Release Progression

By | on November 28, 2014 | 39 Comments |


lock

Sorry, this content is for members only.

Click here to get access.

 

Already a member? Login below

Email
Password
 
Remember me (for 2 weeks)

Forgot Password





Tags:

Author Description

Avatar photo

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+

39 Responses to “Release Progression”

  1. December 4, 2013

    WesleyBergman

    How often should the roll over adjustment be required for an average golfer?

    • December 4, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Wesley,

      You do this until you eliminate the slice spin on your shots with all clubs. This could be a day, a week or a month or two. If you slow down and roll it you will get it faster.

  2. December 4, 2013

    JoseCarceller

    Thanks Paul. I have been practicing this rolling over for a long period of time but I have realized that it was not enough. I keep fading the ball and what is more important, the ball comes out too high, which according what you have said in this tip means an open club face at impact.

    How many training sessions does it require approximately to get really used to it? I usually go every Saturday and hit a hundred balls or more. Do we have to practice only the same tip or shall we mix it with others (like the touching of the legs position).

    Thanks for the great tips.

    • December 4, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Jose,

      Exactly. You are rolling it late. This is why I did the tip. If you do not have a lot of time just do it every night in practice swings. You do not even have to hit a ball to master this. Just work on this until you eliminate the slice spin on your shots with all clubs. Once you can do this you will then be focusing on leg drive to straighten out your shots.

  3. December 4, 2013

    ThomasPerkey

    i am 68 first year of golf. Do you roll over for all clubs and wedges or just driver. i want to say thanks for your lessons

    • December 4, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Thomas,

      Glad you like the tips. I appreciate the feedback.

      Driver will be the hardest to roll so if you get that you should be doing it with the others. Keep in mind this is a drill to get you releasing it stop your from putting slice spin on it. Work on this at home and at the range. If you do, you will emininate any slice spin.

  4. December 6, 2013

    RaymondCHASTEL

    Paul,I don’t understand this “rolling over ” of the right wrist over the left ,as far as I am concerned .I never slice ,I never hook .
    I let my wrists loose ,and only pay attention to the position of my right hand at impact:I want the Palm to ” look” downwards ,at the ground,the ” tray”I hold at the top of the backswing ,and the glasses it supports ,must be ” flung to the ground”.
    The flight of the ball is always pretty straight ,occasionnally with a wee wee fade .
    Should I endeavor to ” roll over”as you say to put some draw on the ball ,but with the risk of losing some contr

    • December 6, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Rayomnd,

      If you want to get rid of the fade you hook it first then straighten it out later. If you want to keep the fade don’t work on this stuff.

      • December 9, 2013

        RaymondCHASTEL

        Paul ,
        I ” discovered ” that the “rolling over “added several MPH to my clubhead speed .Is that normal ?
        Which is the best way to “roll over “:activate the left wrist by pushing the left thumb out ,or activate the right wrist Like when you deliver a lifted tennis forehand?

        • December 9, 2013

          Paul Wilson

          Raymond,

          Exactly, this is why I want everyone rolling it. You have said in the past that you fade it. If you are not hitting it about 250+ I would suggest not playing the fade and learning how to release it better. Once you do you will get it up to 250+ but straight or slightly drawing. I think the game would be much easier if you learn to do this.

          I usually have no problem getting people to just cross the hand over right from the top down. If for some reason the person cannot do this I get them thinking about the lead thumb to the target. This allows them to get it. So you need to try both and figure out what works best for you.

  5. December 17, 2013

    AndrewMah

    Hi Paul

    Many thanks for your tips. They are so clear and on the money.

    Just a quick question, why is it when you strengthen your grip (right hand player) on the left hand ( 3 knuckles or more), does it

    • December 18, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Andrew,

      You are right the stronger grip makes it harder to release. Your hands are more on the side of the club so that contributes to the restricted release. You also have the right hand being in a stronger position so it causes you to grip on tighter and you have the mental aspect of if you do roll it you will hook it off the planet. So all of these factors combined make it harder to release it with a strong grip.

      Strong grip + loose wrists = massive hook

      I am promoting a stronger left hand as in it is across the palm not as in a 3 knuckle position. I want 2 knuckles and across the palm of the left hand. Right hand in weaker in the fingers.

      • December 18, 2013

        AndrewMah

        Hi Paul

        Thanks for the clarification, that is helpful.

        So to apply what you have just said to your teaching and different drills.

        You mention we can release the club by getting out to point down the target line, and you also talk about manually squaring the club face by rolling the wrist.

        Is my logic correct say this

        a) if I was adopting the body release method with the club pointing at target line post impact, having a stronger grip will enhance the chances of a eliminating slice spin?
        b) If we were to adopt the rolling of the wrist manually squaring of the club, you would probably execute this better with a neutral grip and NOT a strong grip ( as it would feel too tight)

        would you agree with points a and points b?

        cheers
        Andrew

        • December 18, 2013

          Paul Wilson

          Andrew,

          a) If you have a strong grip (3 knuckles) and your wrists are loose you will hook it. If you have 2 knuckles on the top hand and your wrists are loose you will hit it basically straight. This is assuming the right hand is correct too.

          b) yes, you want to be learning from a neutral grip. This way you do not hook it too much. If you hook it too much you will need another flaw to hit it straight. Why would you want flaws in your swing?

  6. November 29, 2014

    DonLochary

    Slightly off the rollover topic, but I seem to be able to make the turn better when I energize my stomach muscles before the takeaway, and use them help trigger the downswing. If I just try to make a fast turn with my lower body, my upper body doesn’t have enough connection. Is this something to work on?

    • November 30, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Don,

      I’ve haven’t heard of this but if it works then do it. Keep in mind I want a spring-like effect as you coil and uncoil your body. You need to be careful that energizing your stomach muscles doesn’t hamper this process. Also, you have to make sure that it is repeatable and simple enough to think about. You certainly don’t want too many thoughts on your mind as you swing the club.

      You body is disconnecting because you are only increasing the speed of the lower body. This is why I re-posted the release progression tip. Start with that first and hook it consistently. Then drive the lower body harder. If you do it this way you will see the connection and more power.

  7. February 21, 2015

    terrybadger

    i feel a bit odd asking this, but i hook it easily. i haven’t quite got the timing right to move my hips fast enough to straighten it out. What i am doing is setting my grip to mostly no knuckles or one knuckle with my driver. The shots are not pull hooks, they just hook and if i’m on, they draw. Any thoughts, or should i just keep doing as i’m doing and wait till my hips catch up?
    One other question: in all of your vast amount of tips, do you have any that show your swing from the top? It would help me get the combination of uncoiling and weight transfer clearer in my mind and thus easier to replicate.
    thanks,
    ter
    (i’m getting better, really i am.)

  8. February 23, 2015

    terrybadger

    Hi Paul,
    Thanks for all of the tips, but i do use your recommended grip on the driver and less on my irons. There have been a few duck hooks, and there are probably some pulled shots. i have been swinging slowly so that may be why the draw/hook is so prevalent.
    As for my sliding, i think you are right. When i throw a baseball i am stepping and turning my hips. Trying to transfer the weight from right to left without sliding is an area that needs work. i will work on those tips for sure.
    i WILL be coming out to take a couple of lessons from you after i retire in August. i hope i haven’t developed too many bad habits that will be hard to break. One other question, when do i know when i need to renew my membership?
    thanks,
    ter

  9. June 4, 2015

    golfer99

    Hi Paulworking on 2 things swinging 50 % and rolling wrist over much improvemrnt in game ,question is can hit 80 ball using the above rollover drill hook all to varying degreesthe, when i am thinking on roling wrist over i can feel wrist rolling over when i try balls not thinking about earl roll i cant feel wrist snaping over should i feel this snap roll feeling in all my shots.is it just a matter oif more of the above. last question at 50% still feel more arms then i should will dialing it down more make it eeasier to get that powerless arm feeling,only problem i find swing easy is occasioally drive alittle to hard lower body an push ball way right not often but enough tokeep me from breaking 80 .when i swing easy is the concentration on swing easy only and not worrying to much about lower body action,i try to get from A to B at 50%

    • Barry,

      You should feel the snapping on all shots. You only have one swing. The driver is the hardest to roll because it’s longer. If you can roll driver you can roll all of the other clubs. Also, keep in mind you are rolling until you have it mastered and rarely hit shots with slice spin. At this point you have it ingrained so you should be able to take your mind off of it and work on body rotation to straighten it out.

      If you are swinging 50% you may feel the arms if you are still trying to roll them over. This is a manual movement so you would feel them. Once mastered you turn them off completely so they are powerless. If you are blowing it right when driving the lower you need to hook it first. The wrist release is not timed for a faster leg drive so it happens too late. So you hook it then apply more legs when you are ready.

      Driving Hips Harder But Hook It First: https://ignitiongolf.com/driving-hips-hook-first/

  10. June 5, 2015

    golfer99

    Hi Paul thanks for info,I do this roll over drill on the driving range only, when I am on the course I just work on swinging easy 50 percent, should I be consciously trying to roll the wrists while I am on the course , still getting some slice spin on some shots on course. On the range when I do this drill can) hook ball , close to 100 percent of time that includes allot of wild hooks but on range out doesn’t matter how wild they are the question is if I consciously roll wrists over on course going to lose allot of balls.

    • Barry,

      You should be rolling it 3-5 times before every shot. When you do you have this rolling feeling in your mind. You step up and think legs and hips. Hopefully, you still roll it. Watch your ball. If you slice the next shot roll it 5-10 times. Think legs and hips. Watch your ball. If you slice 3 in a row start manually hooking it. I say this because if you have sliced 3 in a row you will keep slicing it so you might as well do something different and start hooking it when you play.

      What To Do If You Slice Your First Tee Shot: https://ignitiongolf.com/shot-first-tee-slice/

  11. June 9, 2015

    golfer99

    Hi Paul tried the rolling wrist 5 times before shots on course worked great today.thanks

    • Barry,

      Very good. Keep doing this every time you play until you know for a fact they are loose.

  12. December 3, 2015

    RegLake

    Hi Paul,
    While learning to hook the ball it seems like your only using your arms? is this correct.
    And how do I take it to the golf course ?

    • December 3, 2015

      Paul Wilson

      Reg,

      Yes, this would be a time when you are working on your swing. How else are you going to roll it over earlier than you have for 30 years. Once you do it and are good at it it will happen on its own. At this point you turn them off.

  13. Paul,
    I have more of a practice question. When working on something is that only for the range or at home? Then when you play just let it happen? I have found when working on hinging the wrist my game just goes south and is an long day on the course.

    • April 10, 2016

      Paul Wilson

      John,

      You would be working on things on the range and at home and even when you play while you are waiting for groups ahead. When you hit your shots you should be thinking coil/uncoil with your body. If you are thinking and working on too much when you play it will be a disaster.

  14. What order should you learn this swing? I have been practicing coil, uncoil and finish. I tend to push everything to the right. MY old swing it was just the opposite, pull and pull hooks. I tried rotating more but that didn’t help. I started using the roll over drills but that seems to completely mess up trying to use a body swing and effortless arms. Was wondering for now just keeping working on coil and perfect finish and get that down to muscle memory then work on squaring the club. Also when trying to maintain more lag that pushed the ball out even further right.

  15. November 13, 2018

    RichardDuffin

    Hi Paul! After almost a year of your lessons I am finally getting it. It’s in the 30’s now but I am at the range every day at lunch hitting my 30 balls with 3 practice swings between most hits. Loosening my wrists, trying my darndest to keep the arms relaxed, touching the legs and touching the head, keeping my head behind the ball, letting my arms extend, and today working on the release. Now I at least know what I have to do to get that effortless feeling and hear that nice click of the ball while feeling next to nothing. Anyhow, I need a couple of clarifications if you would be so kind:
    1) Though you make no effort whatsoever to hit anything, I find when going from a 1/2 tee down to about a 1/4 inch tee it is really awkward. For the last month I hit only my 7i from the taller tee to make things easier as you suggest. So should you hover the club head behind the ball on the tee or just sole the club? Otherwise, how do you adjust to different tee heights unless your hand eye coordination simply makes adjustments based on tee height. I really want to nail all those 150 to 170 par three holes.

    I have watched the powerless arm drills many times and also the “not floppy arms”. My old swing required me to consciously “drop the club into the slot” and time that with my turn. It was sometimes very good and sometimes very bad as I timed my “drop” and turn/shift with tight arms and wrists.

    Would it be safe to say that as long as you keep the triangle formed by your arms and chest intact, keep your wrists loose to hinge and unhinge, and start with the lower half that you are doing it right? In other words, by thinking about and trying to keep my left arm fairly straight and both arms straight just past impact and thinking about dropping into the slot — am I doing it wrong? I guess I am asking more about the subtleties of the powerless arms v. floppy arms. Ideally I could rely on the centrifugal force to just pull my arms out straight, but we are folding our right arm at the top and keeping it “tucked” in the downswing. I am fighting the dreaded chicken wing/tight contracted arms so I concentrate on getting that right arm fully extended after impact. So, is it mostly not retracting the arms and locking the wrists = powerless arms. Not trying to swing with the arms which causes casting and disconnect from the shoulders = lost triangle. I play with better players that seem to swing their arms, but there arms are in sync with their shoulders and they maintain the triangle.

    The powerless arms is so key to everything you teach. Yet It looks as though you drop it into the slot and also get full extension by having repeated that move so many times. So is it wrong to have to slot the club and extend the club — does that violate powerless arms.

    Thanks for all your help. I have never learned a method with so much instant feedback that allows me to improve my swing with definite touch points.

    • Avatar photo

      November 14, 2018

      Paul Wilson

      Richard,

      Glad you are getting it. I like how you are practicing. 3 practice swings 1 ball. This is the way to do it.

      1. Just set the club on the ground. Don’t hover it. It’s only a 1/4 difference. You shouldn’t be having an issue. Just let you body lower to get the ball.

      2. As you coil back you need to set this backswing position. So just keeping the triangle may not get you to the top. You need to lift it up there and set it.

      Watch:

      Lead Arm Rides Up: https://ignitiongolf.com/lead-arm-rides-up/
      Lead Arm Rides Up Example: https://ignitiongolf.com/lead-arm-rides-up-example/

      In no way am I dropping it. I an firing my body and it drops on its own. If you think drop you don’t have time. As soon as you drop your club will be almost hitting the ball as it’s only 1/4 of a second from the top to impact.

      Get the dropping with not hitting and tilting your body behind the ball as you hit it. It is the body tilt that affects the path:

      2 Things Flatten the Plane: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-things-flatten-plane/

      Right Elbow: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-right-elbow/

      in no way have I ever thought about the right elbow. If yours is flying then work on it but all you would have to do is get the tilt. You can’t tile and fly the elbow. If you tuck so should the elbow.

      So do lots of swings off the ground. You can feel like you are swinging slightly up at it. This would get the tilt and the club attacking from the inside. Watch the back of the ball as you hit the ball:

      Watch Back of The Golf Ball: https://ignitiongolf.com/watch-backside-golf-ball/

      Another Way To Stay Behind It: https://ignitiongolf.com/another-way-to-stay-behind-it/

      Glad you like my instruction. Sounds like you are getting close to low single digits. To get the you can’t be too far off. Just make it simple. Coil uncoil. Hinge rehinge. How do you hit it? By uncoiling not by hitting. If you start the body (axis) first the mass (club) would flatten 100% of the time.

  16. November 14, 2018

    RichardDuffin

    Thanks Paul. My boss says I can put a net up and a mat in the warehouse! We’ll be ready for the senior tour by Spring.

    • Avatar photo

      November 16, 2018

      Paul Wilson

      Richard,

      Very good. With the nest up don’t forget the practice swings. People hit ball after ball which is not how to master it. Practice swings and repetitions looking for the feedback and checkpoints of the positions.

  17. September 3, 2020

    JohnSharkey

    Hi Paul

    I am noticing I have a tendency to not have my left wrist pronated when releasing, when I roll my wrists, even when thinking about keeping them loose I still have my left wrist too cupped in and then release a bit early. I don’t get a slice, but a higher, weaker, shot. Any advice on that?

    Thanks,
    John

  18. September 5, 2020

    JohnSharkey

    Thanks so much, Paul!

You must be logged in to post a comment.