Hi Paul. I video taped my swing today and could not believe how flat my swing is. The club only goes back even with the middle of my arm! Besides a loss of power, as you talked about in your flat/upright golf plane video, what are the other most likely problems this would cause? Topping, shanking, pushing, etc. Thanks a lot. Ralph
first, why is your swing so flat? You should be working on the top of my backswing position with the left arm slightly above the shoulder line. If you are flat this takes constant practice swings and concentrated work on getting the club up. Yes, this mean you will be manually lifting the club up so you will be feeling your arms for a while until you have trained them to go up. Watch these tips:
The most likely other problems are swinging too much inside out which will cause pushes, push fades and even duck hooks if you turn it over. You could hit the ground behind the ball with woods and irons. The club could even top irons because the club is on its way up as it hits the ball. There are many problems with this position. You need to immediately start working on it. I did see you posted this question before. Thanks for posting it again so I got to it.
I started working on this yesterday and will continue until I can do it without thinking about it. Thank you so much for the service you provide. This website is the best. Ralph
Ralph, Thank you for your kind words and support. I really care about people’s swings and want to make everyone better. Running my own site allows me to end confusion and give people an understanding of how the swing works and give them the help they need to get them playing better golf. Hopefully, more and more people hear about this site because there are so many people that need help.
Sorry I missed this question. This is a drill that has been around for many years. It puts you in a severely closed position. in doing so, it will get you swinging inside out and it may even roll your wrists. The problem is you are doing this will your hands and arms. From this position you never learn how to use your legs in the golf swing. By learning how to uncoil this changes the swing path of the club. To get the club swinging out at the ball all you have to do it start the lower body first with the arms turned off.
You can keep doing the drill if you want. If it helps to give you the feel that’s great. Just remember that you need to learn how to use your lower body in the golf swing. Don’t rely just on this hitting motion. If you do, you will regret it.
I have an off topic question about grip size with your method. About a year ago I put arthritic oversized grips on all my clubs. I have large hands and the grips feel good in my hands but am wondering if they are hindering my hands rolling over through impact?
I also notice that my right hand starts out in the right position but at the finish it tends to be in a stronger position (over to the right) and barely still on the club. I don’t want to keep knocking my head against a wall if the grips are hurting my progress.
Thanks Jim
If your hand is moving off the club in the follow through your wrists are too tight. I used to do this. The day I stopped trying to hit the ball with my arms my grip never moved off the club.
I have a question that is kind of related to this tip. Is it possible to overturn your hips during the backswing? Someone was telling me that the hips have to resist the turning of the shoulders and not go around to far. Does this make sense? Thanks for any advice on this.
This is related to this tip. I explain in this tip what happens if you over-rotate the hips. You lose torque. Yes, you get a feeling of more power but no torque means you will b using your arms to hit the ball. So only turn the hips if you absolutely have to. Otherwise, you turn your shoulder which turns your hips into the correct position without thinking about it.
I do like the X-Factor and it is a huge part of the swing and developing torque as you go back. To get this you stabilize the lower and crank the upper until you are tightly coiled up.
This is a tip for those who cannot turn. This is not what I teach.
The arms with the hinge creates the whipping action of the club so this means it creates most of the power in the swing but this unit has to be connected to something. That something is a rotating center. Turn the center faster and the club whips faster. So what powers the swing? No center rotation you get no power no matter how loose the wrists hinge.
If you did this you know how to pull the ball to get it on target. If you have to do this then do it but be aware of the pull you will hit. Not sure how restricted you are. I don’t even turn 90 degrees so I know what it’s like to be tight. If you can get to 80 degrees that is plenty to hit the ball a long way.
Paul, I am 77 years old, 5’6″ and not very strong but hit drives about 190-210yds. I have been playing golf since I was 14 and had a pretty flat swing with little wrist action. I am thoroughly enjoying working on my swing using your instruction and tips and can see some nice improvement. My swing line is now above my shoulder line and am touching my leg and the back of my head on almost all swings.I am just getting the feeling of powerless arms and love the swing when I get it right. I have been trying your techniques for pitching and chipping. I really like your thoughts on pitching and am seeing improvement but lack confidence from years of screwed up shots. Having trouble chipping however which along with putting has always been the poorest parts of my game. Unfortunately I have tremors which are generally under control but act up under pressure. Any thoughts on putting and chipping?
Improving at putting is also going to help your chipping. You want to start thinking about a throwing motion when you hit a putt. If you are right handed, grab a golf ball in your right hand and then feel like you are throwing the golf ball towards your target, or the flag. This will create a motion of the putter face also going towards the flag, then when you put 2 hands on the putter, continue to feel like the hand is a throwing motion towards the flag. Check out this tip:
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18 Responses to “Limited Shoulder Turn – Power Is No Problem”
October 10, 2012
RalphGrapentineHi Paul. I video taped my swing today and could not believe how flat my swing is. The club only goes back even with the middle of my arm! Besides a loss of power, as you talked about in your flat/upright golf plane video, what are the other most likely problems this would cause? Topping, shanking, pushing, etc. Thanks a lot. Ralph
October 10, 2012
Paul WilsonRalph,
first, why is your swing so flat? You should be working on the top of my backswing position with the left arm slightly above the shoulder line. If you are flat this takes constant practice swings and concentrated work on getting the club up. Yes, this mean you will be manually lifting the club up so you will be feeling your arms for a while until you have trained them to go up. Watch these tips:
Too Flat: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-are-you-too-flat
3 Ways to Set The Top of the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-top-3-ways
Top of Backswing Square: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-square-at-top
Cupped or Flat: https://ignitiongolf.com/top-backswing-cupped-flat
The most likely other problems are swinging too much inside out which will cause pushes, push fades and even duck hooks if you turn it over. You could hit the ground behind the ball with woods and irons. The club could even top irons because the club is on its way up as it hits the ball. There are many problems with this position. You need to immediately start working on it. I did see you posted this question before. Thanks for posting it again so I got to it.
October 10, 2012
RalphGrapentineI started working on this yesterday and will continue until I can do it without thinking about it. Thank you so much for the service you provide. This website is the best. Ralph
October 13, 2012
Paul WilsonRalph, Thank you for your kind words and support. I really care about people’s swings and want to make everyone better. Running my own site allows me to end confusion and give people an understanding of how the swing works and give them the help they need to get them playing better golf. Hopefully, more and more people hear about this site because there are so many people that need help.
October 10, 2012
DOUGTANZERMY PGA PRO HAD ME PULL MY RIGHT FOOT BACK TO INCREASE MY TURN AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING GOOD. COMMENT? IT ALSO HELPS ME DRAW THE BALL SLIGHTLY
October 13, 2012
Paul WilsonDoug,
Sorry I missed this question. This is a drill that has been around for many years. It puts you in a severely closed position. in doing so, it will get you swinging inside out and it may even roll your wrists. The problem is you are doing this will your hands and arms. From this position you never learn how to use your legs in the golf swing. By learning how to uncoil this changes the swing path of the club. To get the club swinging out at the ball all you have to do it start the lower body first with the arms turned off.
Check out these 2 tips:
Flatten Plane 1: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane
Flatten Plane 2: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane-2
Also, watch this to see how I get the ball going in different directions:
Body Tilt – Left Right: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-pulling
You can keep doing the drill if you want. If it helps to give you the feel that’s great. Just remember that you need to learn how to use your lower body in the golf swing. Don’t rely just on this hitting motion. If you do, you will regret it.
October 10, 2012
jimmarlowHi Paul,
I have an off topic question about grip size with your method. About a year ago I put arthritic oversized grips on all my clubs. I have large hands and the grips feel good in my hands but am wondering if they are hindering my hands rolling over through impact?
I also notice that my right hand starts out in the right position but at the finish it tends to be in a stronger position (over to the right) and barely still on the club. I don’t want to keep knocking my head against a wall if the grips are hurting my progress.
Thanks Jim
October 11, 2012
Paul WilsonJim. Larger grip will definitely slow down the hand action. Make sure you are working on the manual release here:
Manually Square the Clubface: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-squaring-clubface
Manually Square the Clubface (Follow Up): https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-squaring-face-follow-up
If your hand is moving off the club in the follow through your wrists are too tight. I used to do this. The day I stopped trying to hit the ball with my arms my grip never moved off the club.
May 10, 2014
JohnPaul,
I have a question that is kind of related to this tip. Is it possible to overturn your hips during the backswing? Someone was telling me that the hips have to resist the turning of the shoulders and not go around to far. Does this make sense? Thanks for any advice on this.
John
May 11, 2014
Paul WilsonJohn,
This is related to this tip. I explain in this tip what happens if you over-rotate the hips. You lose torque. Yes, you get a feeling of more power but no torque means you will b using your arms to hit the ball. So only turn the hips if you absolutely have to. Otherwise, you turn your shoulder which turns your hips into the correct position without thinking about it.
Watch:
How To Stabilize The Lower Body In The Backswing (belt buckle at ball): https://ignitiongolf.com/stabilize-lower-body/
Hips: https://ignitiongolf.com/turning-hips
Let
May 10, 2014
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,I’m not quite sure I asked you before if you adh
May 11, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
I do like the X-Factor and it is a huge part of the swing and developing torque as you go back. To get this you stabilize the lower and crank the upper until you are tightly coiled up.
This is a tip for those who cannot turn. This is not what I teach.
May 18, 2014
DumasPaul,
What is the contribution of the hinge release to your swing speed compared to your hip turn?
May 19, 2014
Paul WilsonDumas,
The arms with the hinge creates the whipping action of the club so this means it creates most of the power in the swing but this unit has to be connected to something. That something is a rotating center. Turn the center faster and the club whips faster. So what powers the swing? No center rotation you get no power no matter how loose the wrists hinge.
Watch:
What Powers Your Swing (legs/arms): https://ignitiongolf.com/power-golf-swing
April 24, 2016
LawrencePerryDoes it help to move your rat foot back in the stance if you are righthanded?
April 24, 2016
Paul WilsonLawrence,
If you did this you know how to pull the ball to get it on target. If you have to do this then do it but be aware of the pull you will hit. Not sure how restricted you are. I don’t even turn 90 degrees so I know what it’s like to be tight. If you can get to 80 degrees that is plenty to hit the ball a long way.
Try this tip:
Increase Shoulder Turn (seam on shirt): https://ignitiongolf.com/increase-your-shoulder-turn/
April 12, 2021
RobertCothamPaul, I am 77 years old, 5’6″ and not very strong but hit drives about 190-210yds. I have been playing golf since I was 14 and had a pretty flat swing with little wrist action. I am thoroughly enjoying working on my swing using your instruction and tips and can see some nice improvement. My swing line is now above my shoulder line and am touching my leg and the back of my head on almost all swings.I am just getting the feeling of powerless arms and love the swing when I get it right. I have been trying your techniques for pitching and chipping. I really like your thoughts on pitching and am seeing improvement but lack confidence from years of screwed up shots. Having trouble chipping however which along with putting has always been the poorest parts of my game. Unfortunately I have tremors which are generally under control but act up under pressure. Any thoughts on putting and chipping?
April 14, 2021
Paul WilsonImproving at putting is also going to help your chipping. You want to start thinking about a throwing motion when you hit a putt. If you are right handed, grab a golf ball in your right hand and then feel like you are throwing the golf ball towards your target, or the flag. This will create a motion of the putter face also going towards the flag, then when you put 2 hands on the putter, continue to feel like the hand is a throwing motion towards the flag. Check out this tip:
The Secret to Great Putting: https://ignitiongolf.com/putting-stroke/
How to Feel the Throwing Motion: https://ignitiongolf.com/putting-feel-throwing-motion/