I will be available in February for private lessons. Schools will not start until the end of March. For private lessons people typically book 1 to 3 days at 4 hours per day. This way we can get through what is taught in the school setting. As we get closer to those dates just let me know if you would like to book this time.
Hi Paul, another great drill, many thanks for this. Quick question:
I’ve often thought of buying a golf net for practicing in the back yard, but I’ve always been put off because I wouldn’t be able to see the results of the shot, so wouldn’t know of any underlying problems. I see in many of your drills that you talk about not worrying about the results of the shot for a drill – it is after all just a drill. Do you think it would be a good idea to hit drills into a net, where you *can’t* see the results, and therefore can concentrate just on the mechanics of the swing?
You can get a net but you don’t really need one. I want your arms to be powerless. If there is no ball you will not be trying to hit anything therefore you can work on perfecting your swing positions. You should be doing 25-50 practice swings 4-5 times per week minimum while you are making changes. Try to do the swing in a mirror if you can so you can check them. It works you just have to be motivated to do it.
G’day Paul,
The video worked fine in Australia.
SInce starting your programme I have been trying to “switch the arms off”. Most of the time I think that has worked. I find I have to “pause” at the top, to think “turn the lower body” because, I often shot to the shot – meaning I probably turned the shoulders first.
RIght now I am being reasonably successful on the course, some shots are still going left and few hooks are showing up. Marks on the club face show I don’t appear to be finding the middle of the face.
Any suggestions are welcome
Thanks from Ben
Pausing at the top is fine. It should really be a slowing down of the club because you are waiting for the body rotation to change the direction of the club.
If you are starting to get it you are close to getting it. Just keep working on it. If you are pulling it the arms are starting down first. You need to get the hips leading the downswing. Hooks are telling you that you have the release but again the lower body is not starting first. So you need to keep working on initiating with the legs. This takes time, understanding and practice. So keep turning the arms off, swinging easy and doing these drills constantly until you are good at using the legs:
Thanks Paul for the list of lessons I need to review. I saw your “turn the belt buckle back to the ball” and have been trying to use that because it worked. Earlier on I was using “straighten the left leg”, I guess any of your downswing initiation triggers is fine, it is just getting the body to obey.
I played at a new course today St.Andrews Beach on the Mornington Peninsula. Right near the coast with a very strong gusty wind. I managed 32 points with two wipes. The swing was good most of the time, all your lessons he;per.
hey paul,a couple of lessons ago,i inquired which body part (legs,hips knees,) start the downswing,and u informed me that it was the shoulders(since they turn the greatest distance,compared 2 the others)..now u are stating its the lower body (hips legs)!! which is it???
I have done sessions with this in front of a mirror and will be taking it to the range later today. I found it very helpful in noticing aspects of my back swing and starting the down swing that were much easier to sense with the full stop and feel at the top. Two questions from that:
1. When I paid attention to my weight loading onto my back (right for me) foot I noticed that my upper body was rising up slightly from my hips near the end of my back swing. I believe that everything should stay more connected and loaded into the inside of my right hip, knee and instep. My torso then felt slightly lower at the end of the back swing and I felt better able to power the down swing with my lower body. Is that a correct feeling and adjustment for the back swing?
2. Regarding the torso/shoulder turn near the end of the back swing, I noticed that as my shoulders stop turning (at their limit) my arms move slightly further as I finish my wrist cock? Is that OK or should everything stop together?
1. If your body is raising up in the backswing I would think you are trying to turn back too far. You should not be raising up. It could have simply been from doing the backswing slow though so you stood up to relieve pressure on your body in which case this is okay because you are not trying to do a perfect backswing you are trying to work on loading the weight. So keep doing it until you are good at it. Later you mention your body lowered so I really can’t get a good picture of exactly what you are doing. Again, stopping at the top is a tough position to hold perfectly. Use this position to load the weight and feel the lower body start the downswing. You are doing easy swing not perfect swings so just accomplish 1 or two things doing this and you should be fine.
2. Mine do this too a little. This is the momentum of the club swinging back. Your body has way less distance to turn versus the arc of the club. Just so long as this is not too much additional movement of the club you should be okay.
You may not be good at hitting perfect shots but I bet you are trying to. Now you can do drills and think about doing the drill or move you are trying to accomplish. Keep at it.
Hi Paul;
This drill is also great for transitioning from the top of the swing to starting the downswing. If this drill is done, it should also help those such as myself to finish the backswing before trying to transition too quickly & hit with the arms. That’s my main swing thought at this point. Pause at the top, although for only a second or 2. Really helps my tempo also. Think Shigecki Marayama.(sp.)
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24 Responses to “Drill: Stop at the Top”
November 29, 2012
JuleHerbertGreat drill I should think. I know you have not posted 2013 lesson schedules, but do you think you will be available around Feb 14 in Las Vegas?
November 29, 2012
Paul WilsonJule,
I will be available in February for private lessons. Schools will not start until the end of March. For private lessons people typically book 1 to 3 days at 4 hours per day. This way we can get through what is taught in the school setting. As we get closer to those dates just let me know if you would like to book this time.
Thanks,
November 29, 2012
MicheleTripault2Hi Paul,
Today I can’t start the video.
Any suggestion?
November 29, 2012
Paul WilsonMichele,
The video is playing fine on my end. Please try it again.
November 29, 2012
JohnBallI can’t start this video, the screen just goes blank when you hit the play button
November 29, 2012
Paul WilsonJohn,
The video is playing fine on my end. Please try it again.
November 29, 2012
MichaelMurphyI have a black screen
November 29, 2012
Paul WilsonMichael,
The video is playing fine on my end. Please try it again.
November 29, 2012
GerardCroweHi Paul, another great drill, many thanks for this. Quick question:
I’ve often thought of buying a golf net for practicing in the back yard, but I’ve always been put off because I wouldn’t be able to see the results of the shot, so wouldn’t know of any underlying problems. I see in many of your drills that you talk about not worrying about the results of the shot for a drill – it is after all just a drill. Do you think it would be a good idea to hit drills into a net, where you *can’t* see the results, and therefore can concentrate just on the mechanics of the swing?
November 29, 2012
Paul WilsonGerard,
You can get a net but you don’t really need one. I want your arms to be powerless. If there is no ball you will not be trying to hit anything therefore you can work on perfecting your swing positions. You should be doing 25-50 practice swings 4-5 times per week minimum while you are making changes. Try to do the swing in a mirror if you can so you can check them. It works you just have to be motivated to do it.
November 29, 2012
dominicmacedoniaPaul,
In our normal swing, should there be a pause at the top.
dom
November 30, 2012
Paul WilsonDom,
I did a tip on this here:
Pause At Top: https://ignitiongolf.com/pause-top-backswing
November 29, 2012
terencebensonG’day Paul,
The video worked fine in Australia.
SInce starting your programme I have been trying to “switch the arms off”. Most of the time I think that has worked. I find I have to “pause” at the top, to think “turn the lower body” because, I often shot to the shot – meaning I probably turned the shoulders first.
RIght now I am being reasonably successful on the course, some shots are still going left and few hooks are showing up. Marks on the club face show I don’t appear to be finding the middle of the face.
Any suggestions are welcome
Thanks from Ben
November 30, 2012
Paul WilsonBen,
Pausing at the top is fine. It should really be a slowing down of the club because you are waiting for the body rotation to change the direction of the club.
Watch:
Pause At Top: https://ignitiongolf.com/pause-top-backswing
If you are starting to get it you are close to getting it. Just keep working on it. If you are pulling it the arms are starting down first. You need to get the hips leading the downswing. Hooks are telling you that you have the release but again the lower body is not starting first. So you need to keep working on initiating with the legs. This takes time, understanding and practice. So keep turning the arms off, swinging easy and doing these drills constantly until you are good at using the legs:
DRILL: Swing Off Ground: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-swing-off-ground
DRILL: Listen to Club Swinging: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-listen-to-club
DRILL: Start High Then Gradually Lower: https://ignitiongolf.com/start-high-gradually-lower/
DRILL: Firing Legs in Downswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-knee-ball-power
DRILL: Belt Buckle Clubhead: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-belt-buckle-clubhead
DRILL: Move Hips: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-hips-moving
December 4, 2012
terencebensonThanks Paul for the list of lessons I need to review. I saw your “turn the belt buckle back to the ball” and have been trying to use that because it worked. Earlier on I was using “straighten the left leg”, I guess any of your downswing initiation triggers is fine, it is just getting the body to obey.
I played at a new course today St.Andrews Beach on the Mornington Peninsula. Right near the coast with a very strong gusty wind. I managed 32 points with two wipes. The swing was good most of the time, all your lessons he;per.
December 4, 2012
Paul WilsonBen,
Yes, it is finding the trigger that works best for you. I push from the right instep. If you feel the belt buckle that’s good too.
It sounds like you are getting it. Just keep at it.
November 30, 2012
richmosneyhey paul,a couple of lessons ago,i inquired which body part (legs,hips knees,) start the downswing,and u informed me that it was the shoulders(since they turn the greatest distance,compared 2 the others)..now u are stating its the lower body (hips legs)!! which is it???
November 30, 2012
Paul WilsonRich,
I was talking about the backswing because the first part of your question was talking about the letter Y. The downswing is started with your legs:
Uncoil 1: https://ignitiongolf.com/uncoil
Uncoil 2: https://ignitiongolf.com/uncoil-follow-up
Legs Touching: https://ignitiongolf.com/touch-knees
November 30, 2012
chadcarpenterI have done sessions with this in front of a mirror and will be taking it to the range later today. I found it very helpful in noticing aspects of my back swing and starting the down swing that were much easier to sense with the full stop and feel at the top. Two questions from that:
1. When I paid attention to my weight loading onto my back (right for me) foot I noticed that my upper body was rising up slightly from my hips near the end of my back swing. I believe that everything should stay more connected and loaded into the inside of my right hip, knee and instep. My torso then felt slightly lower at the end of the back swing and I felt better able to power the down swing with my lower body. Is that a correct feeling and adjustment for the back swing?
2. Regarding the torso/shoulder turn near the end of the back swing, I noticed that as my shoulders stop turning (at their limit) my arms move slightly further as I finish my wrist cock? Is that OK or should everything stop together?
December 1, 2012
Paul WilsonChad,
1. If your body is raising up in the backswing I would think you are trying to turn back too far. You should not be raising up. It could have simply been from doing the backswing slow though so you stood up to relieve pressure on your body in which case this is okay because you are not trying to do a perfect backswing you are trying to work on loading the weight. So keep doing it until you are good at it. Later you mention your body lowered so I really can’t get a good picture of exactly what you are doing. Again, stopping at the top is a tough position to hold perfectly. Use this position to load the weight and feel the lower body start the downswing. You are doing easy swing not perfect swings so just accomplish 1 or two things doing this and you should be fine.
2. Mine do this too a little. This is the momentum of the club swinging back. Your body has way less distance to turn versus the arc of the club. Just so long as this is not too much additional movement of the club you should be okay.
December 29, 2012
RoyGilleyA drill where we don’t have to hit perfect shots? Not hitting perfect shots is what I’m best at.
December 31, 2012
Paul WilsonRoy,
You may not be good at hitting perfect shots but I bet you are trying to. Now you can do drills and think about doing the drill or move you are trying to accomplish. Keep at it.
July 7, 2014
MichaelRodrickHi Paul;
This drill is also great for transitioning from the top of the swing to starting the downswing. If this drill is done, it should also help those such as myself to finish the backswing before trying to transition too quickly & hit with the arms. That’s my main swing thought at this point. Pause at the top, although for only a second or 2. Really helps my tempo also. Think Shigecki Marayama.(sp.)
July 8, 2014
Paul WilsonMichael,
Yes, this is a good one. Everyone is in such a rush to come down and whack that ball. Why come down if you are not set? Glad you get it.