Hi Paul,
Like the tip, but have a slightly unrelated question. When our arms are fully extended at set-up, are the wrists also extended and curved down? I’m not sure if you have covered this in a previous tip, but it is the wrists that I’m interested in. Any tip or info would be appreciated.
Thanks, Mike
There will be a curvature in the wrists as you setup to the ball.
Watch the videos below. It should explain it. Also, watch for the toe being slightly higher than the heel when you set up. If the toe is too high your hands will be too low.
Hi Paul. I have a question on my release. I have had a lot of success with the swing. However when I swing the driver I tend to leave the face open do I am pushing the ball right. I am going a long way but push it. Is this a grip issue? If I close the face it is straighter.
William, no this is a you trying to kill it issue. The driver is longer. It takes longer to square. If you try to hit hard your wrists tighten. If you couple this will trying to hit and less loft on the club you spin it right. Follow this same sequence I just posted for another member:
So what you have to do is over do it. You roll the wrists way earlier than you ever have. Get the ball hooking. If you do you are consistently hitting it one way instead of both. Once you can do this you then forget the wrist roll over and you slowly start to change the focus to your lower body. If your lower body starts first the ball will straighten out. At this point you keep watching your ball. If the ball slices you immediately stop. Back up and roll the wrists again at least 3-10 times. Then you hit another shot. Watch it. If the ball hooks that
I have noticed in looking at videos of my swing that my setup does look different than yours. In this video you have the hands very far ahead of the ball, but in my swing they are just slightly ahead and my grip is not strong like you have it in this video. My left arm and the club shaft are in a straight line and my forearms seem very close together at setup, as compared to yours. My hands are in line with the middle of my front leg. You have an angle between the left arm and the club shaft at address. I also can see that I have the club slightly laid off at the top of the backswing, with my wrist and forearm straight, i.e. not cupped at all. Do you think this is due to my incorrect setup?
I also notice that if I move my hands back toward the middle of my legs in the setup, then my wrist hinge in the backswing feels very different and the entire backswing feels more upright than with my current setup. It also feels like I am keeping the club more shut going back, rather than fanning it open. Is that the right feeling?
Hands far ahead. Not sure you understood the tip. Hands too far ahead will shut the face at the top. This is what I was talking about and trying to explain I don’t want you to do this. Your hands should be even with the ball not ahead of the ball. With the proper neutral grip this will set the club square at the top.
I have a HUGE propensity to somehow close the club face resulting in poor duck hooks and/or pulls. Happens too often in the middle of a round. I had thought this was due to my right shoulder/side tensing up and blocking my turn, as it seems when I am having issues I fight keeping my right hand on the club, almost (or maybe actually) re gripping and closing the club face as I do. When I do relax (get my arms, shoulder & wrists “powerless”) I hardly ever do this, and my swing produces spectacularly better & consistent results. I will try & see if I am unwittingly pressing my hands too far forward when gripping, as it would be so nice if this could help me avoid unwittingly closing the face and blowing otherwise straight forward shots.
Any tips/drills on how to better keep my arms connected and not have my right shoulder/arm/wrist get all tensed up? Could this be “flying” my right elbow? (Seems like my left side is much better behaved.)
Love your teaching, it has helped me more than I can say!
The only way you would be closing the face would be:
1. Changing your grip just before you take it back (this is very common).
2. Bowing your lead wrist at the top of the backswing.
3. Flipping the club as you come through.
You need to find out which one you are doing. I would think you are changing your grip just before you take it back. This is common yet people don’t even realize they are doing it. So place your hands on the club in a neutral position. Focus on not twitching or wiggling your hands in any way. Then hit a shot. If you see the hook spin disappear then you were moving your grip. Keep doing the grip this way until you are used to it. It takes immense concentration and effort. I used to do this many years ago which was causing me to hook it. It took work and focus but I got it. Let me know.
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8 Responses to “How Grip and Setup Can Get You Shut at the Top”
June 27, 2012
MikePlummerHi Paul,
Like the tip, but have a slightly unrelated question. When our arms are fully extended at set-up, are the wrists also extended and curved down? I’m not sure if you have covered this in a previous tip, but it is the wrists that I’m interested in. Any tip or info would be appreciated.
Thanks, Mike
June 28, 2012
Paul WilsonMike,
There will be a curvature in the wrists as you setup to the ball.
Watch the videos below. It should explain it. Also, watch for the toe being slightly higher than the heel when you set up. If the toe is too high your hands will be too low.
Arms Extended: https://ignitiongolf.com/extend-arms-fully
Arms Extended Follow Up/distance from body: https://ignitiongolf.com/arms-extention-follow-up
Toe Up Or Toe Down: https://ignitiongolf.com/setup-toe-up
July 17, 2012
williamgoodmanHi Paul. I have a question on my release. I have had a lot of success with the swing. However when I swing the driver I tend to leave the face open do I am pushing the ball right. I am going a long way but push it. Is this a grip issue? If I close the face it is straighter.
July 18, 2012
Paul WilsonWilliam, no this is a you trying to kill it issue. The driver is longer. It takes longer to square. If you try to hit hard your wrists tighten. If you couple this will trying to hit and less loft on the club you spin it right. Follow this same sequence I just posted for another member:
So what you have to do is over do it. You roll the wrists way earlier than you ever have. Get the ball hooking. If you do you are consistently hitting it one way instead of both. Once you can do this you then forget the wrist roll over and you slowly start to change the focus to your lower body. If your lower body starts first the ball will straighten out. At this point you keep watching your ball. If the ball slices you immediately stop. Back up and roll the wrists again at least 3-10 times. Then you hit another shot. Watch it. If the ball hooks that
July 8, 2015
WilliamPotterPaul,
I have noticed in looking at videos of my swing that my setup does look different than yours. In this video you have the hands very far ahead of the ball, but in my swing they are just slightly ahead and my grip is not strong like you have it in this video. My left arm and the club shaft are in a straight line and my forearms seem very close together at setup, as compared to yours. My hands are in line with the middle of my front leg. You have an angle between the left arm and the club shaft at address. I also can see that I have the club slightly laid off at the top of the backswing, with my wrist and forearm straight, i.e. not cupped at all. Do you think this is due to my incorrect setup?
I also notice that if I move my hands back toward the middle of my legs in the setup, then my wrist hinge in the backswing feels very different and the entire backswing feels more upright than with my current setup. It also feels like I am keeping the club more shut going back, rather than fanning it open. Is that the right feeling?
Bill
July 9, 2015
Paul WilsonBill,
Hands far ahead. Not sure you understood the tip. Hands too far ahead will shut the face at the top. This is what I was talking about and trying to explain I don’t want you to do this. Your hands should be even with the ball not ahead of the ball. With the proper neutral grip this will set the club square at the top.
Hand Position: https://ignitiongolf.com/hand-position-at-address
One Piece Takeaway: https://ignitiongolf.com/master-one-piece-takeaway
One-Piece Takeaway Drill: https://ignitiongolf.com/one-piece-takeaway-drill/
Takeaway – Watch Grooves Going Back: https://ignitiongolf.com/watch-grooves-going-back/
Halfway Back: https://ignitiongolf.com/halfway-back/
You should be taking the club back with your shoulder rotation. In doing so, your club would appear slightly hooded at half way back.
September 8, 2017
NormanHurleyI have a HUGE propensity to somehow close the club face resulting in poor duck hooks and/or pulls. Happens too often in the middle of a round. I had thought this was due to my right shoulder/side tensing up and blocking my turn, as it seems when I am having issues I fight keeping my right hand on the club, almost (or maybe actually) re gripping and closing the club face as I do. When I do relax (get my arms, shoulder & wrists “powerless”) I hardly ever do this, and my swing produces spectacularly better & consistent results. I will try & see if I am unwittingly pressing my hands too far forward when gripping, as it would be so nice if this could help me avoid unwittingly closing the face and blowing otherwise straight forward shots.
Any tips/drills on how to better keep my arms connected and not have my right shoulder/arm/wrist get all tensed up? Could this be “flying” my right elbow? (Seems like my left side is much better behaved.)
Love your teaching, it has helped me more than I can say!
September 10, 2017
Paul WilsonNorman,
The only way you would be closing the face would be:
1. Changing your grip just before you take it back (this is very common).
2. Bowing your lead wrist at the top of the backswing.
3. Flipping the club as you come through.
I have tips on all of these things:
1. Setup – How Your Grip and Setup Can Get You Shut: https://ignitiongolf.com/grip-setup-shut-top-backswing/
2. Cupped or Flat: https://ignitiongolf.com/top-backswing-cupped-flat/
3. How To Stop Flipping Through Impact: https://ignitiongolf.com/stop-flipping/
You need to find out which one you are doing. I would think you are changing your grip just before you take it back. This is common yet people don’t even realize they are doing it. So place your hands on the club in a neutral position. Focus on not twitching or wiggling your hands in any way. Then hit a shot. If you see the hook spin disappear then you were moving your grip. Keep doing the grip this way until you are used to it. It takes immense concentration and effort. I used to do this many years ago which was causing me to hook it. It took work and focus but I got it. Let me know.