Now that your video clips have set me in the right direction(s) both literally and figuratively I have found in regard to this tip: If you coil properly the belt buckle will automatically start the movement of the uncoiling in the forward swing. Thanks. 🙂
I was out to a practice facility today and started out hitting a low slice (ball starting out a little left and then it had a slight curve back near target). I remembered your fix for a slice (practice rolling wrists over early in downswing). It seemed to me that would produce a bigger pull without the cut spin.
I did some self analysis and it seemed my problem was that I had trained my right shoulder to come over the top through many years and even when I thought I had put no effort into my arms it still wanted to make the same move. It also seemed that I was moving my upper body ahead of the ball before impact. I started to practice keeping my head back through the downswing. I placed the label of the ball facing away from the target and made sure I could see it at impact. I think that may have come from one of
your videos. It sure seemed to keep the ball from curving right or pushing right.
My question is; am I on the right track and your video on fixing a slice just meant to give a quick fix to a slice while playing golf?
If you are slicing and you start to roll the wrists early you will pull hook it. This is because I have you manually using your arms but we don’t care because you are only working on the SPIN. If you are slicing the face it OPEN. So you are rolling it to CLOSE the face.
Once you get the ball hooking you then move to step 2 (not before then).
Step 2 has you working on starting the swing with your lower body. If your lower body starts to rotate before the club comes down the mass of the club will move towards 90 degrees to the axis (body) thus creating the path from the inside, keeping you behind the ball and causing the ball to start down the line.
So you take it in 2 steps.
What you have described is that you are trying to manually stay behind it which is fine if it is working. Remember though … you need to turn your arms off and start the lower body first. I say this because just staying behind it may work temporarily but you need the right fundamentals to have it last forever. The slice tells me you are hitting with your arms. So keep trying to turn them OFF and keep trying to start the lower body rotation first in the downswing. If you do you will fix it forever.
Unless I’m being naive, I believe I’m doing an okay job initiating the swing with my lower body. However, I seem to have a tough time completing a full body turn. I find myself with the majority of weight on my forward leg, but still have a bit too much weight on my back leg. I find I finish the swing on the ball of my back foot, and don’t always roll up onto the toe. This causes me to pull the ball and sometimes hook it. I keep thinking get the belt buckle forward, and try do the touch the knees thing, but I’m not quite there yet. Do you have any drills that will help me get the full turn? Thanks. Mike
From time to time I get people who say they cannot do the touch the legs position. For those people I tell them that they have done this move in the past. I say this because it is the same move as you do throwing a ball. I think everyone has thrown a ball at some point in their lives. In doing so, this is the very same movement you do in a golf swing except in golf you have to tell yourself to do it whereas throwing a ball has you do it naturally.
Why people do not do this perfectly with a golf ball in front of them is because human nature is telling you to hit the ball that is in front of you. This causes you to use your arms instead of your body. Your body already knows the net way to throw a ball. in doing so, you would never hang back on the back foot. If you did you would throw the ball up to the sky which you would never do.
So narrow your stance a little. Act like you have a ball in your back hand. Throw the imaginary or real ball out in front of you. After you make the motion stop. In this ending position you will see that your lead leg is locked and the other leg came around to touch it. The weight is also fully off this back foot. Now, that you see this is the same motion keep doing it until you are good at it. You can also do the drill I have listed below. Once you have trained yourself to do it grab a club and do practice swings holding the club off the ground. Get used to it. As you keep doing it perfectly off the ground gradually lower the club until you are at ground level.
This really is not difficult at all and for the sake of a little practice you will have it mastered in no time.
Thanks. Seems like a good idea. Will definitely try it. (I have been using a related thought for the same purpose: I think of the club “hovering” at the top as I push off the right foot. That too, not surprisingly, seems to help.
That would be good because you are waiting for the legs and hips to bring the club down instead of the arms. This is the major key to the golf swing. Keep doing it.
Another fine way ,Paul,to start the hips first ,before the club.
In your previous instruction video, on the lag ,which you do with the Sand Wedge ,do you “consciensciouly ” focus on the point where your wrists will start releasing ,that is when the hands arrive at hip height ,or do you just let it happen?
I have a training device ,called the SWINGRITE ,which clicks when the release occurs .You can set the release mechanism softer or harder to see when the release happens ,as you swing faster and faster .
If the click” doesn’t occur ,then your release has not happened ,you have swung “over the top “
I have one of those devices too. The problem is you have to re-set it every time you swing it. Will it give someone more lag? I don’t know. It might but you would have to use it regularly. Why not just hold the lag and release as I showed?
Hi Paul, I am really struggling with the touch the legs position, and this turning of the hips before the downswing. Driver is ok but I am topping 90% of my irons. When I watch your slow motion videos you posted a few months ago if I put a piece of card above your eye level with the bottom of the card at the centre of your eyes I see that in every one of your swings your eyes remain absolutely level with the bottom of the card until you start the down swing. Then gradually you will see that your head is dropping down until every time you see most of your forehead and tufts of your hair. I must be coming up from the shot when straightening the front leg, you are dipping your eyes and head down but you do not mention that in any of your tips. Am I seeing something and getting confused? Is it possibly an illusion due to the camera angle but it does appear in all the clips. Kind regards Ian Henry.
I had the same topping problem, you speak of. I found I was not maintaining the forward spine angle long enough, as Paul teaches. I was pulling my whole body up too soon, rather than just turning my head to see the ball in flight. Also, keeping the head back behind ball at impact, as Paul teaches, helped me. Those two things fixed the topping for me. Good luck.
Sounds like you are trying to do it way too fast when you are not good at it. Slow down. Tee your ball up. Hit the ball as you watch the ball. I would think you are also doing this and trying to see a great result instead of mastering the position. This is what everyone does. They keep thinking 1 position is going to allow them to hit every shot great. Learning the swing is a series of positions. Forget the ball and get this position. Then work on another and another. Working on 1 position does not mean you are going to hit great shots. Sure, some will be great. Others will be bad because you are not working on the whole swing.
Paul,
I had trouble today with my timing. I though about having my belt buckle aligned with the ball at impact and it appeared to center me better and I started hitting the ball more on line with better power. Is this a good thought or thing to do?
Thanks,
Jeff
I have been jumping around the different triggers, but this works well for me so I will stick to it. Once the arms get ahead of my belt buckle I hit it crap, but when focusing on getting the belt buckle moving ahead of the club head I hit it pure. So will really focus on this thought 🙂
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16 Responses to “DRILL – Belt Buckle Versus Clubhead In Downswing”
January 26, 2013
MichaelBlockHi Paul,
Now that your video clips have set me in the right direction(s) both literally and figuratively I have found in regard to this tip: If you coil properly the belt buckle will automatically start the movement of the uncoiling in the forward swing. Thanks. 🙂
January 26, 2013
jimmarlowHi Paul
I was out to a practice facility today and started out hitting a low slice (ball starting out a little left and then it had a slight curve back near target). I remembered your fix for a slice (practice rolling wrists over early in downswing). It seemed to me that would produce a bigger pull without the cut spin.
I did some self analysis and it seemed my problem was that I had trained my right shoulder to come over the top through many years and even when I thought I had put no effort into my arms it still wanted to make the same move. It also seemed that I was moving my upper body ahead of the ball before impact. I started to practice keeping my head back through the downswing. I placed the label of the ball facing away from the target and made sure I could see it at impact. I think that may have come from one of
your videos. It sure seemed to keep the ball from curving right or pushing right.
My question is; am I on the right track and your video on fixing a slice just meant to give a quick fix to a slice while playing golf?
January 28, 2013
Paul WilsonJim,
If you are slicing and you start to roll the wrists early you will pull hook it. This is because I have you manually using your arms but we don’t care because you are only working on the SPIN. If you are slicing the face it OPEN. So you are rolling it to CLOSE the face.
Once you get the ball hooking you then move to step 2 (not before then).
Step 2 has you working on starting the swing with your lower body. If your lower body starts to rotate before the club comes down the mass of the club will move towards 90 degrees to the axis (body) thus creating the path from the inside, keeping you behind the ball and causing the ball to start down the line.
So you take it in 2 steps.
What you have described is that you are trying to manually stay behind it which is fine if it is working. Remember though … you need to turn your arms off and start the lower body first. I say this because just staying behind it may work temporarily but you need the right fundamentals to have it last forever. The slice tells me you are hitting with your arms. So keep trying to turn them OFF and keep trying to start the lower body rotation first in the downswing. If you do you will fix it forever.
January 27, 2013
michaelmoulHi Paul.
Unless I’m being naive, I believe I’m doing an okay job initiating the swing with my lower body. However, I seem to have a tough time completing a full body turn. I find myself with the majority of weight on my forward leg, but still have a bit too much weight on my back leg. I find I finish the swing on the ball of my back foot, and don’t always roll up onto the toe. This causes me to pull the ball and sometimes hook it. I keep thinking get the belt buckle forward, and try do the touch the knees thing, but I’m not quite there yet. Do you have any drills that will help me get the full turn? Thanks. Mike
January 28, 2013
Paul WilsonMichael,
From time to time I get people who say they cannot do the touch the legs position. For those people I tell them that they have done this move in the past. I say this because it is the same move as you do throwing a ball. I think everyone has thrown a ball at some point in their lives. In doing so, this is the very same movement you do in a golf swing except in golf you have to tell yourself to do it whereas throwing a ball has you do it naturally.
Why people do not do this perfectly with a golf ball in front of them is because human nature is telling you to hit the ball that is in front of you. This causes you to use your arms instead of your body. Your body already knows the net way to throw a ball. in doing so, you would never hang back on the back foot. If you did you would throw the ball up to the sky which you would never do.
So narrow your stance a little. Act like you have a ball in your back hand. Throw the imaginary or real ball out in front of you. After you make the motion stop. In this ending position you will see that your lead leg is locked and the other leg came around to touch it. The weight is also fully off this back foot. Now, that you see this is the same motion keep doing it until you are good at it. You can also do the drill I have listed below. Once you have trained yourself to do it grab a club and do practice swings holding the club off the ground. Get used to it. As you keep doing it perfectly off the ground gradually lower the club until you are at ground level.
This really is not difficult at all and for the sake of a little practice you will have it mastered in no time.
Drill:
Lean On Club to Touch Legs: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-lean-on-club
January 2, 2016
Bill FreemanHi Paul,
Thanks. Seems like a good idea. Will definitely try it. (I have been using a related thought for the same purpose: I think of the club “hovering” at the top as I push off the right foot. That too, not surprisingly, seems to help.
Bill
January 2, 2016
RaymondCHASTELAnother way ,very similar to your’s ,Bill ,is to see the clubhead out of your left eye ,when it comes to the top,before starting the downswing
January 3, 2016
Paul WilsonBill,
That would be good because you are waiting for the legs and hips to bring the club down instead of the arms. This is the major key to the golf swing. Keep doing it.
January 2, 2016
RaymondCHASTELAnother fine way ,Paul,to start the hips first ,before the club.
In your previous instruction video, on the lag ,which you do with the Sand Wedge ,do you “consciensciouly ” focus on the point where your wrists will start releasing ,that is when the hands arrive at hip height ,or do you just let it happen?
I have a training device ,called the SWINGRITE ,which clicks when the release occurs .You can set the release mechanism softer or harder to see when the release happens ,as you swing faster and faster .
If the click” doesn’t occur ,then your release has not happened ,you have swung “over the top “
January 3, 2016
Paul WilsonRaymond,
I used to hold the lag then release it. Lag and release that is why I tell people to do this not just hold the lag.
Lag And Release Drill: https://ignitiongolf.com/lag-release-drill/
I have one of those devices too. The problem is you have to re-set it every time you swing it. Will it give someone more lag? I don’t know. It might but you would have to use it regularly. Why not just hold the lag and release as I showed?
January 2, 2016
IanHenryHi Paul, I am really struggling with the touch the legs position, and this turning of the hips before the downswing. Driver is ok but I am topping 90% of my irons. When I watch your slow motion videos you posted a few months ago if I put a piece of card above your eye level with the bottom of the card at the centre of your eyes I see that in every one of your swings your eyes remain absolutely level with the bottom of the card until you start the down swing. Then gradually you will see that your head is dropping down until every time you see most of your forehead and tufts of your hair. I must be coming up from the shot when straightening the front leg, you are dipping your eyes and head down but you do not mention that in any of your tips. Am I seeing something and getting confused? Is it possibly an illusion due to the camera angle but it does appear in all the clips. Kind regards Ian Henry.
January 3, 2016
BrianGeissingerI had the same topping problem, you speak of. I found I was not maintaining the forward spine angle long enough, as Paul teaches. I was pulling my whole body up too soon, rather than just turning my head to see the ball in flight. Also, keeping the head back behind ball at impact, as Paul teaches, helped me. Those two things fixed the topping for me. Good luck.
January 3, 2016
Paul WilsonIan,
Sounds like you are trying to do it way too fast when you are not good at it. Slow down. Tee your ball up. Hit the ball as you watch the ball. I would think you are also doing this and trying to see a great result instead of mastering the position. This is what everyone does. They keep thinking 1 position is going to allow them to hit every shot great. Learning the swing is a series of positions. Forget the ball and get this position. Then work on another and another. Working on 1 position does not mean you are going to hit great shots. Sure, some will be great. Others will be bad because you are not working on the whole swing.
Also, it is a turn not a jump:
It’s a Turn Not A Jump: https://ignitiongolf.com/turn-not-jump/
So hit fewer balls. Do more practice swings.
Do this first:
It’s Like A Throwing Motion: https://ignitiongolf.com/like-throwing-motion/
Then do practice swings feeling what you are doing in the throwing motion.
Then tee up the ball and replicate the movement in a slow easy swing. Between shots do more practice swings.
Then gradually speed up once you are good at it.
I am watching the ball to the 3/4 through point.
Topping
Good Habits Series – Topping or Thin Shots: https://ignitiongolf.com/good-habits-topping/
Topping: https://ignitiongolf.com/stop-topping-golf-ball/
Stop Topping Your Fairway Woods: https://ignitiongolf.com/stop-topping-fairway-woods/
Topping: Watch for the Blur: https://ignitiongolf.com/watch-for-the-blur/
Are You Practicing Looking Early?: https://ignitiongolf.com/practice-looking-early/
You Will Top It: https://ignitiongolf.com/you-will-top-it/
January 3, 2016
JeffLubinPaul,
I had trouble today with my timing. I though about having my belt buckle aligned with the ball at impact and it appeared to center me better and I started hitting the ball more on line with better power. Is this a good thought or thing to do?
Thanks,
Jeff
September 18, 2017
StianOttersenI have been jumping around the different triggers, but this works well for me so I will stick to it. Once the arms get ahead of my belt buckle I hit it crap, but when focusing on getting the belt buckle moving ahead of the club head I hit it pure. So will really focus on this thought 🙂
September 18, 2017
Paul WilsonStian,
Very good. If it work stick with it.