I have graduated to where I have loosened my wrists and i am not swinging with my arms. I am hitting the ball straighter and at least as far as before. I am now working on the lower body turn. I noticed that my right knee is about where you say I should be but does not touch the left knee. They are about three to four inches apart. Does this have anything to do with my stance?
Another question I have is that i notice you going down into your swing at impact which you don’t seem to explain. Rory Mcllroy seems to have the same move sort of stepping down into the ball. Is that part of the follow through?
Bill, you should be narrowing your stance until you can touch the legs together. You need them to touch so you remember it (because you feel the feedback of them touching) and it will never fall apart in the future. If they are not touching how can you do the exact same position each time?
This will get you doing it. Then do it with a club in practice swings.
Keep in mind the legs are even with irons looking from the front view. With driver the stance is wider. They lags are still touching but the right leg is dropped back one ball width from being even.
I stumbled onto your website about 3 months ago and after viewing your many of your lesson tips, i became a believer. I have been hitting the ball more consistantly with less effort and i am starting to feel like a real golfer.
I am still struggling with finishing with almost all of my weight on my left foot and up on my left toe. I can do it perfectly 100 times in a row on my practice swing but when a ball is there to hit, something different happens and I dont get all the way to my left side and my right heel tends to flop over to the outside of my foot and with a bend in the toe. I am guessing that instead of smoothly going through impact and into the follow through (as I do on my practice swing) I think I must have an involuntary reflex where I tighten up near impact which alters the followthrough.
Have you encountered people with a similar experience and if so what has worked for them to get over this hurdle?
Jim, the problem is there is a ball sitting in front of you. Because of this you try to hit the ball instead of thinking about doing the swing position that you are doing in your practice swings. I am constantly trying to get people not to hit the ball. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet other than changing the way people think. It is not about you hitting a ball. It is about you moving your body differently than you ever have. So what you need to do is forget about hitting great shots. You swing absolutely as slow as you can making sure you at least do the position with a ball in front of you. This means you may top it, shank it, whiff it or hit it 50 yards … who cares? Not me. I care about the movement and so should you.
So tee up a 7 iron. Tell yourself to swing super easy. Forget the result. After swinging through hold the position. Check if the legs are touching exactly how you are doing it in the practice swing. Then do it again and again until you are doing it and making half decent contact. At this point you turn ONLY your lower body a little faster to hit the ball 75 yards or so. Get used to that doing it perfectly. Then you turn a little faster again and go up to 100 and so on.
I’ve been working on the legs touching for quite a long time and it feels comfortable now. I’ve also worked hard on initiating the back swing with a shoulder turn and uncoiling with the hips to initiate the downswing and am playing far better as a result. It’s a simple yet great teaching method you have … thank you!
My problem is the finishing position you demonstrate in this video. I’m finding it very hard to replicate. I naturally finish with the club wanting to go down my back. You make it look very natural, but for me it feels like I’m having to force a very high finish position to get it level with my ears at the back of my head. Do you have any further advice or drills on how to finish properly?
Ben, Thank you for your kind words and support. I truly appreciate it.
As far as the follow through is concerned you should be manually placing the club exactly between the ears physically touching the head. This can best be practiced in as you do swings towards a mirror. Once you do this for about a week or so it should be going there on its own while keeping the arms powerless.
I really enjoy your teaching method. Finally, principles that make sense and that translate to playing better.
What is the ideal arm position at the “touch the legs” position? In this drill you have the arms pointing straight out but allude to the arms actually being at a different position during the actual swing. I’m confused about the transition from “touch the legs/touch the head”. I know this happens naturally in motion, but perhaps there is a better reference point for touch the legs/arm position to practice.
In a real swing your legs would touch almost at the end of your swing then the club would immediate touchy your head. This sequence occurs because you start you legs first from the top. So they touch slightly before the club touches the back of the head.
Thank you Paul. I found the tips very helpful. I went out today and practiced and video taped the 2 part follow through. I found my arms at the “touch the legs” position at “Link 10” of Leadbetter’s The Golf Swing. I know the ultimate goal are powerless arms and not having to think of the arm position, but for now, as you suggested for “touch the head”, I placed my arms manually. The visual improved my contact significantly.
I also stumbled upon a tip “Uncoil…follow up”. I focused only on “1/4 second 90 degree hip turn”. I guess that thought didn’t allow my mind to think of anything else in the downswing. I hit every fairway dead straight! Problem; still not getting the distance I want (I guess you heard that before).
For more distance you need the wrists really loose and turn faster. It is just that simple. Right now you are not good at it. Be content with hitting fairways. Confidence breeds distance.
If you end up in the position where you touch the head with the club, would you automatically be in the right position with your legs.? Meaning can i have a swing thought of the finish and this would take care of the one position without having to think about it.
You would be close. The only thing I don’t see the person do is perfectly touch the legs. They might be a couple of inches apart. For those who have trouble I get them to do the touch the legs if that have trouble doing it another way. Once you feel them touching then focus on this in the future. Just worried that you would get thinking arms if you keep doing it that way.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
16 Responses to “DRILL: Touch Legs Touch Head”
July 16, 2012
DominicErbaPaul:
Thanks for going over this again……as always great instruction, the best!. Really want to come to the three day school soon
Dom
July 17, 2012
Paul WilsonDom,
I think I have my dates. I will let everyone know shortly.
September 4, 2012
WilliamHeuerPaul
I have graduated to where I have loosened my wrists and i am not swinging with my arms. I am hitting the ball straighter and at least as far as before. I am now working on the lower body turn. I noticed that my right knee is about where you say I should be but does not touch the left knee. They are about three to four inches apart. Does this have anything to do with my stance?
Another question I have is that i notice you going down into your swing at impact which you don’t seem to explain. Rory Mcllroy seems to have the same move sort of stepping down into the ball. Is that part of the follow through?
September 6, 2012
Paul WilsonBill, you should be narrowing your stance until you can touch the legs together. You need them to touch so you remember it (because you feel the feedback of them touching) and it will never fall apart in the future. If they are not touching how can you do the exact same position each time?
Watch this tip and do the drill I suggest: https://ignitiongolf.com/drills-without-club-1/
This will get you doing it. Then do it with a club in practice swings.
Keep in mind the legs are even with irons looking from the front view. With driver the stance is wider. They lags are still touching but the right leg is dropped back one ball width from being even.
Watch:
Width of Stance: https://ignitiongolf.com/width-of-stance
July 17, 2012
JimMarlowPAUL
I stumbled onto your website about 3 months ago and after viewing your many of your lesson tips, i became a believer. I have been hitting the ball more consistantly with less effort and i am starting to feel like a real golfer.
I am still struggling with finishing with almost all of my weight on my left foot and up on my left toe. I can do it perfectly 100 times in a row on my practice swing but when a ball is there to hit, something different happens and I dont get all the way to my left side and my right heel tends to flop over to the outside of my foot and with a bend in the toe. I am guessing that instead of smoothly going through impact and into the follow through (as I do on my practice swing) I think I must have an involuntary reflex where I tighten up near impact which alters the followthrough.
Have you encountered people with a similar experience and if so what has worked for them to get over this hurdle?
July 18, 2012
Paul WilsonJim, the problem is there is a ball sitting in front of you. Because of this you try to hit the ball instead of thinking about doing the swing position that you are doing in your practice swings. I am constantly trying to get people not to hit the ball. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet other than changing the way people think. It is not about you hitting a ball. It is about you moving your body differently than you ever have. So what you need to do is forget about hitting great shots. You swing absolutely as slow as you can making sure you at least do the position with a ball in front of you. This means you may top it, shank it, whiff it or hit it 50 yards … who cares? Not me. I care about the movement and so should you.
So tee up a 7 iron. Tell yourself to swing super easy. Forget the result. After swinging through hold the position. Check if the legs are touching exactly how you are doing it in the practice swing. Then do it again and again until you are doing it and making half decent contact. At this point you turn ONLY your lower body a little faster to hit the ball 75 yards or so. Get used to that doing it perfectly. Then you turn a little faster again and go up to 100 and so on.
Focus on the movement and you will get it.
July 30, 2012
BenCoffeyHi Paul,
I’ve been working on the legs touching for quite a long time and it feels comfortable now. I’ve also worked hard on initiating the back swing with a shoulder turn and uncoiling with the hips to initiate the downswing and am playing far better as a result. It’s a simple yet great teaching method you have … thank you!
My problem is the finishing position you demonstrate in this video. I’m finding it very hard to replicate. I naturally finish with the club wanting to go down my back. You make it look very natural, but for me it feels like I’m having to force a very high finish position to get it level with my ears at the back of my head. Do you have any further advice or drills on how to finish properly?
Cheers,
Ben
July 31, 2012
Paul WilsonBen, Thank you for your kind words and support. I truly appreciate it.
As far as the follow through is concerned you should be manually placing the club exactly between the ears physically touching the head. This can best be practiced in as you do swings towards a mirror. Once you do this for about a week or so it should be going there on its own while keeping the arms powerless.
July 3, 2017
HowardSonderlingHi Paul,
I really enjoy your teaching method. Finally, principles that make sense and that translate to playing better.
What is the ideal arm position at the “touch the legs” position? In this drill you have the arms pointing straight out but allude to the arms actually being at a different position during the actual swing. I’m confused about the transition from “touch the legs/touch the head”. I know this happens naturally in motion, but perhaps there is a better reference point for touch the legs/arm position to practice.
Thank you.
Howard
July 3, 2017
Paul WilsonHoward,
Glad you like my teaching. I truly appreciate it.
In a real swing your legs would touch almost at the end of your swing then the club would immediate touchy your head. This sequence occurs because you start you legs first from the top. So they touch slightly before the club touches the back of the head.
Here are some more tips that may he;p explain it:
One Of The Secrets To The Golf Swing: https://ignitiongolf.com/secrets-to-golf-swing/
DRILL: Touch Head In Follow Through: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-touch-head-follow-through/
Hit, Hold and Check: https://ignitiongolf.com/hold-check-follow-through/
When Is Your Swing Over?: https://ignitiongolf.com/swing-club-touching-head/
How Far Around Should You Swing?: https://ignitiongolf.com/swing-how-far-around/
July 5, 2017
HowardSonderlingThank you Paul. I found the tips very helpful. I went out today and practiced and video taped the 2 part follow through. I found my arms at the “touch the legs” position at “Link 10” of Leadbetter’s The Golf Swing. I know the ultimate goal are powerless arms and not having to think of the arm position, but for now, as you suggested for “touch the head”, I placed my arms manually. The visual improved my contact significantly.
I also stumbled upon a tip “Uncoil…follow up”. I focused only on “1/4 second 90 degree hip turn”. I guess that thought didn’t allow my mind to think of anything else in the downswing. I hit every fairway dead straight! Problem; still not getting the distance I want (I guess you heard that before).
Thanks again.
July 6, 2017
Paul WilsonHoward,
Good stuff. Glad you see it.
For more distance you need the wrists really loose and turn faster. It is just that simple. Right now you are not good at it. Be content with hitting fairways. Confidence breeds distance.
Confidence Breeds Distance: https://ignitiongolf.com/confidence-breeds-distance/
DRILL: Golf Swing Timing For More Distance: https://ignitiongolf.com/timing-more-distance/
March 23, 2018
josephMistrettaHi Paul,
If you end up in the position where you touch the head with the club, would you automatically be in the right position with your legs.? Meaning can i have a swing thought of the finish and this would take care of the one position without having to think about it.
thanks
Jay
March 23, 2018
Paul WilsonJoseph,
You would be close. The only thing I don’t see the person do is perfectly touch the legs. They might be a couple of inches apart. For those who have trouble I get them to do the touch the legs if that have trouble doing it another way. Once you feel them touching then focus on this in the future. Just worried that you would get thinking arms if you keep doing it that way.
December 20, 2018
CarlosGarayMy legs don’t touch with a driver (too wide) unless is drag the right foot.
December 21, 2018
Paul WilsonCarlos,
Narrow your stance. They need to touch so you can repeat it.