Okay Paul. A quick question. I was really able to swing effortlessly for about a month and the contact was phenomenal. I felt like I could play with anyone and hold my own. Then I lost that effortless feeling and it is amazing how hard it is to get it back. So two questions: when it leaves how do you get it back?
I went to the range today and focused on easy swings and the drill turning club over. Starting hitting ball great again but a pull or hook would creep in. Felt like toe was really closing. Is this just arms and wrists tightening a little bit?
This happens to everyone at some point. You were playing well so you started to feel invincible. This increased your swing speed and the whole thing fell apart.
I like that you are slowing down but you will still try to hit it the odd time thus the pull hooks. When you slow down you have to take it down to patty cake level (50% or less). I would hit a bucket or two at this level at least. Tee every ball up too. Get used to this level again. Then and only then you need to speed it up with the lower body rotation. Just increase the touch legs position a little. Get used to this level. Then do it once more and you should be at top speed.
In the future you should be isolating the shoulder coil going back and the uncoil coming down. Your body does not move that fast in life so if you are constantly focusing on it you should be able to repeat the same swing speed all the time.
This is one of my favorite videos. I play it at least three times a week.
I’ve got a great 30-50 yards longer-than-ever anecdote. Yesterday, I came to our 14th hole playing by myself. It is a short, par 4, dogleg that requires a layup. I pulled a 4h and hit a horrible fall off, toe, 100 yd smother hook. So I laid down a second ball. I didn’t tee it up, just put it on a tuft of grass where it was sitting up nicely. A complete calm came over my entire body. Totally relaxed and free of tension. I took the my most effortless swing ever. All I remember was finishing in perfect Paul Wilson form. Legs and club touching. The ball seemed to have a higher, longer apex and appeared to be quite deep in the fairway. Laser straight. About where I would normally hit a three-wood. So I zeroed my GPS watch and measured it. 205 yards! My normal 4h is about 175. I couldn’t believe it. I was totally effortless like a 10-yard pitch. I almost felt guilty. Golf shouldn’t be this easy;)
This recent experience gives me a great feeling recall to emulate on the range and in future rounds. For the rest of the round I tried to begin each swing with a totally relaxed feeling. It was quite effective. I find it easier to have powerless arms and loose wrists when I focus on relaxing my entire body. I now realize too that my starting grip pressure has been greater than 2 of 10, thus, tightening my arms and wrists.
No one else teaches this “macro” level lesson that you keep drilling into us Paul. Keep it up. I have developed an Excel workbook where I have my own filtering capability to collect video hyperlinks of key videos related to specific points of emphasis that resonate with me. I love that capability. This one is in my “Swing Easy” category.
In watching this year’s Champions Tour Schwab Cup Final, I marveled at how Retief Goosen embodies everything you teach. I have heard you mention him as a model to follow in other tips. Simple poetry in motion. Very minimal effort that produces monstrous length and consistency.
I predict Retief will have a very long Champions career and his slower, relaxed tempo will be very kind to his body. Contrast Retief with Tiger’s swing over the years that lead to a body breakdown. The same thing may happen to Rory. And it pains me to see him doing those very heavy deadlifts. That has to lead to back problems down the road.
My own swing now using your slow down/50%/two-thirds tempo has turned my body clock back 25 years. Yet I am hitting the ball longer and straighter than I could have ever imagined, particularly at age 66. Every promise you have made us as IG members comes true, provided we are willing to listen and listen and hear it over and over – and then put in the work to put it into practice.
Retief proves your teachings. Golf is not a game of strength but rather a game of proper technique and simple physics.
Yes, I really like Retief’s swing. Very close to what I teach. Yes, I am anxiously waiting to see how their bodies hold up too. The great never worked out. Waste of time. Why not spend that time hitting golf balls and practicing? Not great time management. I guarantee the old guys would have been just as long as most of the new guys but straighter.
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.
6 Responses to “How To Get That Powerful, Effortless Golf Swing”
April 15, 2014
SteveEldridgeOkay Paul. A quick question. I was really able to swing effortlessly for about a month and the contact was phenomenal. I felt like I could play with anyone and hold my own. Then I lost that effortless feeling and it is amazing how hard it is to get it back. So two questions: when it leaves how do you get it back?
I went to the range today and focused on easy swings and the drill turning club over. Starting hitting ball great again but a pull or hook would creep in. Felt like toe was really closing. Is this just arms and wrists tightening a little bit?
April 16, 2014
Paul WilsonSteve,
This happens to everyone at some point. You were playing well so you started to feel invincible. This increased your swing speed and the whole thing fell apart.
I like that you are slowing down but you will still try to hit it the odd time thus the pull hooks. When you slow down you have to take it down to patty cake level (50% or less). I would hit a bucket or two at this level at least. Tee every ball up too. Get used to this level again. Then and only then you need to speed it up with the lower body rotation. Just increase the touch legs position a little. Get used to this level. Then do it once more and you should be at top speed.
In the future you should be isolating the shoulder coil going back and the uncoil coming down. Your body does not move that fast in life so if you are constantly focusing on it you should be able to repeat the same swing speed all the time.
Watch:
How to Get Consistent Swing Tempo: https://ignitiongolf.com/consistent-swing-tempo/
Tempo: https://ignitiongolf.com/golf-swing-tempo
And:
Lose Your Swing: https://ignitiongolf.com/lose-your-golf-swing
Drill:
This Is The Best Drill You Should Be Doing Right Now: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-three-quarter-distance/
July 9, 2019
MichaelBarrettPaul,
This is one of my favorite videos. I play it at least three times a week.
I’ve got a great 30-50 yards longer-than-ever anecdote. Yesterday, I came to our 14th hole playing by myself. It is a short, par 4, dogleg that requires a layup. I pulled a 4h and hit a horrible fall off, toe, 100 yd smother hook. So I laid down a second ball. I didn’t tee it up, just put it on a tuft of grass where it was sitting up nicely. A complete calm came over my entire body. Totally relaxed and free of tension. I took the my most effortless swing ever. All I remember was finishing in perfect Paul Wilson form. Legs and club touching. The ball seemed to have a higher, longer apex and appeared to be quite deep in the fairway. Laser straight. About where I would normally hit a three-wood. So I zeroed my GPS watch and measured it. 205 yards! My normal 4h is about 175. I couldn’t believe it. I was totally effortless like a 10-yard pitch. I almost felt guilty. Golf shouldn’t be this easy;)
This recent experience gives me a great feeling recall to emulate on the range and in future rounds. For the rest of the round I tried to begin each swing with a totally relaxed feeling. It was quite effective. I find it easier to have powerless arms and loose wrists when I focus on relaxing my entire body. I now realize too that my starting grip pressure has been greater than 2 of 10, thus, tightening my arms and wrists.
No one else teaches this “macro” level lesson that you keep drilling into us Paul. Keep it up. I have developed an Excel workbook where I have my own filtering capability to collect video hyperlinks of key videos related to specific points of emphasis that resonate with me. I love that capability. This one is in my “Swing Easy” category.
Thanks much!
Mike
July 14, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
You felt it. THat’s great! Now you just have to feel it all of the time. Trust it. You can do it.
November 28, 2019
MichaelBarrettPaul,
In watching this year’s Champions Tour Schwab Cup Final, I marveled at how Retief Goosen embodies everything you teach. I have heard you mention him as a model to follow in other tips. Simple poetry in motion. Very minimal effort that produces monstrous length and consistency.
I predict Retief will have a very long Champions career and his slower, relaxed tempo will be very kind to his body. Contrast Retief with Tiger’s swing over the years that lead to a body breakdown. The same thing may happen to Rory. And it pains me to see him doing those very heavy deadlifts. That has to lead to back problems down the road.
My own swing now using your slow down/50%/two-thirds tempo has turned my body clock back 25 years. Yet I am hitting the ball longer and straighter than I could have ever imagined, particularly at age 66. Every promise you have made us as IG members comes true, provided we are willing to listen and listen and hear it over and over – and then put in the work to put it into practice.
Retief proves your teachings. Golf is not a game of strength but rather a game of proper technique and simple physics.
Thank you, Paul!!!
Mike
November 29, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
Yes, I really like Retief’s swing. Very close to what I teach. Yes, I am anxiously waiting to see how their bodies hold up too. The great never worked out. Waste of time. Why not spend that time hitting golf balls and practicing? Not great time management. I guarantee the old guys would have been just as long as most of the new guys but straighter.