Drill: How To Feel The Wrist Release – Butt Belly Button

By | on February 17, 2017 | 28 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+

28 Responses to “Drill: How To Feel The Wrist Release – Butt Belly Button”

  1. December 5, 2012

    DOUGTANZER

    O.K. BELLY BUTTON. I GET IT. BUT SHOULDNT ALSO THE BUTT POINT AT THE LINE OF FLIGHT TOO?

    • December 9, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Doug,

      The grip is pointing at the target in the downswing at parallel to the ground. Keep in mind this is a drill working on your wrist hinge. You are not trying for perfection. You are trying to loosen your wrists.

  2. December 5, 2012

    JoseCarceller

    Great tip again Paul! I have been practicing the manual release a lot and I have increased distance significantly. My question here is that I feel that there are three types of release that may alter ball trajectory and flight. One is the release I think you are doing (and the one I’m practicing) which is the palm of the right hand is as if you we’re trying to shake hands. The second one, if I’m trying to hit draws with the driver is to have the hand releasing with the right palm down to the ground. Finally, when bunker play or even high shots (sometimes fades or even slices) with the right palm pointing to the sky. Is this approach correct or should I only be thinking of one type of release?

  3. December 5, 2012

    TIMADAMS

    Paul
    been working on your method for about 3 months(no arms,axis turn,w/proper setup)i’m 62 and been playing for about 35yrs.I use to either solid pull 30-50yds or block right.Now i’m hiiting the ball online(if I get the turn right)But wth the shorter clubs i’m having a hard time making solid contact(i’m a large guy with a big waist)any suggestions?

    • December 6, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Tim,

      You only have one swing and 13 clubs. Usually when people are having problems with shorter clubs they are setting up wrong. If you set up too low with these clubs you will change your swing. Even though the clubs are shorter you still need to do the same setup (tall). The wrist angle changes to accommodate the shaft length.

      Watch:

      How to Set Up With Different Golf Clubs: https://ignitiongolf.com/setup-different-clubs

  4. January 25, 2013

    RoyGilley

    Paul – been making great progress over the last year or so following your method. I know you emphasize powerless arms, but wouldn’t it be OK to tell people that their forearms need to rotate (or roll) to perform this drill. It may seem too obvious, but it took awhile for me to become consciously aware of this motion that needs to take place as I worked through the process of not hitting with my hands and arms. Love your site.

  5. February 18, 2017

    HERBGOODMAN

    Hi Paul:
    I’m trying to keep my shoulders relaxed on the take away but as you know my shoulders are too tight on the release. After the point of releasing the wrist, my arms tighten up and many times I hit my knee on my leg but I don’t finish. How can I loosen them on the follow through.
    Herb

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      February 19, 2017

      Paul Wilson

      Herb,

      I can only tell you to turn them off. It is up to you to do it. This would start with understanding why you would be tight. You are tight because you are trying to hit. The harder you hit, the tighter they will be. When I go it back in 1999 I just told myself to not hit the ball with my arms. Within 3 practice swings I got the feel. Then I applied this feel the shot. It felt unlike I had anything I had ever felt in the past. It felt slow, effortless and the club felt very heavy. So start there looking for these feeling too. I also never felt any radiating in my arms after I hit the shot. They felt like butter with SW to Driver.

      Keep in mind when people turn off their arms they think they are not going to hit it anywhere. This is why I want people to learn to use the body and the arms first. Once you do this you will be using the other power (your legs) along with the arms. Once you do that you will quickly realize you do not have to use your arms so you can turn them off. If you are just trying to turn off the arms, you might not hit it anywhere so doing both for a while will allow you to hit the ball with a lot of power so you will want to keep doing it. As you get better at using the legs you simply turn the arms off and you’ve got it.

      2 Power Sources In Your Swing: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-power-sources/

      If you are still hitting and tight I guarantee you are doing a chicken wing. So why not work on some drills to widen the arc?

      DRILL: Another Way To Widen The Arc: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-widen-arc/
      DRILL: Arm Extension: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-stretch-out-arms/
      DRILL: Extend the Back Arm for Power and Consistency: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-extend-back-arm/
      Drill: 2 Chairs: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-2-chairs/

      Working on widening the arc will allow the arms to stretch out fully. If they are stretching out, they will let go. Contracting will be tightening.

      Here is another one you should watch:

      It is a Letting Go Experience: https://ignitiongolf.com/letting-go-experience/

      Failing that then keep focused on using your legs and hips as well as the arms doing perfect positions and building a great swing. As you get powering the swing with the legs you might find it easier to turn them off. Also, keep telling yourself not to use them and that it is a totally different feeling when you are not using them. If you don’t feel anything different you are not changing anything.

  6. February 19, 2017

    RaymondCHASTEL

    Paul ,Very useful “reminder ” exercise for keeping the wrists loose ,thank you.
    I recently saw big powerful JASON KOKRAK playing :he does hit it very far :but he straightens very much his right knee in the backswing,his right leg is all straight at the top, and of course he has a huge upper body turn .
    Is this a move to be avoided by all means :you teach the right knee to remain flexed ,and that’s what I endeavor to do ,it gives a lot of “spring off ” power.

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      February 19, 2017

      Paul Wilson

      Raymond,

      I like it flexed to create the torque and to put you in a great position to start the downswing. The more you move the harder it is to start the body first. Kokrak is a pro so he can get away with it.

  7. February 21, 2017

    CraigSmith

    Hi Paul, I figured out the confusion. I somehow replied to the wrong video.

    My question is for the release drill:

    As I do this drill my positions A and B have the butt of the club pointing down towards the ground but also it’s pointing a bit out in front of me…like at my toes (just to clarify the direction or what i mean by “out”)…

    is this correct…or should the butt of the club be pointing straight down to the ground?

    thanks! Craig

  8. February 21, 2017

    CraigSmith

    I see the down the line shot now and can see the angle on the butt of your club. question resolved.

    my students do this to me all the time!

    thanks again Paul. CS

  9. February 25, 2017

    CharlesRichards

    Paul,
    I am struggling with the body movement to start the downswing.
    I love this drill as I have incorporated the body move to start the downswing with it, as well as the check on the hear being behind the ball.
    Thanks very much for your great teaching.
    Charlie

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      February 26, 2017

      Paul Wilson

      Charlie,

      I hear this all the time. Just realize you have hit with arms for years so you are learning how to do the opposite. Just work on one thing at a time and you will get it (touch legs)(touch head) along with grip and setup. Then get in a good position in the backswing. At this point you will still be using arms. Once you get good at using the legs and hips you will realize you don’t need to use your arms so you can turn them off.

      Do the practice swings at home nightly. This is the fastest way to get it because there is no ball to hit.

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      February 26, 2017

      Paul Wilson

      Charlie,

      Glad you like my teaching. I truly appreciate the kind words.

  10. November 12, 2018

    BradleyDanyluk

    Hey Paul, I have read about the wrist movement called ullnar deviation. I feel that movement in my wrists when I point the butt of the club to my bellybutton and also when I am letting the club fully extend to its widest position after impact. Feeling that movement has brought me the closest to doing the release as you described. Is it OK to focus on The release through that movement? Thanks Brad

  11. December 2, 2018

    BradleyDanyluk

    Hey Paul, this is without question the best explanations defining the release that I have ever seen in my 35 years of playing golf. I’m progressing with it and getting good snap however it has become very clear that my problem is I am releasing at the ball,releasing two early instead of after impact. It is very hard for me not to do that, any advice? Thanks Brad

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      December 2, 2018

      Paul Wilson

      Bradley,

      Glad you liked it.

      You need to do this drill and the roll over so many times you do it without thinking about it. Then the focus switches to the body. This monve the release point ahead of the ball. If you are releasing early you are most likely flat footed at impact with no hip turn. So do the swing off the ground drill I showed the other day and learn to fire way harder and faster than you currently are. You need to make the legs and hips the power source not the hands and arms. The hands and arms move faster than your body in life. So you need to get the slow moving body to outpace the fast moving hands and arms. So turn the arms off at the top and feel the body as the power source. Body leads arms follow.

  12. December 2, 2018

    BradleyDanyluk

    I think if I can just get it into my head that the full stretch of the arms comes after impact that may work. Been stuck in snow going to Palm Springs tomorrow any little mental tip or trick on this will help thanks I am very close!

  13. December 2, 2018

    BradleyDanyluk

    One more thing, as I practiced this in my house 100 times I am feeling the clubface square through impact right before the snap release. It is as if the club is coming through impact square for several inches if I swing two that full extension. Is that what I should be feeling it seems like that would give me more confidence to impact the ball properly. Just need to let it happen and not think about hitting the ball.

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      December 2, 2018

      Paul Wilson

      Bradley,

      I am not thinking impact. I am thinking to no disturb the club in any way. Just let it go. If it stretches out it has to be square.

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