Pro Versus Amateur – Descending Blow

By | on October 6, 2023 | 14 Comments |


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Paul Wilson is the creator of Swing Machine Golf and founder of Ignition Golf. Paul's golf swing technique is based on the Iron Byron swing machine. YouTube Channels: Paul Wilson Golf and Ignition Golf Tips. Please Join me on Google+

14 Responses to “Pro Versus Amateur – Descending Blow”

  1. Avatar photo

    February 27, 2014

    KennthBova

    Paul, I’ve never saw a golf pro break the swing down as you do and make it understandable. Now, I know why I’ve been hitting the ball very high all these years. I have a large yard, but this spring, I will just practice swinging the club per your instructions.

    • February 27, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Ken,

      Thank you very much. Everything has a reason. If you don’t know why it is happening how and why would you ever fix it? Glad you are understanding it.

  2. Avatar photo

    February 27, 2014

    HaroldBaldock

    Hi Paul

    For me the tightness comes when I play with other players. When I focus on powerless arms extending all is good. Now the main challenge is keeping that thought 70 to 100 strokes of a round. By the way powerless arms for me works with the putting stroke also. When faced with long putts I make a very relaxed pendulum with some very good results. Thanks for your help Paul .
    Harry

    • February 27, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Harold,

      Just remember that everyone started out this game the same way. I once saw Jack Nicklaus shank one. So anyone can and has hit bad shots before. Knowing this should take some pressure off.

      When you play your thought should be get it in the fairway or hit the green. These are not distance thoughts so you are not pressuring yourself when hitting in front of other people. If you think like this they will be referring to you as the guy who always hits the fairway or the guy who can put it on the green from anywhere. Wouldn’t that be good? Unless you hit an absolutely unreal shot one day your normal good shots will not be that memorable to others for more than 2 seconds so why try to impress them? Be the guy with the smooth swing. This is what they all want. They will idolize you for it.

  3. February 28, 2014

    LottaLiljegren

    Just been at range…..Finally I felt I did the right thing…..The big difference I felt I managed today was that I was able to stand as far away from the ball as you recommend. I know I always has been to near the ball, due to contraction of the arms. I just concentrated on stretching out my arms and rotate the hips…For real..the balls went longer, higher and most important straigther!!!!! Even with the driver the slice was gone today, just a slight curve to the right. I feel happy as a child in a candy shop tonight….even if I know that “range play” is much different than playing on the course and I know I will have bad shots again, I will take the opportunity to feel good today!! If I could do it today, I CAN do it on the course next time!!!
    Keep thinking: if I haven

    • Lotta,

      Very good. It all starts with the grip and setup. If you get this wrong you are putting yourself behind the 8 ball before you have even started your swing. Your arms more stretched out means you have have pre-determined your widest arc. Keep doing it. It really doesn’t take long to get this feeling at setup.

      Now that you are starting to see it and hit some good shots be very careful not to get too excited. If you do you will start hitting it thin, slicing and/or topping it. If you see these shots immediately slow down and swing easier. Then build it back up with the leg drive.

      Thank you for finding me. I wish I would have known all this when I was starting out. I would have saved years of total frustration.

  4. March 2, 2014

    DavidMonin

    Paul, Played yesterday in the mens stroke round, After a good start i had an eleven on th par 4 4th hole.
    Main cause was to quick, arms trying to hit the tee shot and blocked and topped it left into the trees.
    But switched off the arms and had a 2 on the par 3, 5th hole (134m). Won the nearest the pin competition (160cm)
    Birdied the par 4 374m tenth hole and then pared the par 3 11th hole (165m) winning the nearest the pin competition again. (134 cm)
    Finished with a net 78 even after being 7 over on that one disaster hole.
    Thank you for your tips keep up the good work.
    regards
    David

    • David,

      Good job. I love how you slowed down and got it back.

      That bad shot is like eating too may slices of pizza. Seems like a good idea at first then you regret it later. Stay focused on hitting fairways and greens. As you keep hitting more and more of them you will gain confidence. Confidence breeds distance.

  5. April 28, 2014

    JOHNROTONDO

    Paul,
    What do you think about practicing on range matts, especially for learning shaft lean and compression? I am going through cycles – I used to hit my hybrids and irons consistent distances, but needed accuracy. After working on my technique, I suddenly have lost the “feel/solid contact” and my distance. I think all the various swing thoughts have caused me to lose my shaft lean and compression and I am going work on your recommendations to keep it simple.
    Thanks,
    John

    • April 29, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      John,

      If this is all you have to practice on then you have no choice. I would either tee it up as you work on your swing or reduce the amount of balls you hit from the matts and do lots of practice swings at home. Home practice is the best practice you can do when working on swing positions. I say this because each position I teach has feedback associated with it. This means you can make perfect movement at home whereas hitting balls may cause you to do it wrong.

      Losing distance is the tell-tale sign you are hitting with your arms. So slow down. Hit easy shots and build it back up again. I really hope you are not thinking of forward shaft lean. If so you are thinking impact which goes against everything I teach and will definitely cause you to lose distance.

      Watch:

      Why The Shaft Is Leaning At Impact: https://ignitiongolf.com/shaft-leaning-impact
      How To Work On Forward Shaft Lean And The Full Release: https://ignitiongolf.com/shaft-lean-full-release

      This tip applies:

      You Will Top It: https://ignitiongolf.com/you-will-top-it/

      Also do this drill right away:

      DRILL: This Is The Best Drill You Should Be Doing Right Now: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-three-quarter-distance/

      Once you get the arms out of it you will start to use your body again.

      Did you not see the tip I did last week about how to use this site?

      Watch:

      How To Use The Ignition Golf Website: https://ignitiongolf.com/how-to-use-ignition-golf/

      • April 30, 2014

        JOHNROTONDO

        Paul,
        Thank you for the answer above. I actually didn’t see your tip last week because I was without internet for 1 month and I was still catching up. I am going back to “basics” (A to B), stick to one thing at a time, work backwards from follow-thru, and not worry about distance. Please understand that I (and probably many others) are not ignoring your advice or being lazy (I practice 6 days/week), but I think that some things are only fully learned when they are tested over time and different circumstances. Some things I heard you say last year didn’t mean as much until I experienced “totally losing my swing”. Now I look back and see how wise you were all along! I know the “teacher” in you wants us to get this the first time, but try not to be too frustrated with us. I guess I will postpone my Web.com tour application for a few more months. 🙂

        Thank you for being consistent (and patient),
        John

        • John,

          I am the most patient guy in the world but that ball effects people’s hearing a lot of the time. Hopefully, they can overcome this syndrome. I will do my best to provide the cure.

  6. April 30, 2014

    JohnSteen

    HI,

    When you are using a Hybrid or wood you don’t want to take a divot. I can’t see how the same swing will create a divot with an iron and not with a wood or hybrid. Please explain the difference.

    John

    • John,
      This is because longer clubs swing on a flatter plane. Image a club that was 100 feet long. There is not way it would enter the ground. It would sweep.

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