DRILL – How To Feel the Body Tilt at Impact

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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+

31 Responses to “DRILL – How To Feel the Body Tilt at Impact”

  1. August 29, 2013

    JuleHerbert

    Great lesson. When does Vegas get back into the 70s?

    • August 30, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Jule,

      I am back to teaching at the beginning of October. It should be quite nice by then. I would think it would be 70’s and then end of October or into November. Great time of year out there.

  2. August 30, 2013

    JuleHerbert

    Any Wilsonians out there interested in making a group outing: lessons and playing for, say, three days?

  3. August 30, 2013

    mikeplummer

    Hi Paul,
    I have been jumping around trying to find the “magic-fix”, not your fault but mine. This tip helps a lot , because I know that my arms have been starting the downswing. I have already started pushing the hip and since it feels foreign, I know I have not been getting into this position. I played a round today and was leaving my shots slightly out to the right, not a curve but straight. But after this tip, I am pretty sure I am not tilting too far right and swinging to the right. It is confusing because I am not tilting too much right, and I am pretty sure I started the swing with my arms thus tilting my shoulders left . A question about a mannerism you have, as you swing your left arm when showing us a part of the swing, your left hand is almost always in a flat position aimed at the target. As we swing with loose wrists, is this position of the hand going to happen naturally or should we be thinking even of it a little bit?
    Thanks, Mike

    • August 31, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Mike,

      The magic fix is developing a great swing based on the right fundamentals. I think you get making it way too complicated. Here is the simple version. You turn in a circular motion by coiling the shoulders (torque). Once tight, you uncoil the other way with the legs and hips. Attached to this are powerless arms and loose wrists. As you coil back the club hinges (because the wrists are loose). As you uncoil, the powerless arms come down and the club starts to re-hinge (because the wrists are loose). The club hits the ball then after impact the club is rehinging (because the wrists are loose). You then go to the follow through position of touching the legs and touching the head. Then you check these positions to see if you did it exact right and exactly the same for every shot. After every shot you watch your ball. This will tell you what element is not working.

      If you are leaving your shots slightly to the right and you think you are using your arms check your alignment first. Then your grip. Maybe your wrists are so tight the face is left open slightly. I would think your wrists are a little tight and you have a little slide going on. This would cause it to go straight right every so slightly. If you saw this shot you should immediately start turning more to fix it.

      The you asked about the back of the hand is telling me you are not thinking about the 3 elements. You are looking for something you do not need to be looking for. So start making it simple. Focus on the 3 elements I teach. If you do you can fix any swing flaw in golf instantly.

      In no way am I thinking about a flat wrist at impact. This occurs because impact is not the widest point of the arc. My release point is the widest point which is after the ball is hit. If impact is not the widest point it means the club is still descending as the club hits the ball therefore the lead wrist would be flat. If impact is not the widest point of the arc why are you thinking about it?

      Here are 2 tips I did on this:

      Back Wrist at Impact: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-back-wrist

      Knuckles Down At Impact: https://ignitiongolf.com/knuckles-down-impact

  4. August 30, 2013

    TIMADAMS

    Paul

    What happens if I don

    • August 31, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Tim,

      If you do not coil enough (until you are tight) you have not created any torque (spring-like effect). No torque means you will be using your arms to hit the ball. Start the arms first and you will be over the top. In the future take the left shoulder and crank it around until you feel this tightness. This tightness tells that when you have coiled back enough. This will vary from golfer to golfer. Once you have torque you simply uncoil an let the arms go along for the ride.

      Watch:

      Coiling: https://ignitiongolf.com/learn-coil-backswing

      Increase Shoulder Turn (seam on shirt): https://ignitiongolf.com/increase-your-shoulder-turn

  5. August 30, 2013

    DucVu

    Paul,

    I’m trying to practice staying behind the ball at impact but in doing so I over compensate and don’t transition my weight to the left side so I hit behind the ball. Advice on staying behind the ball but still being able to get the right weight shift?

    Duc

    • August 31, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Duc,

      Never look at this as a bad thing. Fat shots are great. It is telling you that you are behind it and it is understandable that if you were working on staying behind it that you would hit some fat. If you were topping it while trying to stay behind it you are no doing it right.

      Fat shots are caused because you have to much weight on your back foot at impact. You can find this tip in the CURES section in the red nav bar.

      You need to stay behind the ball. You need to be working on this until you are good at it. If you hit some fat shots this is part of the process. You cannot expect to be perfect at it if you just started working on it. Give it time and practice it until you are always behind it.

      Here it is:

      Fat: https://ignitiongolf.com/fat-shots-cure

  6. Hi Paul, I use your technique of powerless arms. I see that your club seems straight at address.
    My club looks slanted with my hands forward at my left leg and the head inside my left heel which makes the shaft slanting. That is how I get my best shots. I have a very big turn going back and I think that this puts the club in the right position to turn. Is that wrong? Thank you. Michelle

    • August 31, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Michelle,

      At address you want your hands even with the ball not ahead of the ball. Leaning the club too far forward does not allow you to do the proper neutral grip. This means you will grip into a strong position. This will cause you to hook the ball if you release it. Most people do not like to see the big hook so they tighten their wrists to get the ball going straighter when really, they should have done the proper grip with the hands more even with the ball.

      NOTE: some drivers are built to have your hands slightly behind the ball.

      Watch:

      Hand Position: https://ignitiongolf.com/hand-position-at-address

  7. August 30, 2013

    Ryan

    Paul – I took your advice from the previous tip on tilt and I worked on it at the range trying not to overthink the swing. I just focused on coil/uncoil and tilt at impact. I watched where the ball went and then made adjustments. It was good practice round.

    I then played 18 with some friends and the first 9 we played best ball, which helped me further get used to the tilt. On the back 9, I played my own ball, and my overall score was ok and/or normal for me (45), but I had three penalties in the round. These were due to hitting long with an 8 iron into the woods, chunking the ball and not making it over a lake on a par 3 with an 8 iron, as well as push fading a 3 iron into a pond. Instead of being mad, I know I’m getting used to my new swing per your methods and looking forward to getting better. I’ve currently been working on your swing method per this site and your book for 5-6 weeks. For the most part, every other shot with the woods and irons, where either straight and/or draw.

    Although, I hate to have another tip for next time, I have to ask a question so I can incorporate it sometime in the future when my swing is consistent. It seems that my new shot trajectory is much higher than normal. Do you have any advice on lowering trajectory? Do you think that because I’m working on the tilt, that the ball is flying higher?

    Thanks for the tip!

    • August 31, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Ryan,

      Sounds like you are on track. If you are trying to stay behind it you are going to hit the shots you said: fat or pushes. This is good. Just keep working on it until you are always behind it. Get more weight off the back foot to stop hitting fat. Turn more to stop pushing it.

      In working on staying behind it you have too much weight on the back foot at impact thus adding loft to you club. Another good sign you are making the change. I did 2 tips on lowering your trajectory. I would think when you get off the back foot more it will come down.

      Watch:

      Easy Ways To Lower Trajectory: https://ignitiongolf.com/hit-lower-easy-ways

      Lower Overall Trajectory: https://ignitiongolf.com/lower-trajectory

      • September 3, 2013

        Ryan

        Paul – I played another 9 holes on Friday, and this time, I hit (7/7) fairways, and only had one shot that was a push-fade. My overall score was a 41, which I know should have been better because I had a bad chip and 3 putt on one hole, and I hit a PW fat, bad chip and three putt on a par 3, both of those holes were double bogies. I lowered my overall score by (4) though!

        I fell real confident in this swing, and feel that I am on the cusp of playing best golf of my lift. I’m excited to keep at it and develop consistency. I really think the two tips that helped the most was understanding the connection drill and the tilt at impact – plus your wake-up call to me about overthinking the swing mechanics.

        As you can see, still working on your chipping techniques, but it will come. Thanks again for your tips and videos!

        Ryan

        • September 3, 2013

          Paul Wilson

          Ryan,

          Great stuff! It sounds like you are close too. Just don’t push it. It will come in due time.

  8. August 30, 2013

    PaulSacchetti

    Hi Paul,

    I’ve been using your powerless arm swing with very good sucess. I notice two errors. Then I do not use a sufficient lower body turn, I will push or push fade the ball slightly to the right. When i drive the lower body more agresively I notice a slight pull to the left. I suspect this is related to my head/body moving forward. I get good power and distance but I miss left. Does this make sense?

    Paul

    • August 31, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Paul,

      If you are not turning you are sliding so yes these shots would go right. Driving the lower body more aggressively is also turning on your arms which is leaning you forward in the downswing therefore you are pulling it.

      I would be working on the aggressive turn but in practice swings holding the club in air. If you go harder and harder in the practice swings this will become your new speed and you will not have turned on the arms. So do the fast swings in practice swings. Then wait for it to show up in your real swing.

      Do these 2 drills constantly:

      DRILL: Listen to Club Swinging: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-listen-to-club

      DRILL: Swing Up with Driver: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-swing-up-driver/

  9. September 2, 2013

    Ryan

    Hey Paul – I noticed that your clubs are a couple inches behind the ball at the start. Is this something we should work on? Ryan

    • September 2, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Ryan,

      I never wanted to touch the ball with my club and get penalty so I set up behind the ball a few inches. You can do this if you want it’s up to you.

  10. April 25, 2015

    RonCalabrese

    Hi Paul. I have heard other teachers talk about ” bumping the hips” before initiating the turn. This tip seams to accomplish the same effect because you push the hips causing the tilt before the turn. I like your description because the tem ” bump” can be confusing. Personally, everything seems to work when I stay behind the ball and simply rotate the right knee against the left.

    Thanks, Ron

  11. Two wonderful slow motion videos,Paul,perfectly illustrative of your method,simple adf effective
    I notice you finish very straight ,no leaning back in the finish ,no ” Reverse C” finish .
    In the throughswing ,do you consciensly keep the head back or does it happen by itself ?

    • April 26, 2015

      Paul Wilson

      Raymond,

      The head is going back due to firing the hips fast. Like hitting the accelerator on a car then my whole upper body is pulled forward creating the second axis in my swing between the head, body and left leg.

  12. Paul,

    Do we have to chase the same tilt with wedge shots? I’m trying only in complete swings with every iron. But I don’t feel the tilt neither in short pitch shots nor (for example) in punch shots

    Since I saw your tip “tilt and turn” I have hit the best straight shots of my live. My only problem is to hit sometimes fat shots because I don’t move my lower body fast enough (I feel I hit the ball flatfooded)

    It is amazing how it has improved the direction of my driver and hybrids. Still pending with short irons

  13. Paul,

    Thanks for re-posting this tip. This is the first time I have truly felt the tilt that you describe as “hitting the accelerator on a car.” My attempt to stop coming over the top always turned into a slide. This two part explanation of tilt and turn really helped me ingrain that feeling. The straightening of the front leg feels totally different. Instead of sticking my front hip out toward the target, I now feel my front hip actually coming back and around as my leg straightens. A great focus for me. Thanks for the Dashboard, it really helps organize all the topics for quick review.

  14. Hi Paul,
    I am still seraching the most comforatbale downswing trigger. I have tried all you have suggested. My question this time, is the movement of the hip during the downswing. Does the right hip moves from downwrad then upward in a circular motion of which the swing plane is shifted more to the right of the target line. Or is it the hip just moves laterally in a circular motion in the downswing. I am refering to this instruction video: DRILL – How To Feel the Body Tilt at Impact.

    Thank you in advance for your help, Paul

    Ismail

    • Avatar photo

      March 25, 2018

      Paul Wilson

      Ismail,

      As you hit the top the right would be higher than the left because you are tilted to get to the ball. The first move down has the hips facing the ball which would be them getting back to their original setup position. This is when the left arm is parallel to the ground in the downswing.

      Pro Versus Am – First 45 Degrees: https://ignitiongolf.com/pro-versus-first-45-degrees/

      From there the are turning and shifting at the same time. At impact the left would higher due to the tilt and the fact that the left leg is straighter than the right. In no way am I thinking of this or have ever worked on this in my swing.

      You can find my swing here: https://ignitiongolf.com/start-here/ just scroll down and download it.

  15. December 30, 2018

    DavidMagnus

    Hey Paul.

    I’ve been an avid follower since June of 2018.
    When the opportunity presents itself, 3, so far. I recommend The Body Swing and Ignition Golf emphatically. (In fact I hope my wifes cousin will soon check you out and get on board) . She’s suppose to let me know if she does.
    I recently purchased some used clubs . Because of you, the two gentlemen helping me could not believe I was a 21 handicap from watching me hit balls into a net.
    I’m hoping in finding this tip I’ll become more consistent yet not over compensate. I find myself one of those that insist I’m not using my arms. Yet everything I was hearing was telling me I was still coming over the top. ( occasional Duck hooks, consistently pulling irons to the left) In fact, I have went from Warrior Irons 1/2 in longer stiff shafts to Dynamic Gold 300 standard length Mizuno MP 58’s( new, used clubs did seem to help drastic pulls)
    What I’m taking from this tip, is….. I can allow myself to shift and turn (as long as it doesn’t turn into a slide) rather than focusing on turning without any shift whatsoever. Paying close attention that your hips came back to your line that you drew on the screen that was the same place that you would put your club off your left hip in the drill.
    I know my scores will soon drop. I’ve hit some great shots (in fact I pitched in from the backside of a Par 5 for my first Eagle, and made a couple birdies in the last month!)
    Thanks, again for your sites.

    David

    • Avatar photo

      December 31, 2018

      Paul Wilson

      David,

      You are doing great and yes, the scores will come. If they are saying your swing looks good it is just a matter of time.

      Yes, you can and should be turning and shifting but not sliding. I think you get it.

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