Ha ! know I understand…Great tip ! I practiced it today and MAN ! what a difference. I was not “matching” my lead leg before therefore I think I was “shifting” more than “turning” Your way of explaining is good for me !
Hey paul have really been practising the touch legs position but I have found that when I do this my legs are almost touching before my club moves a lot I’m hitting great shots with it but was wondering should my arms be moving earlier ?
Keep up the great work love the site always recommend you to my friends
Yes, your arms should be moving right after you fire the lower body. The lower body is only slightly ahead. If it is way ahead you are disconnecting which can lead to pushes and push fades. Watch these tips:
Hi Paul
Thank you for your reply
After a lot of swings into the mirror last night i found that my arms are actually dropping as i use my lower body i never realized that they were to me it felt they were not moving im hoping that this is a good sign that im not using my arms ?
had my best ever round of golf yesterday shot a 83 witch for someone who was on a 29 handicap when i started your program is just amazing down to 19 now and getting better every week.
If the arms are following that is great. You will know if you are disconnecting because you will be hitting pushes and push fades.
It sounds like you are on track. Just keep doing what you are doing. Be careful not to be swinging too hard. If you start hitting it thin, topping or slicing it slow down.
This was a beautiful explanation for me about a problem I’ve been having. I have got the positions down quite well and things work well for me when I go out and play using your Think Easy Thoughts mantra which you presented in a recent tip. Wanting more distance, when I try to rotate my hips faster, I do become “disconnected” (you used the perfect description here). Push city.
I need to go back to easy thoughts, sound positions and let distance come later and only with slow, incremental increases in hip speed so my timing is better coordinated. I can hook the ball easy but am uncomfortable trying to adjust my timing. Again, easy thoughts produce good, solid results with certainly enough length to score well.
I’ll keep working with your favorite drill. It practices and ingrains all elements of your teaching in a coordinated move – timing, separation, touch the legs, touch the head, hip rotation, loose wrists. Plus I can do it everyday at home in ten minutes.
Keep up the great work Paul. You’ve injected new enthusiasm into my game at age 65. I believe it will actually add years to my life. A great way to add life stimulus to replace work.
What you need to do it roll it and get it hooking then when you are ready to add body don’t go all out. Just add a little body then it will only pull hook slightly. Then you add a little more and it will be dead straight. I think you may get it hooking then you are really driving the legs hard for more power and you end up blowing it right. So gradually increase it. Glad you like my instruction. I appreciate it.
Paul,
It’s physically impossible for me to do the touch the legs all the way down(from crotch to knee)Yes I can turn but can only do the touch high up the legs(upper thighs only)any suggestions?
If it is physically impossible do the best you can. I want them to touch so you can repeat it exactly the same every time you swing. If you cannot o it you are going to have to check this position regularly so it does not start changing.
Paul, my issue with touch the legs comes with my shorter irons (8-SW). I’m 6’2″ and always need a good knee bend when hitting these clubs. Although, my clubs were fitted for me. Trying to bring my knees together with this knee bend seems to not work that well. I feel like I’m standing up during the swing. So I never hit decent shots with theses clubs. If I do, I still don’t take a divot. Any suggestions???
Being 6’2″ should in no way stop you from doing this. I have taight golfers up to 6’8″ without a problem. I would think you are doing what most taller people do and that is bend over too much because you think the club are too short. The lower you get the more you will stand up to maintain your balance. In doing so you are jumping not turning. So set up with your chest outside the ball with lower irons. The tell-tale sign you are tall enough is you will not be able to clearly see your toes when you look down. You may see them out of the peripheral but not clearly.
Once you get taller you then turn. If you do it correctly the left leg will lock and the right will touch. Throw some balls and put the hands on the hips to get used to it.
I am better at touching my legs, but when I video my swing sometimes my shoulders are ahead of my hips at the end of my swing before my knees hit. How do I create more lag between my hips and shoulders?
Hi Paul,
things are much clearer with your recent close-up videos. Seen under various shooting angles, it is easier to understand the finish position. So thank you for this. It is very consistent with the powerless arms thinking, which, I must say, is the most rewarding tip I ever got from anybody. But I have to admit it is also a very demanding learning process. Today I tried to stick to it with a full bucket of balls and I realize how easily the old “smashing-the-ball” can be back in no time! But at least, I have now more awareness of it and I am confident it will pay off.
Exactly. It is tough because you are going against human nature. Just keep understanding why you are keeping them turned off. If you understand why you can convince yourself to keep them turned off all the time. Also, once you see enough good shots using no arms versus using your arms it becomes obvious that you should not be trying to hit with them. Stick with it. Focus on positioning and do lots of practice swings. Build a great swing and you will hit great shots.
For some reason, this, out of all the swing positions you teach, is the one the light bulb hasn’t gone off yet.Mostly because when I try to turn properly, only when I hit a ball, my left hip wants to tune back behind me. In my mind this feels powerful from a golfing position. After throwing a ball when I get in a position to hit a golf ball it feels completely different. The slow motion close ups show the rotation from an address position only. Can you do the exact same thing but from a completely turned back onto your right side position. This must seem frustrating to you but I assure you it more frustrating to me. Thank you so much.
I can do this but you are not going to see anything. I can’t do this from above when hitting. I tried it and it does not work because my head is in the way.
Can you not just touch h legs together with the left leg locked. Just do it slow then speed it up. This is really not this hard. Most people do not lock the lead leg.
Think about it. You have 2 ways to go from the top. You can turn or you can shift. I want you to turn. The shift will occur on its own if you get to the tip of the toe. So do it in 2 stages. To to the top and turn and hit the ball. Keep the feet flat on the ground. Once you do this a few times then work on getting off the back foot onto the tip of the back toe. Maybe you can get it this way.
Okay I finally got it. I looked at the “just throw a ball” action and modified it slightly. Every time I would throw a ball and could fee the hip motion when I went to hit a ball because I wasn’t throwing a ball I couldn’t quite duplicate the motion. So I thought if i “threw the club” but not using the arms to throw it but with the lower body throwing it. With the arms and hands relaxed, the lower body throws the club down the fairway (with of course holding onto it). This was an immediate “I feel it” action. Combining that with the “lift your heel for the next 2 weeks” and feeling as if the club stays still at the top as the body initiates the swing, I do believe I will be able to duplicate what you’re teaching.I can even do this as a slow speed which really use to throw me off. Now I know you have said “Don’t even think about the club” but doing this seems to solidify your teaching. So, does this seem sound to you?
Anything that allows you to get this position sounds good to me. Just keep doing it until you get used to it. As I say, it is an unmistakable feeling of using the legs and hips to hit the ball not the arms. If you are feeling them and you are ending up with the legs touching and on the very tip of the back toe then you are doing it right. Good job!
When I uncoil my lower body and touch the knees, I find that I am pulling the ball. How do I uncoil and turn while at the same time try to keep my arms from going around me and pulling the ball?
Hi Paul,
This really helps me understand why i am hitting so far left. It is a result of shifting the weight too quickly. i think it is result from trying to keep my spine angle steady. i felt like i was coming up and off the ball, so i probably overcompensated. It really appeals to my engineering background when i get an explanation of the consequences of doing something incorrectly – troubleshooting tips. So i will work on keeping my head behind the ball.
thanks,
ter
Simple fix. Just got to see it differently. I am not seeing you as you. I am seeing you as a machine with 2 moving parts and a tilt. To figure you out I just ask myself why your machine is not working. Pretty simple and you never have to guess.
I would be working on turning not shifting. If you fire the lower body correctly your head would stay behind the ball. Do it however you want though.
Shifting too soon has been a problem for me, thinking that the quicker the weight transfer the more power. Obviously it leads to all sorts of embarrassing problems. And obviously gradual and smooth does the trick (look at Sam Snead).
What do most golf “teachers” always say? “Shift your weight.” Yeah? What the devil does that mean? That’s like saying “This is an easy golf course if you stay out of trouble.” Thanks genius, but how? How?
Well Coach Wilson can certainly tells us how, doesn’t he? I swear without Wilson I’d have quit this bloody game by now.
Loved Anthony’s comment here. Last time I spent (or should I say “wasted?”) $120 on a golf lesson, the instructor put me on a fancy machine with a fancy electronic graph with data and told me it showed I was not shifting my weight. Great. Now what? We spent the next hour with her telling me to shift my weight. Never once was I told how to do so.
I learned that in five minutes from Paul’s Body Swing videos. Rotate the hips in a circular manner and touch the legs. No measurement machine required and I can self-check for the rest of my life for free.
Paul, your simplicity is pure genius and incredibly refreshing in a profession that seldom shows true improvement in its students.
It is amazing what is out there. I have always thought fast and easy and that the person has to get it without me. Isn’t that the whole point. You need to do it on your own but if you don’t know exactly how to do it you will never do it. So you keep coming back and it’s a never ending cycle. As you see, that position is not hard just have to know what to do (which you do). Good job.
Hi Paul
Great tips as always and thank you very much.
One question regarding “stay behind the ball” as doing this touch the legs position in play. In range, I can do it right with good finish position if I swing slowly which I can hit driver 230 yards carry. In play, I can’t stop turning my lower body faster which I carry the drive 280 yards dead straight 2-3 times out of ten but the remaining shots are pull hook. I presume the cause is I can’t hold my top position a little moment before initiating touch legs motion. Do I give up the distance or any tips for stay behind the ball as accelerating the speed of legs movement for more distance ? Thank you.
You give up the distance until you master the positions. Then you speed up only the lower body to gain more distance. As you said, you can hit it a long way but what is the advantage if you only do it a few times. You really need to be doing this drill nightly until you can do it in balance:
Hi Paul, My problem this time is that the picture is “frozen” – Can’t get the video to start! Can you help please? Thanks for sorting out the last problem in regard to the pictures/video. Regards. Brian Claffey.
Hi Paul, one of the things I find is tgatbkater in a round, with some fatigue, I’m swaying back a bit and that makes it more difficult to drive the forward leg back. Just wondering where in the BODY SWING book or the recent videos you might be addressing the leg position at takeaway, top, and as you TRIGGER the downswing. Thanks! Happy Holidays!
Paul, I’ve been on your site for a couple of years now. Totally agree with your thoughts on what a golf swing should be. Got a problem and need your help. I am finally doing a good job of turning my hips left of the target line, making solid contact but hooking 80% of the time. Any thoughts? Pat O’Brien
If you know your grip is neutral and you are hooking it then you are purposely trying to hook it. This is totally different than it hooking without you trying to hook it. If so, all you need to do it turn your body first before the club starts down. I do this with the students on a daily basis. If your body moves first you will hit it dead straight.
Roy, you are shifting and turning. I only want you to thinking of turning. The shift will happen on its own as you get to the touch the legs position. You cannot get to the tip of the back toe without shifting. So you will shift without thinking about it.
Watching this was the light-bulb moment. The visualisation (UK spelling) of the rear leg masking the view of the front leg (from front on) was the key to realising (UK again) that the front of both knees touch so that they are parallel. I had previously just been trying to make the back knee just touch the front knee anywhere on that front knee. It’s made such a difference.
Paul, this “touching the leg” concept has been a big help to me, but i’ve been finding it difficult to do it well. I found two things have helped: 1. Narrowing my stance (you mention this in the video). When my stance is too wide, i can’t get my legs to touch. 2. Staying down thru the shot (note i’m not saying “hit down”). When i see videos of my swing i have a tendency to stand up a bit as a hit the ball. I discovered recently that keeping my torso in place (i.e, staying down) is the only way i can get my knees to touch. Does that make sense?
Staying down is always helpful. If you come up too soon you could be out of position in the follow through.
Did you throw balls overhand? You have done the touch the legs move before so throw some balls to get the feel for it. Then remember this feeling as you do practice swings.
When I throw a ball , I push into the ground with my rear foot. Depending on how hard or far I want to throw it dictates how hard I push off. Do you push into the ground with your feet at all when you are turning to touch your knees? I’m pretty sure I saw a video where you were shoeless and you were cupping your feet. Maybe I’m misremembering.
When I trigger my back leg, I dig hard into the ground and let my big toe to make a circular motion so that my hip will turn. If I do “push”, most of time I will move my hip forward which I will push or push fade ….
Seems like you are creating more of a sideways move when you push in with your back leg. Try to think of turning more in a circular motion. When you go too much in a sideways motion, this is why you hit the push and push fades. You are creating too much of an in to out swing. Start slowly by thinking of locking the front leg not letting it go sideways.
I enjoy your teaching. The patience is starting to pay off with my shots getting better with a few awesome shots sprinkled in.
To start the downswing, I find myself pushing off my back foot causing me to transferr my weight too soon. I think it helps me to transition the weight by turning my hips while keeping my back foot on the ground until my hip rotation plus it up. Is this the correct or should I be doing something different.
I also am having an issue with rhythm in my swing … especially in transition. Do you have any tips on the flow of the swing….especially in transition?
PS: I have been very impressed in the way you respond to the comments. it shows your passion for helping golfers improve their game.
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53 Responses to “Exactly How To Do Touch The Legs Position”
April 2, 2014
MikeHa ! know I understand…Great tip ! I practiced it today and MAN ! what a difference. I was not “matching” my lead leg before therefore I think I was “shifting” more than “turning” Your way of explaining is good for me !
Michel
April 2, 2014
Paul WilsonMike,
Good thing I did this tip. I knew there were people out there not doing it right. Glad you are on track.
April 2, 2014
DavidCalvertHey paul have really been practising the touch legs position but I have found that when I do this my legs are almost touching before my club moves a lot I’m hitting great shots with it but was wondering should my arms be moving earlier ?
Keep up the great work love the site always recommend you to my friends
April 2, 2014
Paul WilsonDavid,
Yes, your arms should be moving right after you fire the lower body. The lower body is only slightly ahead. If it is way ahead you are disconnecting which can lead to pushes and push fades. Watch these tips:
Release Progression: https://ignitiongolf.com/release-progression/
Also:
Connection: https://ignitiongolf.com/connection-backswing
DRILL: Connection: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-head-cover-armpit
April 3, 2014
DavidCalvertHi Paul
Thank you for your reply
After a lot of swings into the mirror last night i found that my arms are actually dropping as i use my lower body i never realized that they were to me it felt they were not moving im hoping that this is a good sign that im not using my arms ?
had my best ever round of golf yesterday shot a 83 witch for someone who was on a 29 handicap when i started your program is just amazing down to 19 now and getting better every week.
April 3, 2014
Paul WilsonDavid,
If the arms are following that is great. You will know if you are disconnecting because you will be hitting pushes and push fades.
It sounds like you are on track. Just keep doing what you are doing. Be careful not to be swinging too hard. If you start hitting it thin, topping or slicing it slow down.
October 12, 2018
MichaelBarrettPaul,
This was a beautiful explanation for me about a problem I’ve been having. I have got the positions down quite well and things work well for me when I go out and play using your Think Easy Thoughts mantra which you presented in a recent tip. Wanting more distance, when I try to rotate my hips faster, I do become “disconnected” (you used the perfect description here). Push city.
I need to go back to easy thoughts, sound positions and let distance come later and only with slow, incremental increases in hip speed so my timing is better coordinated. I can hook the ball easy but am uncomfortable trying to adjust my timing. Again, easy thoughts produce good, solid results with certainly enough length to score well.
I’ll keep working with your favorite drill. It practices and ingrains all elements of your teaching in a coordinated move – timing, separation, touch the legs, touch the head, hip rotation, loose wrists. Plus I can do it everyday at home in ten minutes.
Keep up the great work Paul. You’ve injected new enthusiasm into my game at age 65. I believe it will actually add years to my life. A great way to add life stimulus to replace work.
Mike
October 12, 2018
Paul WilsonMicheal,
What you need to do it roll it and get it hooking then when you are ready to add body don’t go all out. Just add a little body then it will only pull hook slightly. Then you add a little more and it will be dead straight. I think you may get it hooking then you are really driving the legs hard for more power and you end up blowing it right. So gradually increase it. Glad you like my instruction. I appreciate it.
April 2, 2014
TIMADAMSPaul,
It’s physically impossible for me to do the touch the legs all the way down(from crotch to knee)Yes I can turn but can only do the touch high up the legs(upper thighs only)any suggestions?
April 2, 2014
Paul WilsonTim,
If it is physically impossible do the best you can. I want them to touch so you can repeat it exactly the same every time you swing. If you cannot o it you are going to have to check this position regularly so it does not start changing.
April 2, 2014
BrianLeePaul, my issue with touch the legs comes with my shorter irons (8-SW). I’m 6’2″ and always need a good knee bend when hitting these clubs. Although, my clubs were fitted for me. Trying to bring my knees together with this knee bend seems to not work that well. I feel like I’m standing up during the swing. So I never hit decent shots with theses clubs. If I do, I still don’t take a divot. Any suggestions???
April 2, 2014
Paul WilsonBrian,
Being 6’2″ should in no way stop you from doing this. I have taight golfers up to 6’8″ without a problem. I would think you are doing what most taller people do and that is bend over too much because you think the club are too short. The lower you get the more you will stand up to maintain your balance. In doing so you are jumping not turning. So set up with your chest outside the ball with lower irons. The tell-tale sign you are tall enough is you will not be able to clearly see your toes when you look down. You may see them out of the peripheral but not clearly.
Once you get taller you then turn. If you do it correctly the left leg will lock and the right will touch. Throw some balls and put the hands on the hips to get used to it.
Here:
Taller Setup: https://ignitiongolf.com/bartender-setup/
Sit On The Edge Of A Bar Stool To Set Up: https://ignitiongolf.com/setup-edge-of-bar-stool/
Set Up Steps: https://ignitiongolf.com/setup-position
April 2, 2014
maceI am better at touching my legs, but when I video my swing sometimes my shoulders are ahead of my hips at the end of my swing before my knees hit. How do I create more lag between my hips and shoulders?
April 2, 2014
Paul WilsonMace,
You do these drills constantly:
DRILL: Swing Off Ground: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-swing-off-ground
DRILL: Listen to Club Swinging: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-listen-to-club
DRILL: Swing Off Ground Variation: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-variation-favorite-drill/
DRILL: My Favorite Drill
April 5, 2014
PierreBourgeoisHi Paul,
things are much clearer with your recent close-up videos. Seen under various shooting angles, it is easier to understand the finish position. So thank you for this. It is very consistent with the powerless arms thinking, which, I must say, is the most rewarding tip I ever got from anybody. But I have to admit it is also a very demanding learning process. Today I tried to stick to it with a full bucket of balls and I realize how easily the old “smashing-the-ball” can be back in no time! But at least, I have now more awareness of it and I am confident it will pay off.
April 7, 2014
Paul WilsonPierre,
Exactly. It is tough because you are going against human nature. Just keep understanding why you are keeping them turned off. If you understand why you can convince yourself to keep them turned off all the time. Also, once you see enough good shots using no arms versus using your arms it becomes obvious that you should not be trying to hit with them. Stick with it. Focus on positioning and do lots of practice swings. Build a great swing and you will hit great shots.
April 7, 2014
Rick g.For some reason, this, out of all the swing positions you teach, is the one the light bulb hasn’t gone off yet.Mostly because when I try to turn properly, only when I hit a ball, my left hip wants to tune back behind me. In my mind this feels powerful from a golfing position. After throwing a ball when I get in a position to hit a golf ball it feels completely different. The slow motion close ups show the rotation from an address position only. Can you do the exact same thing but from a completely turned back onto your right side position. This must seem frustrating to you but I assure you it more frustrating to me. Thank you so much.
April 8, 2014
Paul WilsonRick,
I can do this but you are not going to see anything. I can’t do this from above when hitting. I tried it and it does not work because my head is in the way.
Can you not just touch h legs together with the left leg locked. Just do it slow then speed it up. This is really not this hard. Most people do not lock the lead leg.
Think about it. You have 2 ways to go from the top. You can turn or you can shift. I want you to turn. The shift will occur on its own if you get to the tip of the toe. So do it in 2 stages. To to the top and turn and hit the ball. Keep the feet flat on the ground. Once you do this a few times then work on getting off the back foot onto the tip of the back toe. Maybe you can get it this way.
April 8, 2014
Rick g.Okay I finally got it. I looked at the “just throw a ball” action and modified it slightly. Every time I would throw a ball and could fee the hip motion when I went to hit a ball because I wasn’t throwing a ball I couldn’t quite duplicate the motion. So I thought if i “threw the club” but not using the arms to throw it but with the lower body throwing it. With the arms and hands relaxed, the lower body throws the club down the fairway (with of course holding onto it). This was an immediate “I feel it” action. Combining that with the “lift your heel for the next 2 weeks” and feeling as if the club stays still at the top as the body initiates the swing, I do believe I will be able to duplicate what you’re teaching.I can even do this as a slow speed which really use to throw me off. Now I know you have said “Don’t even think about the club” but doing this seems to solidify your teaching. So, does this seem sound to you?
April 8, 2014
Paul WilsonRick,
Anything that allows you to get this position sounds good to me. Just keep doing it until you get used to it. As I say, it is an unmistakable feeling of using the legs and hips to hit the ball not the arms. If you are feeling them and you are ending up with the legs touching and on the very tip of the back toe then you are doing it right. Good job!
April 11, 2014
JamesSingerPaul:
When I uncoil my lower body and touch the knees, I find that I am pulling the ball. How do I uncoil and turn while at the same time try to keep my arms from going around me and pulling the ball?
April 11, 2014
Paul WilsonJim,
You are shifting too soon to the forward leg. This is tilting you left. Tilt left you will hit it left.
I have done a ton of tips on this here:
Pull: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-pulled-shot
Pull 2 (expanding on it): https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-pulling
Stop Coming Over the Top: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-stop-over-the-top/
Remembering How Cure Pulled Shots: https://ignitiongolf.com/remembering-cure-pulled-shots/
May 12, 2014
johnhoyleGreetings Paul You make me smile I love your tips You are good laddie
May 12, 2014
Paul WilsonJohn,
Glad you like the tips. I appreciate the feedback. Keep smiling.
February 25, 2015
terrybadgerHi Paul,
This really helps me understand why i am hitting so far left. It is a result of shifting the weight too quickly. i think it is result from trying to keep my spine angle steady. i felt like i was coming up and off the ball, so i probably overcompensated. It really appeals to my engineering background when i get an explanation of the consequences of doing something incorrectly – troubleshooting tips. So i will work on keeping my head behind the ball.
thanks,
ter
February 26, 2015
Paul WilsonTerry,
Simple fix. Just got to see it differently. I am not seeing you as you. I am seeing you as a machine with 2 moving parts and a tilt. To figure you out I just ask myself why your machine is not working. Pretty simple and you never have to guess.
I would be working on turning not shifting. If you fire the lower body correctly your head would stay behind the ball. Do it however you want though.
Flatten Plane 1: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane
Flatten Plane 2: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane-2
October 15, 2016
AnthonyGuidiceThis tip is a great refinement on the core idea.
Shifting too soon has been a problem for me, thinking that the quicker the weight transfer the more power. Obviously it leads to all sorts of embarrassing problems. And obviously gradual and smooth does the trick (look at Sam Snead).
What do most golf “teachers” always say? “Shift your weight.” Yeah? What the devil does that mean? That’s like saying “This is an easy golf course if you stay out of trouble.” Thanks genius, but how? How?
Well Coach Wilson can certainly tells us how, doesn’t he? I swear without Wilson I’d have quit this bloody game by now.
October 17, 2016
Paul WilsonAnthony,
Exactly, If you are thinking shift, when are you going to turn.
October 12, 2018
MichaelBarrettPaul,
Loved Anthony’s comment here. Last time I spent (or should I say “wasted?”) $120 on a golf lesson, the instructor put me on a fancy machine with a fancy electronic graph with data and told me it showed I was not shifting my weight. Great. Now what? We spent the next hour with her telling me to shift my weight. Never once was I told how to do so.
I learned that in five minutes from Paul’s Body Swing videos. Rotate the hips in a circular manner and touch the legs. No measurement machine required and I can self-check for the rest of my life for free.
Paul, your simplicity is pure genius and incredibly refreshing in a profession that seldom shows true improvement in its students.
Mike
October 12, 2018
Paul WilsonMichael,
It is amazing what is out there. I have always thought fast and easy and that the person has to get it without me. Isn’t that the whole point. You need to do it on your own but if you don’t know exactly how to do it you will never do it. So you keep coming back and it’s a never ending cycle. As you see, that position is not hard just have to know what to do (which you do). Good job.
October 15, 2016
YoshiharuMorozumiHi Paul
Great tips as always and thank you very much.
One question regarding “stay behind the ball” as doing this touch the legs position in play. In range, I can do it right with good finish position if I swing slowly which I can hit driver 230 yards carry. In play, I can’t stop turning my lower body faster which I carry the drive 280 yards dead straight 2-3 times out of ten but the remaining shots are pull hook. I presume the cause is I can’t hold my top position a little moment before initiating touch legs motion. Do I give up the distance or any tips for stay behind the ball as accelerating the speed of legs movement for more distance ? Thank you.
October 17, 2016
Paul WilsonYoshiharu,
You give up the distance until you master the positions. Then you speed up only the lower body to gain more distance. As you said, you can hit it a long way but what is the advantage if you only do it a few times. You really need to be doing this drill nightly until you can do it in balance:
DRILL: Swing Off Ground Variation: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-variation-favorite-drill/
DRILL: My Favorite Drill – Variation 2: https://ignitiongolf.com/favorite-drill-variation-2/
DRILL: Listen to Club Swinging: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-listen-to-club/
DRILL: How To Really Increase Power: https://ignitiongolf.com/how-to-really-increase-power/
October 17, 2016
BrianClaffeyHi Paul, My problem this time is that the picture is “frozen” – Can’t get the video to start! Can you help please? Thanks for sorting out the last problem in regard to the pictures/video. Regards. Brian Claffey.
September 1, 2017
johnhoyleGreetings Coach: thanks,i watched several tips and saw that you always went in with the right so I am now doing the same,it also feels better.
September 3, 2017
Paul WilsonJohn,
Good stuff. If most pros do this there has to be a reason.
December 24, 2017
CraigSmithHi Paul, one of the things I find is tgatbkater in a round, with some fatigue, I’m swaying back a bit and that makes it more difficult to drive the forward leg back. Just wondering where in the BODY SWING book or the recent videos you might be addressing the leg position at takeaway, top, and as you TRIGGER the downswing. Thanks! Happy Holidays!
December 24, 2017
Paul WilsonCraig,
Happy Holidays to you too!
I have tons of tips on lower body stability. Here you go:
Flexed Back Knee: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-back-knee/
How To Feel Stability In The Lower Body (back knee flex) https://ignitiongolf.com/lower-body-stability/
How To Stabilize The Lower Body In The Backswing (belt buckle at ball): https://ignitiongolf.com/stabilize-lower-body/
Hips: https://ignitiongolf.com/turning-hips/
Let’s Go Surfing: https://ignitiongolf.com/lets-go-surfing/
Pros Know Its A Tight Coil: https://ignitiongolf.com/pros-know-tight-coil/
Knee Position Going Back: https://ignitiongolf.com/knee-position-going-back/
Flex Right Knee: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-back-knee/
Flexed Right Knee Holding Knee: https://ignitiongolf.com/lower-body-stability/
DRILL: Bounce On Back Knee: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-bounce-knee/
That should keep you going for a while.
April 20, 2018
PatOBrienPaul, I’ve been on your site for a couple of years now. Totally agree with your thoughts on what a golf swing should be. Got a problem and need your help. I am finally doing a good job of turning my hips left of the target line, making solid contact but hooking 80% of the time. Any thoughts? Pat O’Brien
April 20, 2018
Paul WilsonPat,
If you are hooking it without trying to hook it then you have a grip problem.
Grip – Top Hand Placement: https://ignitiongolf.com/grip-top-hand-placement/
GRIP – Bottom Hand Placement: https://ignitiongolf.com/grip-bottom-hand-placement/
Trigger Finger – Question Mark: https://ignitiongolf.com/trigger-finger-question-mark/
If you know your grip is neutral and you are hooking it then you are purposely trying to hook it. This is totally different than it hooking without you trying to hook it. If so, all you need to do it turn your body first before the club starts down. I do this with the students on a daily basis. If your body moves first you will hit it dead straight.
2 Things Flatten the Plane: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-things-flatten-plane/
After The Roll Over Drill: https://ignitiongolf.com/after-the-roll-over/
April 22, 2018
RoyPaul,
thanks for the tip. I appreciate the time and different approaches you dedicate to this position. It is hard to learn but getting there
April 23, 2018
Paul WilsonRoy,
But you have done it before. In golf you need to tell yourself to do it though.
It’s Like A Throwing Motion: https://ignitiongolf.com/like-throwing-motion/
April 25, 2018
RoyIs turning and shifting weight simultaneous. Or shift the turn?l
Roy
April 25, 2018
Paul WilsonRoy, you are shifting and turning. I only want you to thinking of turning. The shift will happen on its own as you get to the touch the legs position. You cannot get to the tip of the back toe without shifting. So you will shift without thinking about it.
April 26, 2018
GordonStoreyHi Paul
Watching this was the light-bulb moment. The visualisation (UK spelling) of the rear leg masking the view of the front leg (from front on) was the key to realising (UK again) that the front of both knees touch so that they are parallel. I had previously just been trying to make the back knee just touch the front knee anywhere on that front knee. It’s made such a difference.
Thank you.
April 26, 2018
Paul WilsonGordon,
Very good. I know a lot of people do this wrong so I felt compelled to do this tip. Glad you see it now you just have to get used it.
July 2, 2018
EricSchurrPaul, this “touching the leg” concept has been a big help to me, but i’ve been finding it difficult to do it well. I found two things have helped: 1. Narrowing my stance (you mention this in the video). When my stance is too wide, i can’t get my legs to touch. 2. Staying down thru the shot (note i’m not saying “hit down”). When i see videos of my swing i have a tendency to stand up a bit as a hit the ball. I discovered recently that keeping my torso in place (i.e, staying down) is the only way i can get my knees to touch. Does that make sense?
July 2, 2018
Paul WilsonEric,
Yes, narrower stance is helpful.
Staying down is always helpful. If you come up too soon you could be out of position in the follow through.
Did you throw balls overhand? You have done the touch the legs move before so throw some balls to get the feel for it. Then remember this feeling as you do practice swings.
It’s Like A Throwing Motion: https://ignitiongolf.com/like-throwing-motion/
I would also be doing this daily:
Lean On Club to Touch Legs: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-lean-on-club
If what you are doing is working then definitely keep doing it.
August 7, 2018
NormanKlineWhen I throw a ball , I push into the ground with my rear foot. Depending on how hard or far I want to throw it dictates how hard I push off. Do you push into the ground with your feet at all when you are turning to touch your knees? I’m pretty sure I saw a video where you were shoeless and you were cupping your feet. Maybe I’m misremembering.
August 8, 2018
Paul WilsonNorman,
I certainly do. This is my trigger. Here is the tip:
Grip The Grass: https://ignitiongolf.com/grip-the-grass/
Try The Triggers: https://ignitiongolf.com/try-the-triggers/
March 13, 2022
LennyPaul,
When I trigger my back leg, I dig hard into the ground and let my big toe to make a circular motion so that my hip will turn. If I do “push”, most of time I will move my hip forward which I will push or push fade ….
Any thoughts?
April 28, 2022
Paul WilsonSeems like you are creating more of a sideways move when you push in with your back leg. Try to think of turning more in a circular motion. When you go too much in a sideways motion, this is why you hit the push and push fades. You are creating too much of an in to out swing. Start slowly by thinking of locking the front leg not letting it go sideways.
August 30, 2018
DenverStallerPaul,
I enjoy your teaching. The patience is starting to pay off with my shots getting better with a few awesome shots sprinkled in.
To start the downswing, I find myself pushing off my back foot causing me to transferr my weight too soon. I think it helps me to transition the weight by turning my hips while keeping my back foot on the ground until my hip rotation plus it up. Is this the correct or should I be doing something different.
I also am having an issue with rhythm in my swing … especially in transition. Do you have any tips on the flow of the swing….especially in transition?
PS: I have been very impressed in the way you respond to the comments. it shows your passion for helping golfers improve their game.
August 31, 2018
Paul WilsonDenver,
Glad you are starting to get it.
This would be the belt buckle trigger which the the one most seem to gravitate too. Just don’t be flat footed when you hit the ball.
All Downswing Triggers: https://ignitiongolf.com/all-downswing-triggers/
Try The Triggers: https://ignitiongolf.com/try-the-triggers/
When I push from the instep I push in a circular motion not sideways so if you want to try that again think circular.