I had a great practise session today with concentrating on powerless arms. For me I have to feel powerless throughout my while body and swing easy. When I get on course especially on par 3’s I just seem to tighten up and along come the topped shots where I am hitting with my arms because of the tension. Any tips to help overcome this ?
I can say it all I want but you have to tell yourself not to hit. I would be stepping up thinking 50%. If you are at least thinking something like this you are not thinking “hit it hard.” In other words, you need to replace the thought of hitting with another thought. So do a couple practice swings at 50% then immediately step up and apply this feeling. You cannot wait too long because you will tense up.
You could also go back slow and almost stop at the top. You can think of a 2 syllable word going back and 1 syllable coming down. I simple told my self not to hit and in 3 practice swings I had the feeling. You have to know though that not hitting will create a great shot and trust it. People equate x amount of power with x amount of shot. Until you see less power will hit the ball as far if not farther you will be hesitant. Just try something different. If you keep doing the same thing you will keep getting the same result.
Greetings Coach: I have been with you for I think this might be my fifth year and some may think I should have learned all I need to know by now but I pick up something with each tip. My comment is about powerless arms. It took awhile to get it but I got it, but there is those times when I hit a shot and it’s arms and I sure can feel it and it’s a S.O.B.moment. Thanks coach.
Glad you have you with me. You can never stop learning. I still learn things (which I turn into tips).
You will hit the odd shot with arms. I do and I’ve been doing it for a long time. You just want these shots to still go where a go shot was going to go. This way you are not getting in trouble and can recover. So if you know these shots are going to happen every now and again lighten up and don’t get frustrated with yourself. It is the short game that helps in these situations.
I like this tip in slowing down to 50% remembering my best shots start with loose arms and my wrist hinging and unhinging with my hips firing first. But then I tighten up and here comes the big slices!
It’s so weird that I know the answer to a good swing but my old memory of just hitting with arms in my first year still over takes my brain.
That’s why I go to my “favorites” list (this now been a new one) and go through them again for a positive reminder of a good swing.
So quit tightening up. It is just greed that is making you hit. I am telling myself not to hit anything. Also, get really good at firing the lower body. If this is not working the only other power source is your arms. So you need to be doing swings off the ground nightly until you are good at it and you know for a fact your legs and hips are powering the swing. You can do it!
Paul,
My problem is and has been for 30 years that my right shoulder fly’s across in front of me which obviously takes my arms with it. This has caused all manner of errant shots. I must say that my efforts to follow your teachings have produced great shots at times but this false move is such a natural one for me to make. So it is not that I am down swinging with my arms but my obsessive flying right shoulder. Any advice please.
This is happening because you are shifting your weight to the forward leg right from the top. So you may be 80/20 into the back leg. Then in transition you are immediate at at least 80/20 into the forward leg. This tilts your whole upper body forward sending it over the top.
The shift need to be more gradual so you not only uncoil but your whole upper body stays behind the ball as you hit the ball. You need to watch these tips:
Paul ,The “wiggling ” motion you show in this video ,I do it (when I have the time to do so !).When I don’t or I am in a hurry to play the shot ,I often “overuse “the arms .Happily ,by rehearsing in earnest ,this happens less and less !
Now a not related question :it’s about the BEN HOGAN “power fade” .To play this shot ,you are told to close slghtly your stance and open slightly your shoulders .
I do it and get the forecated result ,a slight fade .
What’s your opinion of this shot ?
BEN HOGAN was said to use it to eliminate one part of the fairway and “stop ” the ball where he wanted it to lie
I hit it straight or with a slight fade. I prefer this shot because it is easier to hit. Jack Nicklaus referred to it as this “bread and butter shot.” If they best player of all time says this we might want to listen. Unfortunately, most people are hitting fade due to a swing flaw. I am hitting a fade by adjusting my stance while doing my normal swing. This tells it to fade. Nicklaus aimed the face at where he wanted the ball to land. Then aimed his body left of target. Once aimed left he swing left. This means the face is open to the path resulting in fade. In my opinion, the Hogan fade with a closed stance is not preferred. This method would send you over the top which is what we are trying to avoid.
Keep in mind a fading ball has more backspin which may result in shorter drives but the payoff is they usually end up in the fairway. I would play a few rounds with each to determine what shot you want to hit. Once you determine the shot, you always play it. The fade is a falling right not a big curvature.
The day I stopped trying to draw it was one of the best days of my career.
Paul, I have followed your instructions as suggested, bus as I am always finding, curing one aspect creates another. Whilst I am sure I am staying behind the ball and starting with my lower body I am pushing the ball way, way right. If I unhinge my wrists I hook the ball. With lose arms and wrists I would have thought the wrists would not need any conscious manipulation.
You only need to roll it for a little bit to get it hooking. Then you add body to straighten it out. The wrist do need manipulation when you are not good at it. I don’t know if I have ever met anyone with wrists as loose a mine. So if you have any tightness you will have to manually roll them (with a neutral grip) an get it hooking. The tilt behind the ball sounds great as the path is now from the side. Couple this with the squaring face and you will hit it dead straight.
So do the roll over drill and hook 3-5 shots. Yes, you will feel your arms when you do this. Once you hook a few shots remember this feeling but your thought is body. Start the body first and feel the release and it will be perfect.
If you think body and you still pull hook it this is great. You just need to start the lower a little sooner.
If you push your first shot thinking of legs you haven’t hooked enough shots yet.
Your ultimate goal is to rarely ever put slice spin on the ball. This would be mastering the release. Once you are at this point you would only ever be thinking body.
As most players ,I’m guilty of using my arms too much ;The best remedy I have to fight this (bad)incllnation is to concentrate on what my legs do .So when I go in my backswing ,I tell to myself “legs first ” .It usually works
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13 Responses to “Say Yes – Not Hitting Anything in Downswing”
April 30, 2017
ShaunRobinsonHi Paul
I had a great practise session today with concentrating on powerless arms. For me I have to feel powerless throughout my while body and swing easy. When I get on course especially on par 3’s I just seem to tighten up and along come the topped shots where I am hitting with my arms because of the tension. Any tips to help overcome this ?
May 1, 2017
Paul WilsonShaun,
I can say it all I want but you have to tell yourself not to hit. I would be stepping up thinking 50%. If you are at least thinking something like this you are not thinking “hit it hard.” In other words, you need to replace the thought of hitting with another thought. So do a couple practice swings at 50% then immediately step up and apply this feeling. You cannot wait too long because you will tense up.
Here is one that may help:
How to Pull The Trigger: https://ignitiongolf.com/pull-trigger/
You could also go back slow and almost stop at the top. You can think of a 2 syllable word going back and 1 syllable coming down. I simple told my self not to hit and in 3 practice swings I had the feeling. You have to know though that not hitting will create a great shot and trust it. People equate x amount of power with x amount of shot. Until you see less power will hit the ball as far if not farther you will be hesitant. Just try something different. If you keep doing the same thing you will keep getting the same result.
April 30, 2017
johnhoyleGreetings Coach: I have been with you for I think this might be my fifth year and some may think I should have learned all I need to know by now but I pick up something with each tip. My comment is about powerless arms. It took awhile to get it but I got it, but there is those times when I hit a shot and it’s arms and I sure can feel it and it’s a S.O.B.moment. Thanks coach.
May 1, 2017
Paul WilsonJohn,
Glad you have you with me. You can never stop learning. I still learn things (which I turn into tips).
You will hit the odd shot with arms. I do and I’ve been doing it for a long time. You just want these shots to still go where a go shot was going to go. This way you are not getting in trouble and can recover. So if you know these shots are going to happen every now and again lighten up and don’t get frustrated with yourself. It is the short game that helps in these situations.
May 4, 2017
JohnBensonI like this tip in slowing down to 50% remembering my best shots start with loose arms and my wrist hinging and unhinging with my hips firing first. But then I tighten up and here comes the big slices!
It’s so weird that I know the answer to a good swing but my old memory of just hitting with arms in my first year still over takes my brain.
That’s why I go to my “favorites” list (this now been a new one) and go through them again for a positive reminder of a good swing.
May 4, 2017
Paul WilsonJohn,
So quit tightening up. It is just greed that is making you hit. I am telling myself not to hit anything. Also, get really good at firing the lower body. If this is not working the only other power source is your arms. So you need to be doing swings off the ground nightly until you are good at it and you know for a fact your legs and hips are powering the swing. You can do it!
May 9, 2017
derekPaul,
My problem is and has been for 30 years that my right shoulder fly’s across in front of me which obviously takes my arms with it. This has caused all manner of errant shots. I must say that my efforts to follow your teachings have produced great shots at times but this false move is such a natural one for me to make. So it is not that I am down swinging with my arms but my obsessive flying right shoulder. Any advice please.
May 10, 2017
Paul WilsonDerek,
This is happening because you are shifting your weight to the forward leg right from the top. So you may be 80/20 into the back leg. Then in transition you are immediate at at least 80/20 into the forward leg. This tilts your whole upper body forward sending it over the top.
The shift need to be more gradual so you not only uncoil but your whole upper body stays behind the ball as you hit the ball. You need to watch these tips:
Weight Distribution: https://ignitiongolf.com/weight-distribution
Pro Versus Am – Weight Distribution: https://ignitiongolf.com/pro-vs-am-weight-distribution/
Work on:
Watch Back of The Golf Ball: https://ignitiongolf.com/watch-backside-golf-ball/
Impact Head Behind Ball: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-head/
Body Tilt: https://ignitiongolf.com/impact-body-tilt/
2 Things Flatten the Plane: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-things-flatten-plane/
DRILL: How To Feel the Body Tilt at Impact: https://ignitiongolf.com/how-to-feel-tilt-at-impact/
Cures – Manually Tilt To Stop Pulling: https://ignitiongolf.com/manually-tilt-cure-pull/
Working on this may cause fat shots:
Fat While Staying Back: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-hanging-back-impact/
May 13, 2017
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,The “wiggling ” motion you show in this video ,I do it (when I have the time to do so !).When I don’t or I am in a hurry to play the shot ,I often “overuse “the arms .Happily ,by rehearsing in earnest ,this happens less and less !
Now a not related question :it’s about the BEN HOGAN “power fade” .To play this shot ,you are told to close slghtly your stance and open slightly your shoulders .
I do it and get the forecated result ,a slight fade .
What’s your opinion of this shot ?
BEN HOGAN was said to use it to eliminate one part of the fairway and “stop ” the ball where he wanted it to lie
May 14, 2017
Paul WilsonRaymond,
I hit it straight or with a slight fade. I prefer this shot because it is easier to hit. Jack Nicklaus referred to it as this “bread and butter shot.” If they best player of all time says this we might want to listen. Unfortunately, most people are hitting fade due to a swing flaw. I am hitting a fade by adjusting my stance while doing my normal swing. This tells it to fade. Nicklaus aimed the face at where he wanted the ball to land. Then aimed his body left of target. Once aimed left he swing left. This means the face is open to the path resulting in fade. In my opinion, the Hogan fade with a closed stance is not preferred. This method would send you over the top which is what we are trying to avoid.
Keep in mind a fading ball has more backspin which may result in shorter drives but the payoff is they usually end up in the fairway. I would play a few rounds with each to determine what shot you want to hit. Once you determine the shot, you always play it. The fade is a falling right not a big curvature.
The day I stopped trying to draw it was one of the best days of my career.
July 11, 2017
derekPaul, I have followed your instructions as suggested, bus as I am always finding, curing one aspect creates another. Whilst I am sure I am staying behind the ball and starting with my lower body I am pushing the ball way, way right. If I unhinge my wrists I hook the ball. With lose arms and wrists I would have thought the wrists would not need any conscious manipulation.
Help please.
July 12, 2017
Paul WilsonDerek,
You only need to roll it for a little bit to get it hooking. Then you add body to straighten it out. The wrist do need manipulation when you are not good at it. I don’t know if I have ever met anyone with wrists as loose a mine. So if you have any tightness you will have to manually roll them (with a neutral grip) an get it hooking. The tilt behind the ball sounds great as the path is now from the side. Couple this with the squaring face and you will hit it dead straight.
So do the roll over drill and hook 3-5 shots. Yes, you will feel your arms when you do this. Once you hook a few shots remember this feeling but your thought is body. Start the body first and feel the release and it will be perfect.
If you think body and you still pull hook it this is great. You just need to start the lower a little sooner.
If you push your first shot thinking of legs you haven’t hooked enough shots yet.
Your ultimate goal is to rarely ever put slice spin on the ball. This would be mastering the release. Once you are at this point you would only ever be thinking body.
The Ultimate Goal: https://ignitiongolf.com/the-ultimate-goal/
Rolling:
DRILL: 3 Ways To Roll It Over: https://ignitiongolf.com/3-ways-to-roll/
Roll Around The Stick: https://ignitiongolf.com/roll-around-stick/
This is what you do on a regular basis to keep the wrists unlocked:
Modified Roll Over Drill: https://ignitiongolf.com/modified-roll-over-drill/
You are so close to getting this.
February 16, 2019
RaymondCHASTELAs most players ,I’m guilty of using my arms too much ;The best remedy I have to fight this (bad)incllnation is to concentrate on what my legs do .So when I go in my backswing ,I tell to myself “legs first ” .It usually works