Awesome pair of “pocket tips.” What I like best about Paul’s teaching is how he communicates clearly and simply to all golfers. We make the game so hard. I agree. But are these “fixes” really about timing? How do you get to that point where you know the proper “balance” of body and loose wrists? I can push one and then hook another. I can STOP the push, but then how does one find that balance? Is there anyway to “time” the body and loose arm swing better?
You hook so many that you rarely every slice it. This is the point I am at. I rarely blow it right. So I might roll 3-5 times to unlock then I keep this feeling for the rest of the round. So I have mastered one of the 2 things. Then I think of the one (body).
So even if someone is not at this lever at least they are trying to fix their swing instead of having no clue what to do.
The way to get the timing is to turn the arms off completely. Powerless arms.
I have been fighting the pull hook. My question is could it be possible that I am firing my hips to hard and in return my shoulders are starting to early before my arms are dropping causing my outside in swing. If so how would if fix it. I don’t feel that as you say I’m leaning my top half toward causing the outside in path.
That is not the problem. If you were firing your hips too hard you would be hitting pushes and push fades.
As you fire hard you are also hitting hard. This is tilting you left in the downswing plus your body (axis) is not ahead of the mass (club). This is simple physics. Turn and axis and mass will move to 90 degrees to the axis 100% of the time.
Watch yourself on video. I guarantee you are getting to the top leaning left. I have seen countless thousands of people do this over 27 years.
All you need to do is let your head move back as you coil to the top. Your nose will be over the back instep and you will be able to see the back of the ball. Keep your head there as you come down and hit the ball. If so you will most likely hit it right. If so, this would be too much but in this example it would prove that if your body was behind it you would be swinging out at it.
So do practice swings like this and get used to not only how it feels but visually how it looks. Keep doing it until you are good at it. Tee the ball up as you hit shots like this. Then to stop the push you turn more going to the touch the legs position and you will be hitting it dead straight. Also, I would turning the arms off in the downswing. This is the cause of the problem.
The pull hook is telling me your grip is too strong so you in fact are hitting. If your grip was neutral there is no way you would be hooking it more than 5 yards without purposely rolling it over. So you need to also check your grip. I would check alignment too because if you don’t know your grip is faulty your alignment is probably off too.
Paul,
This is one drill I need to remember as this past summer I would hook the ball as much as 30-40 yds…I was not getting much of my legs into the shot. Toward the end of the summer I was able to correct a lot of the hook to only about 5 yards. I had worked so hard at drill 1 that I forgot to get the legs into the shot. Thank you for this tip.
HI Paul
These two tips together are good for any level player but especially for the average to better player. I do these two drills constantly on course and at home and it has helped a lot. It is so true that I lose it later in the match as I get tired. It just re-affirms that this is what you have to do to improve your game. When I play I get many comments on what an easy swing I have and how far it goes so I know your method works for me. The hard part is to not fall back to my old habits. it’s a constant battle.
Thanks again Paul
Sounds like you are doing well and you know the drills. Nothing better than getting your swing back instantly after a bad shot. It’s just knowing them and instantly applying them.
To not go back to bad habits you need to be doing the practice swings and add some new “good” habits to replace the old.
Paul,
Great tip. What I do to help with my alignment is take 3 of the practice swings before I hit. I take reference of where my belt buckle is facing. That tells me the direction that the target is likely going to fly. I then address the ball and swing with the same tempo as my practice swing. 9 out of 10 times I am spot on with direction of my shots.
Interesting about the belt buckle for alignment. I’m going to have to try it. Have to swing all the way through though. So many people stop short. This could be a new way to get people to check it. Thanks.
Great tip! I would like to clarify one thing. “Spin” problems refers to slice spin, right? If one was getting hook spin, the rollover drill would not cure that because the rollover is to encourage hooking that is then straightened out by more legs/hips.
I find that when I am hooking, it typically means I stop rotating through fully with my body. The hands then continue on rolling over, closing the clubface at impact. It would seem I need to emphasize your mantra of hitting the finish position all the way around with the club touching the head, correct?
Also, I find my focus fades in later holes. This is a good reminder to continually focus on using the lower body throughout the entire round.
Yes, slice spin is bad. If you have hook spin you are releasing it. All you need to do is fire the lower getting it ahead of the club coming down and you will hit it dead straight.
You definitely need to swing off the ground in the later holes. Doing this will keep you feeling the legs. Then step up and apply this feeling. give it a try next time out.
Paul,
I have been taking your lessons since last year. I have been playing golf for 50 years. Took it up when I was 25. It has taken all year for me to put it all together. My index went from 16 to 22, then all of a sudden everything came into sync. I am hitting all shots the best I have ever hit them. Years ago I was a 9 handicap. The last two months my index has started to come down, currently 17 but will be getting lower because I am hitting all shots great, from driving to putting! I still have a problem I hope you can help me with. Half way through the follow through, after hitting the ball, I fall back to my back foot from my front. I would like to end up holding the complete follow through rather than fallng back. Although my shots are crisp and on line. Any suggestions? These “pocket” tips are great.
Thank you for all you have done for me.
Playing the last holes (Fourteen in as you mention ),my main error ,when it happens ,is a push right .With “Pocket drill number 2 “,I now know what I have to concentrate on !
Thank you ,Paul!
Hi Paul, using your pocket drills I had the most enjoyable game of golf I’ve had in ages. I didn’t score that well because I was playing most of my shots from unfamiliar locations, generally on the fairway and generally further from the tee!
I’ve been following your tips for years but these two pocket drills have changed the way I play golf, it was fun!
Thanks
Glad you liked them. Everyone should be able to fix their own swing … instantly. I don’t accept they cannot fix it. By working on just 2 drills (and turning off your arms) you can at least try to get it back instead of just hitting bad shot after bad shot. Glad you tried them. It really doesn’t take long to get them. The first step though is to get into the habit of asking yourself where it started, what spin is on it and how did it feel. Once you know that then you can apply the right drill. Too many people get fixated on where the ball is going so they have no clue what they are even doing wrong.
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18 Responses to “Pocket Drill 2 – Direction”
October 30, 2018
GLENNWISSEThese tips are priceless Paul. Thanks!!
October 30, 2018
pastorjohnbutcherAwesome pair of “pocket tips.” What I like best about Paul’s teaching is how he communicates clearly and simply to all golfers. We make the game so hard. I agree. But are these “fixes” really about timing? How do you get to that point where you know the proper “balance” of body and loose wrists? I can push one and then hook another. I can STOP the push, but then how does one find that balance? Is there anyway to “time” the body and loose arm swing better?
October 31, 2018
Paul WilsonJohn,
You hook so many that you rarely every slice it. This is the point I am at. I rarely blow it right. So I might roll 3-5 times to unlock then I keep this feeling for the rest of the round. So I have mastered one of the 2 things. Then I think of the one (body).
So even if someone is not at this lever at least they are trying to fix their swing instead of having no clue what to do.
The way to get the timing is to turn the arms off completely. Powerless arms.
The Ultimate Goal: https://ignitiongolf.com/the-ultimate-goal/
December 19, 2018
jmccarthyI have been fighting the pull hook. My question is could it be possible that I am firing my hips to hard and in return my shoulders are starting to early before my arms are dropping causing my outside in swing. If so how would if fix it. I don’t feel that as you say I’m leaning my top half toward causing the outside in path.
December 20, 2018
Paul WilsonJim,
That is not the problem. If you were firing your hips too hard you would be hitting pushes and push fades.
As you fire hard you are also hitting hard. This is tilting you left in the downswing plus your body (axis) is not ahead of the mass (club). This is simple physics. Turn and axis and mass will move to 90 degrees to the axis 100% of the time.
Watch yourself on video. I guarantee you are getting to the top leaning left. I have seen countless thousands of people do this over 27 years.
All you need to do is let your head move back as you coil to the top. Your nose will be over the back instep and you will be able to see the back of the ball. Keep your head there as you come down and hit the ball. If so you will most likely hit it right. If so, this would be too much but in this example it would prove that if your body was behind it you would be swinging out at it.
So do practice swings like this and get used to not only how it feels but visually how it looks. Keep doing it until you are good at it. Tee the ball up as you hit shots like this. Then to stop the push you turn more going to the touch the legs position and you will be hitting it dead straight. Also, I would turning the arms off in the downswing. This is the cause of the problem.
2 Things Flatten the Plane: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-things-flatten-plane/
See The Plane Flatten: https://ignitiongolf.com/see-the-plane-flatten/
Still Coming Over The Top – Shifting Too Soon: https://ignitiongolf.com/shifting-too-soon-forward-leg/
Definitive Tip To Cure Pulls and Pull Hooks: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-pulls-pull-hooks-definitive/
Cures – Manually Tilt To Stop Pulling: https://ignitiongolf.com/manually-tilt-cure-pull/
The pull hook is telling me your grip is too strong so you in fact are hitting. If your grip was neutral there is no way you would be hooking it more than 5 yards without purposely rolling it over. So you need to also check your grip. I would check alignment too because if you don’t know your grip is faulty your alignment is probably off too.
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/
October 30, 2018
PaulLindhagPaul,
This is one drill I need to remember as this past summer I would hook the ball as much as 30-40 yds…I was not getting much of my legs into the shot. Toward the end of the summer I was able to correct a lot of the hook to only about 5 yards. I had worked so hard at drill 1 that I forgot to get the legs into the shot. Thank you for this tip.
October 31, 2018
Paul WilsonPaul,
Very good. Yes, you need legs. Now, keep this in your pocket so you never forget it.
October 31, 2018
DonaldPugsleyHI Paul
These two tips together are good for any level player but especially for the average to better player. I do these two drills constantly on course and at home and it has helped a lot. It is so true that I lose it later in the match as I get tired. It just re-affirms that this is what you have to do to improve your game. When I play I get many comments on what an easy swing I have and how far it goes so I know your method works for me. The hard part is to not fall back to my old habits. it’s a constant battle.
Thanks again Paul
October 31, 2018
Paul WilsonDonald,
Sounds like you are doing well and you know the drills. Nothing better than getting your swing back instantly after a bad shot. It’s just knowing them and instantly applying them.
To not go back to bad habits you need to be doing the practice swings and add some new “good” habits to replace the old.
October 31, 2018
JamesGoodsonPaul,
Great tip. What I do to help with my alignment is take 3 of the practice swings before I hit. I take reference of where my belt buckle is facing. That tells me the direction that the target is likely going to fly. I then address the ball and swing with the same tempo as my practice swing. 9 out of 10 times I am spot on with direction of my shots.
October 31, 2018
Paul WilsonJames,
Interesting about the belt buckle for alignment. I’m going to have to try it. Have to swing all the way through though. So many people stop short. This could be a new way to get people to check it. Thanks.
October 31, 2018
MichaelBarrettPaul,
Great tip! I would like to clarify one thing. “Spin” problems refers to slice spin, right? If one was getting hook spin, the rollover drill would not cure that because the rollover is to encourage hooking that is then straightened out by more legs/hips.
I find that when I am hooking, it typically means I stop rotating through fully with my body. The hands then continue on rolling over, closing the clubface at impact. It would seem I need to emphasize your mantra of hitting the finish position all the way around with the club touching the head, correct?
Also, I find my focus fades in later holes. This is a good reminder to continually focus on using the lower body throughout the entire round.
Mike
October 31, 2018
Paul WilsonMichael,
Yes, slice spin is bad. If you have hook spin you are releasing it. All you need to do is fire the lower getting it ahead of the club coming down and you will hit it dead straight.
2 Things Flatten the Plane: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-things-flatten-plane/
You definitely need to swing off the ground in the later holes. Doing this will keep you feeling the legs. Then step up and apply this feeling. give it a try next time out.
October 31, 2018
StephenClutterPaul,
I have been taking your lessons since last year. I have been playing golf for 50 years. Took it up when I was 25. It has taken all year for me to put it all together. My index went from 16 to 22, then all of a sudden everything came into sync. I am hitting all shots the best I have ever hit them. Years ago I was a 9 handicap. The last two months my index has started to come down, currently 17 but will be getting lower because I am hitting all shots great, from driving to putting! I still have a problem I hope you can help me with. Half way through the follow through, after hitting the ball, I fall back to my back foot from my front. I would like to end up holding the complete follow through rather than fallng back. Although my shots are crisp and on line. Any suggestions? These “pocket” tips are great.
Thank you for all you have done for me.
Steve
October 31, 2018
Paul WilsonSteve,
Glad you are doing well. Sounds like you are going to be getting way better in the very near future. Here are a few things you need to work on.
Weight On Laces: https://ignitiongolf.com/create-a-balanced-setup/
Stay In Balance Throughout Your Swing: https://ignitiongolf.com/stay-in-balance/
Stance Width Affects Your Swing: https://ignitiongolf.com/stance-width-affects-your-swing/
Balance 123: https://ignitiongolf.com/balance-123/
Also, you should learn to recoil. This will allow you to keep the balance:
Learn How To Recoil: https://ignitiongolf.com/learn-to-recoil/
Give that a try and let me know. You should also watch this:
Secret of the Starting the Downswing (using triggers – off big toe curve): https://ignitiongolf.com/shift-roll/
That is how I am doing it.
November 1, 2018
RaymondCHASTELPlaying the last holes (Fourteen in as you mention ),my main error ,when it happens ,is a push right .With “Pocket drill number 2 “,I now know what I have to concentrate on !
Thank you ,Paul!
November 2, 2018
IanAnlezarkHi Paul, using your pocket drills I had the most enjoyable game of golf I’ve had in ages. I didn’t score that well because I was playing most of my shots from unfamiliar locations, generally on the fairway and generally further from the tee!
I’ve been following your tips for years but these two pocket drills have changed the way I play golf, it was fun!
Thanks
November 4, 2018
Paul WilsonIan,
Glad you liked them. Everyone should be able to fix their own swing … instantly. I don’t accept they cannot fix it. By working on just 2 drills (and turning off your arms) you can at least try to get it back instead of just hitting bad shot after bad shot. Glad you tried them. It really doesn’t take long to get them. The first step though is to get into the habit of asking yourself where it started, what spin is on it and how did it feel. Once you know that then you can apply the right drill. Too many people get fixated on where the ball is going so they have no clue what they are even doing wrong.