;
When swinging a club this way, when I get a little past what would be the impact area, the weight of the club actually pulls me into the finish position with my legs touching automatically, as long as I start with my hips. It makes the whole swing easier to do properly without having to think about it. What a great tip!
Very good. The weight of the club should be pulling your arms out to their widest point. This is my release point at approx. 2 feet after impact with irons.
Eureka! I finally got it today. I was feeling the club being heavy on the upswing, but then I got my arms ever so slightly engaged in the downswing. I found myself going over the top, which resulted in pulls. I was able to straighten it out but wasn’t getting any distance. This tip set off a lightbulb in my brain. I realized that I had to feel the heaviness of the club all the way through the swing. Once I was able to do that, my swing felt really effortless. At the range this evening, I was hitting it straighter (consistently right on targe) and I hit it just as far or farther while swinging far easier. My challenge now will be to increase my rotational speed and still keep that feeling of heaviness. Learning to time that will probably take lots of practice, but now I know what to aim for. I am sure that I will be able to loosen up even more while building speed and and fluidity. Today was an eye opener. I couldn’t believe it. Thanks, Paul.
I love it when people make a huge breakthrough. Now just stick with it. I wouldn’t worry too much about distance for right now. I would want you doing this a few more times to make sure you don’t lose it. Once confident get it a little extra legs. Get used to that they increase 1 more time for full power.
Since my golf club feels heavy, and resists my swinging it fast, what I find works for me is to have the feeling that the club starts dropping down on the downswing before i can add velocity to it. I really want it to feel light on the downswing, and so I don’t resist the initial dropping. Does this make sense?
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36 Responses to “The Club Should Feel Heavy”
October 25, 2012
HowardMillerExcellent tip! Thanks.
October 26, 2012
Paul WilsonHoward, Glad you liked it. Thanks.
October 25, 2012
ERIABBERAHi Paul,
Thanks for this video.
The heavy club sensation feels funny. It’s as if one is not holding the club
firmly enough. I think this is when Human Nature steps in.
This video hits the nail on the head. Thanks again.
October 26, 2012
Paul WilsonEriab, Be careful not to let go of the club. You are holding on but the arm muscles are not locked up. I think you are getting it. Now, keep doing it until you love this feeling.
October 25, 2012
barrybowerGreat tip have one question, when i am swinging the club even lightly , alot of time i feel my weight going out more onto the balls to toe area of my left foot rather than going towards my left heel ,any idea whats causing that sensation,i feel like iam starting the downswing with my lower body. whats the best drill for balance finish.
October 26, 2012
Paul WilsonBarry, Typically, the weight would go to the toes if you are swinging over the top. Why not do swings with the weight on your heels? Then roll the weight into the middle of the feet.
You should be doing this drill:
DRILL: Touch Legs Touch Head: https://ignitiongolf.com/follow-through-sequence-drill/
April 1, 2013
RalphWilkinsonHi Paul. Do you know that to this day I do this drill as part of every single shot. Why not? A gentle reminder of how the wrists are about to feel as you embrace the weight of the club head. And I add the sensation of keeping my balance around an axis. Do you do this too.
I wish you included more talk about the axis in your descriptions. Its a very important thing that the axis be kept fairly still while this intense winding of a pretty heavy piece of metal and truly keep my axis from tilting both forward as I swing this club out in front of me, and then from tilting the axis toward my target as I throw my wt from back to front foot in a whirling motion. I think the problem we all face every time we swing is keeping that axis at the correct position.
And add to that there really are two different axis as you move up towards the driver. Would you agree there are two separate axis formed as we move our wt onto the back foot we establish one axis, and then as we unwind in a totally circular fashion our wt must also shift to a new axis. And as we approach that new axis there is a stop point, where the whipping really occurs. Right?
Now, how are you lately with your right arm in all this? Are you finding more power and aim by getting that right elbow to bend a bit more and cave in towards the belly. It really helps my fairway hybrids.
Thanks for all the help to get to a nice tie with my 28 year old son the other day as we really kept our score and kept it fun. At the end we both actually shot an 80, for which I am very proud. I am shooting pretty much in the low 80s now and its lots of fun.
RW
April 1, 2013
Paul WilsonRalph,
I always feel the club is heavy and I focus on not hitting or helping the shot in any way with the arms on every shot I hit. This takes concentration.
The body is the axis so every time I say body substitute the word axis. I have done tips on this in the past:
Move Head: https://ignitiongolf.com/move-head-back
When you fire the lower body the upper body (axis) should tilt back in the downswing. Be careful not too keep your head too still.
The right arms should be folding on its own. If not help it to do so manually until it is doing it without you thinking about it. The Iron Byron does not have a right arm. I don’t want you even thinking about it once it is working:
Right Elbow: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-right-elbow
That’s great you are playing some good golf. 70’s are not too far off. Keep on making the positions even more perfect and you will get there in no time.
April 2, 2013
RalphWilkinsonThanks Paul. Your time is much appreciated and I really will use this. I looked at the video and had all my questions fully answered. Your appreciation for all the Geometry and physics of the golf swing motion is your Revolution my friend. Its truly a learning method that stands out Paul.
Very nice…………………….
I am getting back to letting my arms be loose again. Its easy to start falling back to thinking we can ADD something. Its strange.
RW
April 3, 2013
Paul WilsonRalph,
Thank you for your kind words. I truly appreciate it.
Yes, it is human nature to try to hit or feel like you need to hit. Try to avoid it and stay loose.
April 3, 2013
RalphWilkinsonI found a tip that is really helping me achieve what you are saying. I heard that it is useful to try to develop a feeling of pulling on the club at impact. At first I had NO idea of how you can think that.
Then I thought well if Im not pulling them am I pushing the club. Isnt pushing going to be using my muscles and stopping the natural hinging? So,pulling actually helps you get your arms looser. Weird hugh??
You can use this idea of pulling at impact if you want in a video. I think it also helps get the sense of whipping the club. Think of what we do when we whip a towell at someone, we reach a point that max snap happens when we PULL……………
Show people this in a video. Snap the towell…….. snap the club.
RW
April 3, 2013
Paul WilsonRalph,
You should not be pushing or pulling. You should be keeping them powerless. Let me know how that’s working for you in a week or two.
May 28, 2013
GregoryHallHi Paul, just a little confused. You say that you shouldn’t be swing a heavy club because when you switch to your club it will feel very light. I’m just wondering if that is true, why do you promote the Momentus
May 28, 2013
Paul WilsonGregory,
The traveler is not all that heavy because it’s a half club plus it fits in your suitcase. That is why I promote it. Too many people have too many excuses as to why they are not practicing. Now there is no excuse.
May 29, 2013
GregoryHallGotcha, and thanks for the reply.
I swing, and practice a lot in my garage, and back yard, so I personally speaking I don’t think this is a problem for me. Now, as far as going to the driving range, I don’t have a lot of time for that. But this shouldn’t be a problem as long as I’m working on the correct positions, right?
Greg
May 29, 2013
Paul WilsonGreg,
Exactly, focus on the positions and building a great swing. A great swing will hit great shots. When doing practice swings there is no ball to hit so you should be thinking of the positions and feedback because there is nothing else to think about. Stay focused and you will get it.
February 22, 2014
PETERMCMULLENPaul as usual your teaching is spot on. I watched the accompanying video which supports your negative comments on swinging a heavier club. Powerless arms maybe a swing concept difficult for some to pick up on. Especially for someone like me who believed this game was a hitting thing. If only I could have understood from the beginning that is a swing, not a hit. As I have said before and continue to tell my fellow golfers at the Club I play at, “You’re the man”. I am getting repeated comments from my fellow players that my ball contact, distance and shot making has improved over the past year. I keep telling them about your teaching method and swing concept is the reason my game has developed. Keep up the good teaching!!
February 23, 2014
Paul WilsonPeter,
Thank you for your comments and your promo. I truly appreciate it.
Just keep at it. They will keep noticing.
February 22, 2014
DaveHi Paul:
It’s me again. The swing speed is coming along for my March 1st self test. Guess what I just did ??????? I thru out my weighted warmup club !!! GREAT TIP !!!!
Dave
February 23, 2014
Paul WilsonDave,
Perfect! This related video proves what I have been saying. Now you can gain a little extra yardage.
February 22, 2014
DeborahAhrnsHi Paul very well put. This is a much needed reminder for all golfers. As a Junior golf instructor and Coach I only use a weighted club that has a grip trainer on it so the golfer gets the proper r connection and hand position for the hold of club and I find that when they swing this club the golfer can see and feel how the hands and arms are working together. Then when doing their warm up with their own club they can check to see if the hold of the club is correct , as well as the rest of the positions that happen when they turn their body and the club swings through. For the Junior program and all “green golfers” I start them with practice clubs that have correct size grip trainers on them and have had very good success regardless of what type of hold of the club the golfer elects to use. I find that I do not have to remind/ correct the hold of the club the golfer quickly establishes the ability to check this on their own …..what I feel is one of the most important fundamentals….. The hold of the club.
Thank you and keep reminding us!
Golf is a game of opposites. ……Coach Ahrns
February 23, 2014
Paul WilsonDaborah,
I really don’t like anyone swinging this heavy club. I would get some shafts without the head and put a training grip on it. Then have them swing this. If they do their clubs will feel heavy which is what you want.
February 22, 2014
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,I object to the idea that swinging a weighted club is always bad .I swing both :a heavy MOMENTUS driver ,to BUILD strength ,and a very light MOMENTUS SPEED WHOOSH ,to promote. speed .
If you listen to MIKE BAUMAN ,the long drive champion ,inventor of THEULTIMATE SWING TRAINER (which you recommend ),h
February 23, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
Object all you want I just showed you a video that proved the point. Mike asks me for help with his swing I will point this out to him next time I talk to him.
February 24, 2014
RaymondCHASTELWhat I said about swinging a very heavy exercise club is just a quote from MIKE’ BAUMAN4s instruction manual “STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE DAY “:he became a long drive champion exercising this way .
Famous ( late )HARVEY PENICK in his “LITTLE RED BOOK ” recommends also to swing a weighted club .
So ,what is right and wrong ,after all?
February 24, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
Mike was standing right there off camera when they shot that video so he knows about this. Here his comments to your statement:
It does not say weighted club. It says a steel shafted driver with a head cover duct taped onto it. The slight resistance strengthens the muscles and makes a golfer feel the CLubhead at the top of the swing. It helps to creates a bend or lag in the shaft the golfers cannot really do on their own.
And:
It’s for training for strength/ endurance muscles and not for speed which is the biggest factor for distance.
Also:
Paul, I helped to make that video happen with Dr. Rose. I’m off camera. I sent then documentation about how bad that was for golfers trying to gain speed!! I ve had that on my website since its inception.
So there you go. He is not telling you to swing a heavy club to gain more power. It is an exercise for building your strength.
February 22, 2014
HenryPaul; your combining the best of golf technique with the intelligence of exercise and sport science is very impressive! I think that there are probably more sports myths out there that could be busted if others followed your lead of playing smarter, not harder! You should do a segment or two on Myth Busters!
February 23, 2014
Paul WilsonHenry,
Thanks. I saw this video a long time ago and found it again. I just thought everyone should know.
I wasted many years of my life just beating balls and practice the wrong things. Hopefully, I can keep passing this on to the members so they don’t make the same mistakes.
February 23, 2014
TomHi Paul, does a heavier club swing weight help with this? Does a d6 as opposed to a d1 help with powerless arms or does it really depend on the golfer? Would like to hear your opinion, thanks Tom
February 23, 2014
Paul WilsonTom,
You want to be using the swing weight that is right for you. This is different than swinging a weighted club. I prefer D2. I think this is the right weight for me. When I swing a heavier club I am really working too hard although this would give you a heavy feeling of the clubhead. I think you need to demo some clubs to see the heaviest club with the fastest swing speed. If you get too heavy you will lose power.
June 4, 2014
MichaelRodrickHi Paul;
When swinging a club this way, when I get a little past what would be the impact area, the weight of the club actually pulls me into the finish position with my legs touching automatically, as long as I start with my hips. It makes the whole swing easier to do properly without having to think about it. What a great tip!
June 5, 2014
Paul WilsonMichael,
Very good. The weight of the club should be pulling your arms out to their widest point. This is my release point at approx. 2 feet after impact with irons.
How to Release the Golf Club: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-wrist-release
October 6, 2016
WillCooperEureka! I finally got it today. I was feeling the club being heavy on the upswing, but then I got my arms ever so slightly engaged in the downswing. I found myself going over the top, which resulted in pulls. I was able to straighten it out but wasn’t getting any distance. This tip set off a lightbulb in my brain. I realized that I had to feel the heaviness of the club all the way through the swing. Once I was able to do that, my swing felt really effortless. At the range this evening, I was hitting it straighter (consistently right on targe) and I hit it just as far or farther while swinging far easier. My challenge now will be to increase my rotational speed and still keep that feeling of heaviness. Learning to time that will probably take lots of practice, but now I know what to aim for. I am sure that I will be able to loosen up even more while building speed and and fluidity. Today was an eye opener. I couldn’t believe it. Thanks, Paul.
October 6, 2016
Paul WilsonWill,
I love it when people make a huge breakthrough. Now just stick with it. I wouldn’t worry too much about distance for right now. I would want you doing this a few more times to make sure you don’t lose it. Once confident get it a little extra legs. Get used to that they increase 1 more time for full power.
Good job.
March 8, 2019
mikeschickSince my golf club feels heavy, and resists my swinging it fast, what I find works for me is to have the feeling that the club starts dropping down on the downswing before i can add velocity to it. I really want it to feel light on the downswing, and so I don’t resist the initial dropping. Does this make sense?
March 11, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
Glad you club feels heavy. If you can feel this lagging behind your body this is a good thing. Most can’t feel it so I know they’re too tight.
Light as in you are not pulling it down is a good feeling.