GOAT Webinar 1: The Core
GOAT Webinar 1: The Core

Get to the "core" of the issue in your swing and understand how THE GOAT makes his swing s ...

Webinar 2: Core Power & Putting
Webinar 2: Core Power & Putting

In webinar 2, we discuss the Core Power video and how to grip the club properly so you can ...

Larry's Lesson - Pt 1
Larry's Lesson - Pt 1

The #1 most important thing you have to learn in the golf swing is how to release the club ...

Larry's Lesson Pt 2
Larry's Lesson Pt 2

Larry's Lesson Part 2

Larry's Lesson Day 2 - Part 1
Larry's Lesson Day 2 - Part 1

Starting in Day 2, we begin to work on Larry's body movement to sync up with his hand spee ...

Larry's Lesson Day 2 - Pt 2 - Using the Hackmotion
Larry's Lesson Day 2 - Pt 2 - Using the Hackmotion

Now we begin to use the Hackmotion to make a huge change in Larry's shut faced takeaway an ...

Larry's Lesson - Day 3 - Pt 3 - Swinging w/ Speed
Larry's Lesson - Day 3 - Pt 3 - Swinging w/ Speed

In the final part of the lesson we start getting Larry to pick up his pace to naturally re ...

How to Swing on Plane w/ The GOAT Code
How to Swing on Plane w/ The GOAT Code

Have you been searching for the right feeling to get the club to naturally swing on one pl ...

How the Hips Move in a Throwing Pattern
How the Hips Move in a Throwing Pattern

How the hips move in a throwing pattern in the golf swing.

How to Compress the Ball & Get Shaft Lean Lesson
How to Compress the Ball & Get Shaft Lean Lesson

Do you struggle with casting the club and losing lag? No compression on the ball? This gol ...

Winter Golf Training Program - Setup
Winter Golf Training Program - Setup

Our premium golf training program for winter months

Proper Muscle Activation
Proper Muscle Activation

Understanding how to properly activate muscles is critical for producing effortless power ...

Golf Grip Checkpoint Tips
Golf Grip Checkpoint Tips

For years, golf instructors have put band-aids on your golf grip and your golf swing by m ...

Should You Splay Your Feet At Setup
Should You Splay Your Feet At Setup

In a perfect golf setup, should your feet point out or be square to the target? This premi ...

Connect to Your Core - Get in Box
Connect to Your Core - Get in Box

This video gives you a drill to get connected to your core and "in the box." It is imperat ...

Fix Your Setup For More Power
Fix Your Setup For More Power

Did you know that a simple setup change can increase your distance off the tee? In this ...

The Golf Grip and Being Out of the Box
The Golf Grip and Being Out of the Box

Another video to disspell some of the common swing myths. This one deals with the old adag ...

The Gorilla Grip
The Gorilla Grip

Here’s a golf instruction myth about the grip that can’t die soon enough. The myth sta ...

Problems Caused by Poor Ball Position
Problems Caused by Poor Ball Position

Having the ball in the wrong position will not only cost you accuracy, but as this video t ...

How Your Setup is Causing Your Left Arm to Bend
How Your Setup is Causing Your Left Arm to Bend

I bet you've never heard this explanation for why your left arm is bending at the top of y ...

Phase 1 Follow Along
Phase 1 Follow Along

Learn how to practice your golf swing productively and follow along with a pro in this pra ...

DEAD Drill Step 1 - The Backswing
DEAD Drill Step 1 - The Backswing

Here's the first step in building your perfect golf swing using the DEAD Drill. It's criti ...

DEAD Drill Step 2 - The Transition
DEAD Drill Step 2 - The Transition

The DEAD Drill transition is DEAD simple. One move to have a powerful and dynamic transiti ...

DEAD Drill Step 3 - The Post-Up
DEAD Drill Step 3 - The Post-Up

The Post Up move is where all the magic happens in the golf downswing. If you've never rel ...

Flip vs. Release in Golf
Flip vs. Release in Golf

What is the difference between a proper golf club release and a flip in the golf swing? To ...

How to Get Perfect Shaft Lean at Impact
How to Get Perfect Shaft Lean at Impact

You want to hit those boring, hissing shots that scream off the face like a rocket? This g ...

Golf Impact Position Face On
Golf Impact Position Face On

After all your hard work on the backswing, it's time for the big payoff! Getting into the ...

Golf Impact Position Down the Line
Golf Impact Position Down the Line

As I discussed in the video on Impact Alignments Face On, impact is everything in RST. All ...

Cure Chicken Wing in the Golf Swing
Cure Chicken Wing in the Golf Swing

You now have a 3-step drill to help you cure your chicken wing golf swing once and for all ...

Left Elbow Position at Impact
Left Elbow Position at Impact

Find out a simple trick to hit straighter shots while also virtually eliminating your chan ...

3 Steps to better impact position in golf
3 Steps to better impact position in golf

Golf is a sport that can leave you frustrated round after round, but WHY? What exactly are ...

Golf Impact - Part 2 of 7
Golf Impact - Part 2 of 7

In part 2 of this new 7 part video series, I'll discuss one of the most important parts th ...

Perfect your golf impact - 1 of 4
Perfect your golf impact - 1 of 4

Compressing the golf ball like a tour pro can be very hard to do. In this new video series ...

Perfect your golf impact - 2 of 4
Perfect your golf impact - 2 of 4

Effortless power in the golf swing is a difficult concept for many amateur golfers. In vid ...

Perfect your golf impact - 3 of 4
Perfect your golf impact - 3 of 4

Learn how to add more speed to your golf swing by leveraging the ground like a tour pro.

Perfect your golf impact - 4 of 4
Perfect your golf impact - 4 of 4

Lag in the golf swing is key for clubhead speed. In this video, I'll show you how to add m ...

Perfecting your golf impact - Bonus
Perfecting your golf impact - Bonus

Perfecting your golf impact video series. Special bonus video that will help you correct s ...

Overview of the Push Release
Overview of the Push Release

An overview to the push release for those who want to use the right side to help power the ...

Fix Your Swing Sway w/ the Wall Drill
Fix Your Swing Sway w/ the Wall Drill

Fix your golf swing sway with this awesome and simple drill! Swaying off the ball in the b ...

Weight Shift Sweep Drills
Weight Shift Sweep Drills

The best golf swing drill for weight shift right before you play or when you're just on th ...

Intro to Weight Shift in the Golf Swing
Intro to Weight Shift in the Golf Swing

Weight shift in the golf swing is the FIRST thing you must master before worrying about an ...

Weight Shift in the Golf Swing - Pt. 1
Weight Shift in the Golf Swing - Pt. 1

Using our Science and Motion (SAM) Balance Lab, we can pin point weight shift and weight d ...

Weight Shift Part 2 - Right Hip Line
Weight Shift Part 2 - Right Hip Line

In this second video on understanding weight shift in the golf swing, I discuss specifical ...

Weight Shift Part 3 - To the Left
Weight Shift Part 3 - To the Left

The culmination in the three part series on correct weight shift in the golf swing gets us ...

Step 1 - Weight Shift
Step 1 - Weight Shift

Step 1 of the RST 5 Step System - Mastering Weight Shift

Step 1 - Weight Shift - Drill Only
Step 1 - Weight Shift - Drill Only

Step 1 - Weight shift drills

5 Minute Golf Setup w/ Weight Shift
5 Minute Golf Setup w/ Weight Shift

Once you've mastered the setup, you can add weight shift to your program to begin developi ...

Fixing Your Weight Transfer in the Golf Swing
Fixing Your Weight Transfer in the Golf Swing

In this video, I will show you 2 of the most common faults in downswing transition by not ...

How Attack Angle Affects Compression
How Attack Angle Affects Compression

Ever notice how the PGA Tour pros take razor thin divots? That's exactly what you want. Th ...

Taking a Divot in Front of the Ball
Taking a Divot in Front of the Ball

Taking a proper divot is something that is critical to crisp and consistent iron play, but ...

Angle of Attack
Angle of Attack

Taking deep divots? Are you supposed to? What do the pros do? This video tells you how ste ...

Swing Faults When Your Stance is Too Wide
Swing Faults When Your Stance is Too Wide

One of the most common problems with the setup, here's what happens when your stance is to ...

Fix Your Release - Trail Shoulder Back
Fix Your Release - Trail Shoulder Back

This golf instruction video is for those who struggle to stop spinning their shoulders ope ...

Moving the Fulcrum & Hitting Shots off the Toe
Moving the Fulcrum & Hitting Shots off the Toe

It's one of my most important golf instruction videos ever, this will completely transform ...

How to Cure the Shanks in 3 Steps
How to Cure the Shanks in 3 Steps

The golf shank is the ugliest, nastiest, rottenest, and most frightening shot in golf. If ...

Phase 2 Follow Along
Phase 2 Follow Along

In Phase 2, you learn how to take your straight shots you learned in Phase 1 and add effor ...

Bonus Challenge 1 - Curving the Ball
Bonus Challenge 1 - Curving the Ball

Bonus Challenge 1 is about learning how to curve the ball in both directions. This challen ...

Getting Stuck on the Downswing
Getting Stuck on the Downswing

Tiger Woods used to always complain about getting "stuck" in the downswing; a position tha ...

Blocked Golf Shots | Fwd Shaft Lean
Blocked Golf Shots | Fwd Shaft Lean

If you want to compress the ball for explosive distance, then you need to be working on st ...

How to Fix the Two Way Miss in Golf
How to Fix the Two Way Miss in Golf

Struggle with the dreaded two-way miss in golf? One shot goes right and the next goes left ...

2 Finger Release Drill
2 Finger Release Drill

This awesome drill forces you to release the golf club like a tour pro! You're going to lo ...

Stop Coming Over the Top in the Golf Swing and Slicing
Stop Coming Over the Top in the Golf Swing and Slicing

You're well aware that slicing destroys your distance and your scorecard. What you may not ...

Stop Slicing and Start Releasing the Golf Club
Stop Slicing and Start Releasing the Golf Club

In this video, I’ll show you how to release your club to stop slicing and get better com ...

Square the Clubface Early
Square the Clubface Early

Learning how to properly square the club face at impact is something that most amateur gol ...

Hitting a Fade
Hitting a Fade

Learning how to hit a fade is all about learning to control the release of the golf club. ...

How to Stop Hooking the Golf Ball
How to Stop Hooking the Golf Ball

How to stop hooking the golf ball once and for all! If you struggle with hitting hook shot ...

Hitting a Draw
Hitting a Draw

Once you've mastered the RST swing method, you realize that, due to the simplicity of the ...

How to Hit the 3 Yard Draw
How to Hit the 3 Yard Draw

Learn how to hit the delicate little three yard draw and why you're struggling with gettin ...

Phase 3 Follow Along
Phase 3 Follow Along

It's in Phase 3 where you will start to really experience power AND control like never bef ...

Bonus Challenge 2 - Trajectory Control
Bonus Challenge 2 - Trajectory Control

Bonus Challenge 2 is where you become the master of your own destiny by learning how to co ...

How to Fix Golf Reverse Pivot
How to Fix Golf Reverse Pivot

A reverse pivot golf swing can cause a whole lot of bad shots, from hitting it thin to hit ...

Cure Reverse Pivot w/ the Necktie Drill
Cure Reverse Pivot w/ the Necktie Drill

Axis tilt is a necessary fundamental of the golf swing that many golfers ignore or fail to ...

5 Minutes to Master Rotation
5 Minutes to Master Rotation

This video holds the 5 step pathway to mastering rotation in the golf swing. At the end of ...

Keep the Right Arm Straight to Turn
Keep the Right Arm Straight to Turn

One of the most common faults that destroys a powerful turn in the golf swing is how the r ...

How to Fix a Flat Shoulder Turn
How to Fix a Flat Shoulder Turn

Fix a flat shoulder turn in your golf backswing with this simple and easy to do drill.

Simple Fix to Make a Full Shoulder Turn
Simple Fix to Make a Full Shoulder Turn

Struggle with making a full turn, even though your fit and flexible? Lacking the distance ...

Using the Core
Using the Core

Using a side by side face on view of Tiger Woods with a driver and a recent swing of mine ...

The Bucket Drill - Golf Shoulder Turn
The Bucket Drill - Golf Shoulder Turn

The Bucket Drill is one that provides a very simple and clear picture on how to rotate cor ...

Intro to Core Rotation in Golf Swing
Intro to Core Rotation in Golf Swing

The rotating core is the "engine" of the golf swing and the primary mover of the entire sw ...

Step 2 - Core Rotation
Step 2 - Core Rotation

Step 2- Adding body rotation

Step 2 - Core Rotation - Drill Only
Step 2 - Core Rotation - Drill Only

The drill only for Step 2 - Body Rotation

Clamshell Drill - How to Cure Early Extension
Clamshell Drill - How to Cure Early Extension

The Clamshell Drill is the key to the golf swing, no seriously! If you want to see how the ...

Eliminate Early Extension in Golf Swing
Eliminate Early Extension in Golf Swing

The REAL causes of early extension in the golf swing and the only TRUE way to fix it.

Closed Hip Slide
Closed Hip Slide

A closed hip slide is detrimental to your golf swing when learning how to shift your weigh ...

Live Lesson - How to Stop Losing Tush Line & Boost Consistency
Live Lesson - How to Stop Losing Tush Line & Boost Consistency

Struggling with a 2 way miss and lack of consistency? Watch this Live Lesson to learn a si ...

Losing the Tush Line
Losing the Tush Line

One of the most common questions I get regularly is how to stop losing the tush line, or s ...

Squat to Square in the Golf Downswing
Squat to Square in the Golf Downswing

If you watch golf on TV, it seems that you can't turn your hips fast enough or far enough ...

Squeeze the Cheeks for Consistency
Squeeze the Cheeks for Consistency

The glute muscles (your butt cheeks) are some of the most important muscles in the golf sw ...

Role of the Right Foot in Downswing
Role of the Right Foot in Downswing

Footwork is a bit of a misnomer in the golf swing but you hear it every week on TV. What i ...

Fix Your Over the Top Swing by Fixing Your Hand Path
Fix Your Over the Top Swing by Fixing Your Hand Path

Learn how to fix your over the top golf swing by simply being able to read a clock. If you ...

Stop Coming Over the Top in the Golf Swing and Slicing
Stop Coming Over the Top in the Golf Swing and Slicing

You're well aware that slicing destroys your distance and your scorecard. What you may not ...

How to Shallow Your Golf Swing Fast and Easy - Live Lesson
How to Shallow Your Golf Swing Fast and Easy - Live Lesson

Do you struggle with shallowing the club in the downswing and keep hitting a pull cut or e ...

How to Shallow Your Hands During Transition
How to Shallow Your Hands During Transition

Do your hands go straight out toward the golf ball and don't shallow out during the transi ...

Over the Top Stick Drill
Over the Top Stick Drill

Are you tired of yelling “Fore!” when you hit big, nasty slices off the tee? If so, he ...

Drill to Learn Inside Path to Golf Ball
Drill to Learn Inside Path to Golf Ball

Tired of the over the top slice? This drill and training aid will teach you how to approac ...

How to Fix Your Over the Top Move - Live Lesson
How to Fix Your Over the Top Move - Live Lesson

Do you have a steep, over the top golf swing? No matter what you try and do, you can't sto ...

9 to 3 Lag Building Drills
9 to 3 Lag Building Drills

Learn how to build lag in your golf swing with these 9 to 3 lag building drills. You'll le ...

AXIOM Lag in the Golf Swing
AXIOM Lag in the Golf Swing

Producing incredible lag has never been this easy - or fast

Increase Lag - Impact Cube Drill
Increase Lag - Impact Cube Drill

This awesome drill will teach you to not cast the club and maintain lag into impact.

Speed vs. Power in the Golf Swing
Speed vs. Power in the Golf Swing

Speed vs. Power - Which is it that you want in the golf swing? Many golfers think they nee ...

Reshaping Your Golf Swing for Lag
Reshaping Your Golf Swing for Lag

It's no secret that you want more lag in your swing. In this incredible video, I give you ...

RST Student Success - Building More Lag
RST Student Success - Building More Lag

RST student uses a simple 3 step process to shallow his golf swing and build in a ton of l ...

Intro to Fix Losing Lag and Weak Release
Intro to Fix Losing Lag and Weak Release

Find out how to work through this section on how to cure your golf casting / loss of lag o ...

Sklz Gold Flex Lag Trainer
Sklz Gold Flex Lag Trainer

This KILLER training aid will help you master a smooth, one-piece takeaway and help you bu ...

Rickie Fowler - How to preserve Lag
Rickie Fowler - How to preserve Lag

Lag is the most efficient way to increase clubhead speed. In this video, RST Instructor Ch ...

Lag and Speed Drills
Lag and Speed Drills

To get more distance in golf, you've got to get maximum speed from your arms and not let y ...

Key to Creating Lag
Key to Creating Lag

The secret key to creating lag has been an elusive thing for most amateur golfers. In this ...

Downcock Pump Lag Drill
Downcock Pump Lag Drill

Every golfer wants to know how to create more lag in their swing to hit the ball further. ...

Golf Grip's Effect on Lag
Golf Grip's Effect on Lag

As you've no doubt seen, my golf students have been picking up some serious distance throu ...

Become a Golf Swing Lag Monster: Shocking Success Story
Become a Golf Swing Lag Monster: Shocking Success Story

In this video, I’ll show you how RST student David became a "lag monster" with RST swing ...

4 Step Golf Swing Lag Builder
4 Step Golf Swing Lag Builder

The 4 steps to building INSANE lag in your golf swing - and you can do it TODAY!

Golf Left Thumb: Fix Pain, Soreness, Casting
Golf Left Thumb: Fix Pain, Soreness, Casting

Casting the club in the downswing is a sure way to destroy club head speed. Check out this ...

Right Arm in Downswing: Stop Casting
Right Arm in Downswing: Stop Casting

In this video, you’ll find out: 1) How Tiger Woods builds lag for power, 2) What to feel ...

Sequencing the Downswing - Dump Truck and Drag Racer
Sequencing the Downswing - Dump Truck and Drag Racer

Sequencing the downswing is the HARDEST overall part of the golf swing - and also the MOST ...

Bonus Challenge 3 - 9 Ball Challenge
Bonus Challenge 3 - 9 Ball Challenge

Bonus Challenge 3 is the culmination of all that you have learned. You will learn how to t ...

AXIOM Introduction
AXIOM Introduction

Have you been looking for a wait to learn a tour pro swing through a simple feeling so you ...

The AXIOM Golf Video
The AXIOM Golf Video

What if you could learn a swing just like the tour pros, increase your distance and consis ...

AXIOM and the DEAD Drill
AXIOM and the DEAD Drill

How does the AXIOM work with the DEAD Drill to build a consistent golf swing? Find out how ...

AXIOM Golf Discover Your Natural Rhythm & Tempo
AXIOM Golf Discover Your Natural Rhythm & Tempo

At last, a simple way to have perfect rhythm and tempo on every shot.

Justin Rose AXIOM Force Plate Study
Justin Rose AXIOM Force Plate Study

Want to see proof of the AXIOM in tour pros with irrefutable data? Then look no further th ...

AXIOM in Jessica Korda
AXIOM in Jessica Korda

Top ranked LPGA star Jessica Korda is a wonderful example of power and simplicity as she d ...

AXIOM in Jon Rahm
AXIOM in Jon Rahm

A perfect example of the AXIOM can be seen in tour pro and top ranked Jon Rahm. This compa ...

The Post Up Move - How to Use Lead Leg for Power and Maintain Posture
The Post Up Move - How to Use Lead Leg for Power and Maintain Posture

Have you ever wondered how the pros use their legs for power in the golf swing? This video ...

My Golf Power Secret
My Golf Power Secret

How do the pros hit the ball so darn far? I tell all inside with this power secret!

Using your wrists for speed in golf swing - 5 of 7
Using your wrists for speed in golf swing - 5 of 7

Your body uses tension as its primary mechanism to sequence the golf swing. In general, th ...

Vertical Ground Force and Double Peaks
Vertical Ground Force and Double Peaks

Should you be trying to increase vertical ground force in your swing and if so, how should ...

Throw the Club Head at the Golf Ball
Throw the Club Head at the Golf Ball

Unlock the leverage, speed and power of your golf swing by understanding the physics behin ...

Throw for More Natural Golf Swing
Throw for More Natural Golf Swing

Do you want a more natural golf swing with much more speed? Then you need to focus on how ...

Using the Wrists in the Golf Swing
Using the Wrists in the Golf Swing

The wrists play a very dynamic role in your golf swing. In this video, I'll cover the term ...

The Tour Pro Downswing Sequence Drill
The Tour Pro Downswing Sequence Drill

If you are looking for a golf swing drill that can INSTANTLY improve your ball striking po ...

Trail Arm Release - Throw the Ball Drill Pt 1
Trail Arm Release - Throw the Ball Drill Pt 1

This is THE key drill for really understanding how the downswing sequencing works. This 20 ...

Trail Arm Release - Throw the Ball Drill Pt 2
Trail Arm Release - Throw the Ball Drill Pt 2

Are you ready to maximize your club head speed at impact? If so, you need this missing pie ...

Tim Burke - Kinetic Chain
Tim Burke - Kinetic Chain

Tim Burke wins his 2nd World Long Drive Championship. In this video, I'll show you the key ...

Golf Takeaway | Overview
Golf Takeaway | Overview

An overview of the RST takeaway by RST Founder, Chuck Quinton. This video walks you throug ...

AXIOM Refine Your Takeaway
AXIOM Refine Your Takeaway

Simplify your takeaway with a simple 2" movement that moves the club 6 feet!

Learn a Perfect Golf Takeaway with Just a 2 Inch Movement!
Learn a Perfect Golf Takeaway with Just a 2 Inch Movement!

Learn how to pull in this video: Pushing vs Pulling in the Golf Swing Learn the simplest ...

Fix Inside Takeaway - 4 Square Drill
Fix Inside Takeaway - 4 Square Drill

You probably overuse your hands during the first half of the backswing, like most golfers, ...

Understanding Shoulder Blade Glide
Understanding Shoulder Blade Glide

If you have questions about exactly what the shoulder blade glide is or what it should fee ...

Golf Takeaway, 5 Minutes to the Perfect Golf Takeaway
Golf Takeaway, 5 Minutes to the Perfect Golf Takeaway

This 30 minute long golf instruction video is key to setting you on the right path for the ...

Right Wrist in the Takeaway
Right Wrist in the Takeaway

The role of right wrist in the takeaway is often misunderstood and has been the source of ...

Fix Inside Takeaway - Pushing with the Lead Side
Fix Inside Takeaway - Pushing with the Lead Side

An extremely common swing fault, so common that many golf instructors actually teach the s ...

Role of the Right Arm - Takeaway
Role of the Right Arm - Takeaway

Collapsing the right arm early is something that at least 90% of amateur golfers struggle ...

Pull for a perfect takeaway - 6 of 7
Pull for a perfect takeaway - 6 of 7

So many golfers try to perfect the takeaway in the swing and they constantly fight an uphi ...

Thorbjorn Olesen - Perfect your takeaway
Thorbjorn Olesen - Perfect your takeaway

See 2 key moves that Thorbjorn Olesen uses to build a picture perfect takeaway position ev ...

One Simple Key to Fix Your Takeaway
One Simple Key to Fix Your Takeaway

In this video, I’ll show you the one swing change that’ll fix your takeaway once and f ...

Posture's Effect on the Takeaway
Posture's Effect on the Takeaway

Posture at address is something that Tiger Woods always does right and it's something that ...

How to Fix an Inside Takeaway
How to Fix an Inside Takeaway

This one simple trick will fix an inside takeaway instantly, I guarantee it!

Fix Inside Takeaway - Shake Hands Drill
Fix Inside Takeaway - Shake Hands Drill

This is the best golf swing drill to teach you exactly how your hands should work during t ...

Golf Swing Takeaway & Drills
Golf Swing Takeaway & Drills

The golf takeaway has been described by golf instructors countless ways, so many ways that ...

Fix Inside Takeaway - Belly Button Drill
Fix Inside Takeaway - Belly Button Drill

This simple takeaway drill will give you that one piece takeaway you've been looking for o ...

Fix Inside Takeaway - Forward Press
Fix Inside Takeaway - Forward Press

If you've ever wondered whether or not you should have a forward press at setup, this golf ...

Wrist Cock vs. Wrist Hinge in the Golf Swing
Wrist Cock vs. Wrist Hinge in the Golf Swing

Do you know the difference between wrist cock and wrist hinge in the golf swing? The diffe ...

AXIOM Body Backswing
AXIOM Body Backswing

Eliminate your reverse pivot, handsy inside takeaway, your head swaying off the ball and y ...

AXIOM Refine Your Backswing
AXIOM Refine Your Backswing

Dial in your arms during the backswing to start easily shaping the ball, changing trajecto ...

Body Rotation in Golf Backswing - Chair Drill
Body Rotation in Golf Backswing - Chair Drill

If you want to power up your swing in golf, body rotation in the backswing is crucial. Unf ...

Left Shoulder Push in Backswing
Left Shoulder Push in Backswing

This "Left Shoulder Push in the Backswing" video is for you ONLY if you already pull perfe ...

5 Minutes to the Perfect Golf Backswing
5 Minutes to the Perfect Golf Backswing

Once you've mastered the takeaway using our "5 Minutes to the Perfect Takeaway" video, you ...

My Golf Backswing Secrets
My Golf Backswing Secrets

My keys to success for a perfect golf backswing - how to make the backswing simple and rep ...

How Much Shoulder Elevation
How Much Shoulder Elevation

It's time to help you decide how to power your golf swing. And it all starts with how you ...

Right Elbow Pit in Golf Backswing
Right Elbow Pit in Golf Backswing

Do you struggle, like most golfers, with a flying right elbow at the top of the backswing? ...

Understanding Arm Elevation
Understanding Arm Elevation

In this video, Ill show you what arm elevation is, why you need it, and exactly how much y ...

Fix Overswing/Across the Line - Flying Right Elbow
Fix Overswing/Across the Line - Flying Right Elbow

If you want to cure your overswing/across-the-line swing, you first need to diagnose the c ...

Live Lesson - How to Fix Your Arms by Fixing Your Legs in the Backswing
Live Lesson - How to Fix Your Arms by Fixing Your Legs in the Backswing

Do you struggle with your arms getting too deep or too disconnected during the backswing? ...

Right Arm Backswing Drill
Right Arm Backswing Drill

This is an excellent drill to train your mind to use your torso rotation to move the club ...

Should You Restrict Your Hip Turn in the Backswing?
Should You Restrict Your Hip Turn in the Backswing?

For years, you've been taught to restrict the hips in the backswing. Is that what's best f ...

Simplify Your Backswing with Shallow Arms
Simplify Your Backswing with Shallow Arms

Make this one simple change to reduce tension in your backswing to start hitting more EFFO ...

Stop Overswinging | Get Your Backswing Under Control
Stop Overswinging | Get Your Backswing Under Control

A powerful, compact backswing is essential for creating good contact with the ball. If ...

Fix Hip Overturning in Your Backswing
Fix Hip Overturning in Your Backswing

If you're letting your hips over rotate in the backswing, you're costing yourself a ton of ...

Fix Loose Lower Body w/ Laser Beam Knee Drills
Fix Loose Lower Body w/ Laser Beam Knee Drills

Lower body stability is key for power and accuracy in the golf swing. This drill will help ...

Torso, Hips Over Rotating in Backswing
Torso, Hips Over Rotating in Backswing

How much shoulder turn is too much and how much is not enough? Depends on how it's measure ...

DEAD Drill Step 1 - The Backswing
DEAD Drill Step 1 - The Backswing

Here's the first step in building your perfect golf swing using the DEAD Drill. It's criti ...

Golf Backswing, Completing the Golf Backswing
Golf Backswing, Completing the Golf Backswing

Once you've mastered the setup, weight transfer and takeaway, it's time to progress to the ...

Winter Golf Training Program - Backswing
Winter Golf Training Program - Backswing

Snow on the ground? Too cold out? No problem! NOW is the BEST time to work on your golf sw ...

Upper vs. Lower Body Rotation in Backswing
Upper vs. Lower Body Rotation in Backswing

Confused about how your upper body rotates in the backswing compared to your lower body? T ...

How to Keep Your Left Arm Straight in the Backswing
How to Keep Your Left Arm Straight in the Backswing

The secret to why you can't keep your left arm straight at the top of the golf backswing.

How to Avoid a Cupped Left Wrist at the Top
How to Avoid a Cupped Left Wrist at the Top

Learn the cause of a cupped left wrist at the top of your golf backswing and how to fix it ...

How to Fix Trail Leg Straightening in Backswing
How to Fix Trail Leg Straightening in Backswing

Is your trail leg straightening in the backswing? Do you know what kind of issues this sim ...

Do You Start Backswing w/ Hips or Shoulders?
Do You Start Backswing w/ Hips or Shoulders?

To start the golf swing with the upper or lower body, that is the question! I think Shakes ...

Checkpoints - 5 Minutes Backswing
Checkpoints - 5 Minutes Backswing

If you who have already watched the complete 5 Minutes to the Perfect Backswing video, thi ...

5 Minutes to a Perfect Backswing Pitfalls
5 Minutes to a Perfect Backswing Pitfalls

In this premium video, I am going to cover some of the common mistakes that RST students m ...

3 Functions of Right Arm in Backswing
3 Functions of Right Arm in Backswing

In this video, I'll show you the 3 functions of the right arm in creating the perfect back ...

Henrik Stenson's Backswing Moves
Henrik Stenson's Backswing Moves

See how Henrik Stenson's idiosyncrasies work in his powerful golf swing. Check out these ...

Jason Day - Perfect Backswing
Jason Day - Perfect Backswing

Swing plane is a very common term used in golf and has become a primary focus point for a ...

What is a Perfect Golf Swing Plane?
What is a Perfect Golf Swing Plane?

Swing plane is NOT something you work on by swinging in a big PVC hoop or swinging around ...

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5 Minutes to the Perfect Golf Club Release

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Releasing the club properly is something that few golfers do but is the key to effortless power and squaring the clubface through impact. If you've wondered how to hit a draw your entire life, this multi-step drill will make drawing the ball and controlling trajectory simple. The drill is challenging at first, so hang in there, it will take time to perfect and train the movements.

5 Minutes to the Perfect Golf Release teaches you how to properly release the golf club for more speed with less effort. 

                In the "Lose the Right Hand Golf Release Drill," I started talking about how you get a speedy release of the golf club without you having to put any effort into it whatsoever. For a lot of golfers, learning how to release the golf club is a foreign concept. They've never actually released the golf club. They use their body. The problem with that is if your body just keeps turning through impact, the club head and your body have to move at a more relative constant speed together, versus letting my body stop, and the club can move very fast, and my body doesn't have to do anything. In fact, the golf club can actually release faster as my body slows down, and I transmit energy up the chain into the club.

                Learning how to release the golf club, and let that right hand come off is really important, but obviously, we don't play golf left handed, although I have a lot of students who ask me if they can, after they work through these drills that you're about to learn now.

                What I'm going to do is work through the sequence of how to learn to release the golf club very, very slowly, until you start building the proper movements in there. Here's what I do with all my students. The first thing, when they're learning how to release this left hand, is we take the right hand completely out of the equation. If you're someone who pushes really hard from the right side, or flips that right hand, this is critical. Do not skip this step. You want to start learning how to release the golf club properly, to get into a proper golf impact position.

                At first, what I do is just make sure they can get into a perfect golf impact position with their left hand only, then we'll typically take some variables out of the swing. I will let them go ahead and stay into their left side's impact position, because these are going to be really short swings. We're not going to have a lot of time to shift over, so preset ourselves on our left side. Then what I'm going to have them do is go back, and start coming down and stopping at impact. Obviously, this is a hard floor so the club can't stick in the ground, but I generally will kind of have them stick the club in the ground, try and stop right at impact.

                These shots are obviously going to be five yard shots. They're not going to go anywhere. What I'm checking to see is if they can keep that left wrist flat, and get into a proper impact alignment with the left side. Once they can do that, start working on releasing it. Now what I'm doing is I'm training the left hand to rotate, and this is how you release the club. You don't release the golf club like this. That's what most golfers do. Technically, that is a release, but it's not going to go in the right way, because what that's going to do is add loft to the club through impact, and now we're trying to time a flip.

                You want to think of the golf club release being rotation. There's a lot of force, a lot of speed, a lot of momentum in that club. You have to release that energy somehow, somewhere, and you basically have three options. You can flip it, you can turn your body, or you can just let it release with the left hand. One's way more efficient than the other, and one allows us to trap the ball and hit the ball at a proper trajectory with a lot of distance, and the other one, going to flip it up to the sky, and this one requires a tremendous amount of physical effort, puts a lot of stress on your spine, on your hip, totally unnecessary, and it's not nearly as fast as me just doing this, so why wouldn't you just go for the most efficient way of learning how to release the left hand?

                Once they can get into a proper golf impact position, we start working on rotation. From this angle, what you'll see is that my left wrist is still in that arched position I had at impact, and I'm just turning it over. This is important to learn, where this release happens, or feels like it happens in the downswing. The target for your left hand in this release is the back of your left thigh, and then what it feels like at that point, it just starts turning over.

                Now, obviously your wrist is actually gradually rotating throughout the entire downswing, but during the release where we want that snap of speed, it's going to feel like your hand stops at your thigh and turns over. It's not what happens at all, but for most golfers, they need to feel that, because they'll either A, move their hand too far forward, and now my logo of my glove's facing on the target line, it hasn't released, and I've added loft. I want to take loft off the whole time in the downswing, so I've got to feel that my hand stops here, and just turns over.

                Now, in reality, because the club is moving, I'm pulling my hands with a lot of centrifugal force, my hands are actually going to release out here, but to my feeling, is that I'm releasing it more at my thigh, in order to get the club to release properly, and also when you're hitting short shots, it has to feel like it releases here, because your hands aren't going to end up way out here. You don't want to be doing this drill, like this. It's not the point of it. It's to get here, and release, and turn that club face over.

                Now, what I'm going to check is that the wrist is still flat, and to many it will feel just exaggeratedly flipped over. You won't do that when you keep your right hand on, but that's okay if you're used to scooping it, to have it feeling like the logo of your glove faces the ground. In an ideal world, it's basically going to face straight back behind you. The toe is going to be in an up position, or slightly shut, which is perfectly okay. We just don't want it cupped.

                Once you can do that correctly, what we're going to do is start adding the right hand back in, but we're going to let it come off the club, so we've got two drills so far. Start out, left hand only, stick it in the ground, just hit these little, tiny dribblers, just make sure your impact alignments are correct. Next piece, rotate and release. Ball's going to go a little bit further, just working on the release.

                Now what we're going to do, bring the right hand in there to add some speed to it. Same thing, back, but I want you to let the hand come off through impact. Now, the right hand is going to add a little bit more speed, so notice each time I add a piece to the drill the club's moving a little bit faster, it's a little bit more challenging for me to maintain these positions if they're not something I'm comfortable with or used to. First, this was really slow, then as we added the release it got a little faster. Now with the right hand in there, I can add a little bit of speed to it, but the key is I still want you to let go of the club.

                If you're used to being really right hand dominant, this will be actually a challenge for you. Even though this looks really simple, it's because I've done it millions of times. What you're going to find is that a lot of golfers aren't going to want to let go of the club when they're actually hitting balls, so okay, you just got to work through this drill slowly.

                That's the third step. The first step that you're going to do is you're going to work on releasing it, but once you let your left hand go, what I want you to do is bring your right hand up into position. Don't move your body, my left hand's fully released, notice that my body, my hips and everything are still square. During this drill, my body's not moving, so everything we've worked on in these other drills, keeping your belt buckle and your buttons on your shirt square at impact, still the same.

                Now, even though my left hand's released, my body is still square, now I'm going to bring my right hand up into this position, slowly but surely. Now you can see that my body has actually been forced to turn, because as my right hand comes across to grab the club, my shoulders have to turn slightly. What this drill's going to do is teach you what you should feel like in your follow through, once the right hand's back on there. Now we're starting to put the whole thing together, and maintain our positions.

                What's going to be hard for you is when you start doing this in your swing, to not want to reach across and grab the golf club. Now I've lost my axis tilt, I've moved my shoulders too far across. It should feel like that left arm is wide, and you're just reaching across and under, to grab it with the right hand, and now we're in a good follow through position. That's the fourth step, release, bring the right hand up, just barely touching the club.

                Once you can get through those pieces, now we're ready to keep the right hand on the club, but just like I talked about in the "Lose the Right Hand Drill," you're going to feel like your hand is just kind of the passenger. Your right hand, from down the line, is going to look like it's almost coming off the club at first. You want that club to be able to release freely. Your right hand is just barely touching the club, and you're controlling it, and releasing it with the left hand. That's the critical piece.

                Then you can stack this last piece on, full release but your right hand's just barely touching the club. That's what your regular golf swing should feel like. You don't have to completely let go of it like Vijay does, although you'd release it faster if you did, you just want your hand to be light on the club.

                Work through this five minutes a day. Just come through, get into an impact position, release position, right hand adding speed, right hand releasing, coming back into follow through, then put them all together, and you can work through them in that sequence. If you can do this correctly, once you master each piece individually, the first time you do this for five minutes a day, you might only do just left hand, until this is perfect. If this starts cupping, and your hands are behind the club head, and all those things, there's no point in working on the release until you get impact correctly.

                Work through each piece, and then as you get comfortable, start stacking it into a drill, just like you see here, until your whole golf swing starts to feel like what your drill is. Work on this five minutes, to the perfect release drill, and you'll be able to get a lot of speed, you'll be able to control the club face, you'll put no effort into your golf swing, and you'll start to enjoy the game a lot more as you start to compress the ball and hit it further than you ever have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does it mean to release the golf club? 

There's a lot of force, a lot of speed, a lot of momentum in the golf club. You have to release that energy somehow, somewhere, and you basically have three options. You can flip it, you can turn your body, or you can just let it release with the left hand.

What happens when you don't release the golf club?

For a lot of golfers, releasing the golf club is a foreign concept. They've never actually released the golf club. They use their body. The problem with that is if your body just keeps turning through impact, the club head and your body have to move at a more relative constant speed together, versus just letting your body stop.

When should I release my golf swing?

It should feel like that left arm is wide, and you're just reaching across and under, to grab it with the right hand, and now we're in a good follow through position. That's the fourth step, release, bring the right hand up, just barely touching the club.

What does the golf release feel like?

As I teach in the "Lose the Right Hand Drill," you're going to feel like your hand is just kind of the passenger. Your right hand, from down the line, is going to look like it's almost coming off the club at first. You want that club to be able to release freely. Your right hand is just barely touching the club, and you're controlling it, and releasing it with the left hand.  Then you can full release but your right hand's just barely touching the club. That's what your regular golf swing should feel like

Other videos in this series...

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Peter
Would it help to grab the left wrist with the right hand to get the proper feeling when using two hands?
July 12, 2024
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Peter. That would be useful for the takeaway portion so you don't roll the club inside, but I don't think for the release that would help as much.
July 13, 2024
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Michael
doing this drill does this result in a straight draw that starts left and moves further left a bit or does this result in a push draw that starts out to the right and draws back to target without having to playi the ball back in your stance slightly or turning your knuckles of your left hand towards the ground a bit
April 7, 2024
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. This should be more a push draw or straight draw. If you are pulling it make sure your shoulders aren't spinning open too soon and/or the release is being done manually. The club will release itself.
April 7, 2024
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Ronald
Is this suitable for every club
February 13, 2024
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Chuck
Absolutely
February 13, 2024
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Calvin
Will this drill work with a fairway wood?
February 7, 2024
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Calvin. Absolutely! Really helps you have a shallow AOA.
February 7, 2024
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Calvin
Thank you! I’ll give it a try today.
February 7, 2024
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stephen
You have confused me over the the years. I have been through the University, the Dead Drill, The Axion and the C4 level 2. Now the Goat. What do you suggest to bring it all together? I remember Chris telling me I would benefit from the Axion because of its right foot emphasis but it had taken the C4 to get me to weight shift and complete the figure 8 foot and hips movement ie. Swing with the core. As I said in my previous note I naturally add the right arm and hand at the release point and that combo release produces a smooth movement through the ball when I get it all right and it feels great. It sounds like I could benefit from the goat stuff but with my natural tendency to sidearm through the ball on release, I am confused by potential improvement. If I can now blend it all together but only have to think about moving with and off the right side in the downswing it would be terrific. Please explain the intention of the training for swinger like me. Also note too dominant a left side focus on hip turn hurts my hip when I over swing.
November 27, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. After Phase 2 you create a nice balance in the swing using both sides. Phase 3 will introduce power from the trail. From here as you venture into finishing the swing GOAT Theory will be there to provide whether you want your trail side or lead side motion to be your dominant trait of choice for the swing.
November 27, 2023
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stephen
Okay Chuck I was a right side dominant swinger with all the faults that lack o proper weight shift brings. Been working with your videos and getting help with online coaching from your swing coach’s for years. For the last year have been going through #2 of the current approach on the website along with Craig’s comeback videos and his online help. Am about to graduate to #3 level where you add power to the 9 to 3 swing. I think in those videos you will instruct to throw the ball. Since I was a picture in high schools I naturally add the right arm sidearm throw at the release point, however the training in the 9-5 drill has gotten me shift weight properly and lead with the left arm and create a proper release point. I have not yet gone through the goat lesson videos yet here is my question: do we cover the right arm move you are talking about in the goat videos sufficiently in the level 3 and 4 series in the current training program or have you got something else in mind? I am about to graduate from level 2 and begin level 3 rep routine.Will now send Craig a new video for review in combination with that move to make sure my 9-3 swing is ready for the move up
November 27, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. The GOAT Theory will expand upon some sequence talk and position of trail arm before release. Phase 3 however is the perfect spring board to start the basics of GOAT Theory. When you want to add more power with the full swing (Phase 4) GOAT will be the place to venture to.
November 27, 2023
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Kyle
Back at this video after your prompting in the swing review, Craig. One issue I always seem to have with trying to do the one handed swings left handed (or even with loose right hand) is just letting the club fall and chunk in to the ground in front of the trail foot. Guessing I’m taking “no tension in the arms” to the extreme?
October 18, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyle. Either no tension, or pushing with the lead thumb. Try to allow for some lag angle. I suspect you are releasing the wrist angle too soon. Almost try to "feel" the club is parallel to the ground by the time the lead hand reaches the lead thigh. Carry the angle deeper into impact.
October 18, 2023
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Kyle
Ok, thanks Craig. I have heard people say don’t hold on to the lag and to be loose but I think I need the opposite feel to get past what’s causing my issues there. Sort of how feeling the extremes helps you get through something
October 18, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyle. You are correct that you don't want to hold on too lag. But, your goal in the swing is to create, maintain, and release lag in that order. You are missing the maintain. You can see this in the 9 to 3 Lag Building Drill or Golf Swing Transition Drill. If you push away the lag too soon manually the club cannot release correctly.
October 18, 2023
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Kyle
I’ll revisit those drills and report back, too. Thanks Craig!
October 18, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
October 18, 2023
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Kyle
Hey Craig, thanks for pointing me to those videos. Been jamming on those for the last couple days and that downcock motion really helped me to feel for the first time and describe a major piece I was missing. I was getting very excited! So then I started filming some practice swings incorporating the swing thoughts from those videos of downcocking and getting the left hand to the left thigh and even the practice swings had shaft lean for once. I couldn't believe it! Then I of course got too excited and did some real things and once the little white demon re-appeared, straight back to scoopy-looking release, dumping the lag early, and a small chicken wing. It was somewhat improved, but not majorly. I obviously didn't do enough reps with that feeling, but I find it kind of hard to have the downcock/floaty feel in the 9 to 3 drills. Should I just camp there for a while before returning to C4 Phase 2 based on this and what you saw in the lesson? I took video this time of both practice swing and hitting a ball that I could send over in another swing review if that seems best. Thanks!
October 20, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyle. Great to read that you are starting to get the feel for lag/shaft lean. Hard to say where you need to camp out. The 9 to 3 should be long enough to help you start mastering the better lean/release which is the same length as Phase 2. If you can't get it in a 9 to 3 the problem will only get worse as the swing gets faster/longer. I would recommend staying in the smaller version until it is automatic with lag/lean/release.
October 21, 2023
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Lance
So thankful for this video! I am new to the website/program (signed up a few days ago). I played golf occasionally when I was younger and have only played a couple of times a year lately. This fall I decided to really study and work on my golf game. After watching several Rotary Swing videos and putting in the practice, I hit the best shots of my life today! This video, in particular, made it “click” for me. I used to average 150y with my 7 iron. Today I averaged 180y and even nailed one 200y!!! The ball flight and penetration was beautiful to watch! Thank you so much for your coaching!!!
October 3, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
That's awesome Lance!! . Thanks for sharing the good news. We look forward to seeing some great results from your new improved release!
October 3, 2023
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Jonathan
Hey Craig, Revisiting the video has really helped me to dial in the release. It seems I can control the clubface a heck of a lot more, even though it's hard to trust that the ball isn't going dead left at first. I do have one question. I'm experiencing pain in the radial (thumb side) of my left wrist from this wrist motion. I am a chronic flipper (before this drill) and/or at least used to having my wrist slightly cupped at impact. Is the pain due to just getting used to the new motion? Every once in awhile I'll bang the ground cause I used to be more active with the release process. I would say there is minor pain in the elbow, but more in the wrist. Thanks
June 3, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jonathan. You are either pushing with the thumb or need to bow/flatten the lead wrist correctly. Take a look at Angle of Attack and Golf Left Thumb Videos. Yes. Giving up control actually gives you more control. Weird feeling.
June 5, 2023
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Kyle
Hi, this has probably been asked before but what would be your take with someone who has left misses and using this release? My misses for years has been lefts mainly due to early extension and hand flipping. I always fear left if I release the club too much. Thanks!
March 16, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyle. It would typically be due to spinning shoulders combined with active release/flip. The beauty about the release above is it should be passive and you can be as aggressive as you want without fear of a hook.
March 16, 2023
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Ron
Craig, is this the drill to do if you’re trying to add “snap” like snapping a towel and the “crack” when cracking the whip? In both of the above you actually stop the hand and then pull it back to snap the towel or crack a whip. No way to do that in a swing so I’m guessing this is the next best thing
March 4, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ron. The snap of the towel will be a biproduct of proper sequencing. The above way to release will allow the club to speed up independently of the body creating that whip affect. Proper release technique with sequencing the legs will provide lots of speed. I would also suggest the Tour Pro Downswing Sequence Drill.
March 6, 2023
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Ron
I watched the video and will give this drill a try. I’m definitely not getting as much zip through contact as I need. I’m hitting it pretty straight and contact is pretty consistent but distance is not what I think it should be.
March 8, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ron. I would be happy to look at the swing to see where the zip is missing. You can post in the Swing Review portal or the Community. If you force the release with the arms you will power it too much with arm musculature slowing the speed down.
March 8, 2023
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Ron
Craig, I think I finally figured out what I should be doing to get a decent release. I have been working to keep the right shoulder soft and back during the beginning of the transition and then basically letting the shoulders spin open through impact. Still too much of a body release. (I’m now thinking about keeping the shoulders parallel to the target line through impact and parallel as long as possible after impact). Does this make sense to you?
March 15, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ron. Makes a lot of sense. The shoulder spin throws the club and links the speed to body rotation. By slowing your shoulders you are allowing for more an independent release so the club can speed up.
March 15, 2023
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Ron
Craig, I know you hear this all the time but I have to laugh at myself for not getting this sooner. Sometimes for some unknown reason something just clicks when you hear it. I watched the lag pump drill and Chuck said just about everything we do in the backswing and transition is about preserving lag down to just before contact. Or the reason a golfer does just about everything we do is primarily to retain lag until it’s time to release it. The light bulb turned on and it made a lot of things make sense. The post up and letting go of the lag angle is what creates the snap speed in the swing. I’m finally starting to get the arms and hands to play nicely with the body. Thank you for all of your help
March 22, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Great Ron. Absolutely. You goal is to create, maintain and release that lag. The added leverage for more speed!
March 23, 2023
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Michael
Hello – Question/concern/confirmation about release and swing path. With the down swing being with the lead side, and the club will shallow and the path should be "in to out". Therefore; ball flight should be baby draw to a draw (right to left) due to path, club face at impact of the ball. Ball flight will not be fade. A fade is only the result of "out to in" path. True? I ask, because I have done the drills in this video (and the DEAD drills & many others, and I came to this video because I have / had issues with releasing the club) and now my ball flight is a mess, I am doing "Army Golf". I slice it, block it -or- Pull it or a pull hook, both of which is something I never done before. I need help. I am frustrated, I have spent a lot of time and energy doing drills (as well as $) and seems things get worse. This is not fun, it doesn’t make sense to continue investing in this game if its not fun. What I think is left for me to do is to submit swing reviews, which I was trying to save and use them to tweak my swing after doing the drills on here, but it seems like I am worse when I started…..it makes zero sense. My apologies for the complaints, everything on here (RST website) make absolute sense. I have learned so much about the mechanics of the swing. I can do the drills, but putting them together …… is an epic fail.
January 16, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. Sorry to hear about your frustration. Never wait to get a swing review when you are stuck. You don't go to the doctor when healthy, so why wait until perfection to get some much needed advice. You can also post a release on the community and I will be happy to provide you with text/guides to the issue. 85% of ball flight will be dictated by club face. So, out to in or vice versa does have an effect but not near the degree to the club face. If you are playing army golf it sounds more like a flip. The release is passive and you allow the club to rotate by not impeding it with wrist positions. If you are hitting the correct sequence and body positions with release maneuvering the ball is tougher than the straight shot. Sounds like you may be a little out of sequence and over working the hands,
January 17, 2023
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Michael
Thanks for getting back with me. Well….me waiting was because I thought I was healthy….lol. Until I went and hit balls. So I have an idea….how does this sound; work the C4 Ballstriking Mastery Program and submit swing review at each step. Good? Thanks
January 17, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. Sounds like a great plane. Start working on Phase 1 and let us help/check on the movements each phase you are ingraining.
January 19, 2023
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Michael
Thank you
January 20, 2023
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Mark
I can't get into the fully extended release position without cupping my left hand.
December 17, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. If your lead hand grip is really strong you may see a slight cup. Also, take a look at Knuckles Down Video. It will help show you the exaggerated bowed release which may help you find common ground.
December 17, 2022
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Michael
Question about the 2nd drill in this video, the point in which the back of the hand will be flat will be past the fwd leg because there is only one arm swinging, correct? It will not be at the lead inside thigh, correct? That position is only when there two hands on the club, correct?
December 7, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. With only the lead arm/hand swinging the position will be further forward to almost outside the lead thigh because the trail arm/hand isn't on the club.
December 8, 2022
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Michael
Craig, Hello. Thanks. I was concerned....lol I was all messed up
December 8, 2022
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Tony
I've had trouble with almost a pull slice, and working on releasing the club. Making progress but when I put both hands on club back to old ways. If I barely touch the club and completely let go with my right hand I hit my 7 iron 150 and fairly straight and even a slight draw. Is it just a matter of focusing on the release drills?
August 30, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Tony. Yes. You have to start deleting the over usage of the trail hand. It takes some time and letting go is a very good technique. It will start to improve with reps. However, I would also check your shoulders while working on this. Take a look at Trail Shoulder Back - Fix Your Release Video as well.
August 31, 2022
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Mark
This feels so easy i wonder if I am doing it correctly but the club is completely turning over with the toe up each time . When I reach for the club to put my rt arm on and when I swing with my rt arm on I do feel some stress in my lower back and spine even though using the mirror I have not lost my axis tilt or head Position. Is this normal and my muscles just not adjusted?
July 30, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. The side bend position at the end will be a tough one to hold. You move through that so quickly in real golf. If you are experiencing a little pain. Add the right, but try to not hang there for a lot of time.
July 30, 2022
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Kevin
Hey everyone. Best lesson ever for me from Phase II which emphasizes the influence (or role of) right hand grip on the swing. I am a lefty by nature but play golf right-handed. What has been hard to figure out in the past is I could take a single-handed full swing and it felt so natural and perfect with weight shift, follow thru, neutral spine control, head position, etc., thru the shot. Generally when I place that right hand on the club all hell breaks loose with respect to complexity. I could not groove consistency and improvement thru my game. I knew something strange with right-hand was happening but never came close to making sense of how to solve, improve. FYI, I'm an 18 handicapper. Thank you Chuck! Incredible. Doing the progression in Phase 2 allowed me for the 1st time to finally feel the natural rhythm and release of a proper swing. Almost every shot was clean, straight. Now, I am not disillusioned to think this is in any way a cure for my misdirected interpretations, but this hacker is seeing the light . Pressing on !
July 29, 2022
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Chuck
You’re welcome!
July 29, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Awesome Kevin! Thanks for the post. When you start releasing the club correctly it makes golf a lot more fun
July 29, 2022
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David
Great lesson by Chuck! I stumbled across this accidentally. I've got a question. As a newcomer to Rotary Swing, I've been starting with the DEAD Drill, then figured I'd progress onto Axiom and then finally onto C4. My question is: For somebody who's new to the whole system like me, should I just start with C4? Thanks.
July 2, 2022
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David
Thanks, Craig
July 5, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. You can certainly start with C4, but I would do some DEAD Drill body reps as well so it will be much easier to hit your checkpoints.
July 4, 2022
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Brian
I can get too square at impact, so this drill slightly confuses me because there is the drill where Chuck is pushing the left leg back from the ball and away from the target. There's also the new C4 drills where open hips are one of the checkpoints. Which one is best for me to do?
May 23, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Brian. The hips need to be open at impact to trigger/clear the way for the release. This is primarily focusing on the function of the lead arm during that phase.
May 25, 2022
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Tony
Hi, I hope you can help me with something related to releasing the club. I've tried releasing the club with only the lead (left) hand on the club. I have no consistency in the impact area. So I tried it with the trail hand lightly on the club and then letting go at impact. The consistency is better but the ball curves off to the left but with a good contact. Is this what is intended? When I leave my right (trail) hand on the club (lightly) the ball doesn't curl but then I feel that the trail hand is holding back the club and stopping the hands turning over as shown in the video. I'm not sure if I have lost my way here. Can you help?
June 26, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Tony. If the ball is curving a lot you might be flipping the hand over. The release may not be passive enough. Take a look at Flip vs Release, Vijay Release, and Play thee Best Golf of Your Life in 6 Weeks 2 of 6 Videos. These will help in a few different ways. It will check how tense, flippy and over active if any the trail hand may be.
June 26, 2021
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Matthew
Would it be fair to say that with a Driver (and/or progressively more so with longer clubs) the back of the left hand faces the target at impact more and more - whereas it faces a little more toward the ground with, say, a wedge, or progressively with shorter clubs?
June 18, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Matthew. The lead wrist needs to flatten/bow. With shorter/higher lofted clubs you will tend to see a more aggressive bow than say with a wood.
June 18, 2021
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Matthew
Hey Craig, thanks. Got it. Is that because we are typically trying to keep a lower trajectory with those shorter clubs or just due to the physics of the club shape (like length or lie angle or whatever)?
June 18, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Matthew. Yes. Lower flight/penetrating/downward blow.
June 18, 2021
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Matthew
Got it. Great. Thanks!
June 18, 2021
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Gary C
After getting out in my backyard, swinging a club and trying both left and right side approaches I am definitely a right/trail side dominant swinger. My backswing is better when it’s shorter and overall my swing is better when I get more speed from my arms versus the body turn. So now, executing a trail side dominant swing with a crossover release, and a goal of trying to consistently hit a draw, what things do I need to keep in mind or watch out for, particularly when trying to hit a draw. With trail side dominance will I be fighting myself more trying to hit a draw? I assume a fade would be easier with this approach. Also, my hands are definitely crossing over each other so I am not sure if I am actually doing a push release as described in the tape drill video. Curious how the pieces fit together on that release if in fact I’m not doing a push release or is it possible to create speed with the trail side without doing a push release.
May 31, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
If you are having a big crossover early that would be more a lead side release. The trail side/push will be much more stable into and through impact. You don't want a ton of face rotation. If you try to create speed with trail side and don't execute push release you will tend to put more stress on the body through rotation, or have to time a lot of hand action. Usually leading to two way miss. You can keep the club shallower/shorter backswing and still be lead side dominant as a side note. To hit more a draw you are going to have to keep the chest quieter and focus on more the arm motion versus rotation to get the trail arm into impact like the Overview to Push Release.
June 1, 2021
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Gary C
I keep feeling like if my right hand feels more active in the downswing and release I generate more power and my follow through seems better. Curious the right hand driving the release can add power and if doing that requires me to roll the hands over each other more actively to ensure I don’t leave the club face open at impact? Not trying to deviate from the RST fundamentals but curious why the right hand being more active feels more naturals to me overall and what domino effect is created when doing that. I am right handed so I wonder if it’s old bad habits of being too arms dominated is what makes it feel more powerful and comfortable or if it’s just that my dominant hand wants to be more dominant. If I keep my right hand lighter and release with the lead arm it feels correct according to the drills but less powerful. Maybe that means I am not yet hitting with my legs properly yet? Am I going down a worm hole of variables or compensations here?
May 29, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. The trail hand can add power in the lead side release, but you really want it to be pretty passive. You want in to be a passive conduit of power versus active and controlling a lot of face rotation. I would say the power loss without any trail hand is coming from lack of legs, or leverage in the wrists. That is why it is an option in Rotary on which one is the driver of your swing. Take a look at Left vs Right Video.
May 30, 2021
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Gary C
Having trouble finding that video. Nothing comes up with that exact title when I search...
May 30, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hmm. It's not on the search box. My apologies. Go to Video Menu--> Axiom Dashboard --> Fine Tune --> Left vs Right.
May 31, 2021
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Gary C
Thanks. Rewatched it and it was helpful in clarifying some things. Now my question is more what approach would be recommended in my situation. It seems that one method/approach will likely feel more natural or easy to me but I have also spent the last 18 months working through all the DEAD Drill steps and all that stuff seems to be very lead side dominant. Now that I am back to the range and beginning to hit balls I want to make sure what I’ve practiced and learned wasn’t for nothing but I also don’t want to reinvent the wheel or be swimming upstream for what my body seems to do better naturally. Would you recommend that I try to stick to a more lead side swing type to build on the DEAD drill stuff even if a trail side dominant swing feels easier for me? I have noticed I feel like I have more control with a shorter backswing (which, if I understand correctly also incorporates a bit less body turn) versus the lead side. I suspect my first trip to the range was full of me trying to mix and match and my body ending up confused. I like the idea of a slower, easier swing and want a draw as my stock shot shape so that makes me think I should stick to lead side but I do also like the more compact swing with a shorter backswing. Curious your thoughts for me here.
May 31, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Tough question for me to answer because I can't feel what you feel. However, trail side swing, lead side swing. It is still the DEAD Drill just more of a change how you deliver the club. My suggestion is to try both at the range. When you find one more comfortable. Only the last half of the downswing during release would you really need to change from all the work you've done. Which really wouldn't take much time at all to start to configure. Just like the Tape Drill Video. You can see to the naked eye it hasn't made a monstrous difference in appearance.
May 31, 2021
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Gary C
Thanks. I’ll do some experimenting. If I understand the Left vs Right video correctly, a lead side swing will be one that more easily produces a draw ball flight and will generate a slower tempo and more effortless power with a light trail hand (very Ernie Els or Vijay Singh type of swing) whereas a right side dominant Ed swing will be quicker tempo and shorter with less rotation since power is coming more from the trail arm? If my goal is the fastest path to a consistent draw flight and an easier/more reputable swing, then lead side might be more what I should strive for?
May 31, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Lead side will tend to be more draw bias and effortless without a doubt.
May 31, 2021
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Tim
I am trying to feel this but I’m just not making good contact. I look good past the knee with my knuckles rolled under and logo down but I feel like it’s presenting the toe to the ball. I’m a life long right hand flipper. What am I missing here with just left hand on.
May 5, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Tim. Sounds like you are actively working the club too much. Take a look at Play the Best Golf of Your Life in 6 Weeks Video 2 of 6 and Fix Your Release. Delete the tension.
May 6, 2021
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Tim
Thanks Craig, working on it. Still really struggling to avoid the wrist cup and find a constant point of contact with the ground. Is this just something that can only be fixed with time and repetition? I find it difficult to hold the club loosely as it feels really heavy. Will this seem easier with time? I have yet to hit a crispy one ugh!
May 7, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Tim. You have to have enough pressure in last three lead fingers. Don't go too loose with those. If the wrist is cupping you are performing that motion. Some Perfect Shaft Lean Video will help with the feeling of non-cup. It is initially tough, but will get easier the more you realize it's about doing less.
May 7, 2021
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Gary C
I keep having little epiphanies each day as I am drilling 9-3 and focusing on light grip pressure and training the lead side release. I notice that without the right hand on the club my lead hand rotates over further on the follow through such that the logo faces more down towards the ground. When trail hand is added that rotation is minimized a bit so the logo faces more behind me BUT the lighter my trail hand grips the club the more closed the club head is at 3:00. Something about this reminds me of vijay’s release. My question is, is all this acceptable and how will that affect overall shot shape? Is this leading to a more closed club face at impact or if the club is rotating naturally (due to my light grip) does it still arrive square at impact and just turn over more after impact. A local fitter and teacher mentioned to me recently that a proper release should end up with the logo facing the ground. Given what I’ve observed with lead arm only it seems like all this would be acceptable and proper but I just want to make sure. Thanks.
April 23, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. If you aren't manually squaring it and the club is freely doing it on its own I wouldn't worry much. Facing the ground with both hands may be overkill unless you are extremely loose. But, I would shy away from that excessive with both hands when the club reaches 3 O Clock.
April 23, 2021
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Gary C
It looks and feels like it is happening that much naturally if my right hand is gripping the club so lightly that it feels like it’s just barely gripping the club (maybe 1 or 2 out of 10 grip pressure in the trail hand) but if my right hand grips the club slightly more firm in my trail hand (still lighter than the lead hand though) then the club releases to 3:00 in a row up or slightly closed position naturally. Seems it all depends on how firmly I grip the club with my trail hand. Biggest follow up question here: would it be a bad thing to grip the club that loosely at this stage of my golf swing development? Is it a good practice focus temporarily to really ingrain the light grip so the club releases naturally and then grip a bit firmer later?
April 23, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Zero issue with working on lighter pressure. Players will always increase it when going faster. So keeping a good check on it now is a good thing.
April 23, 2021
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Gary C
Would it be correct to understand that keeping the right hand as light and passive as possible throughout the swing is as important or more so than maintaining a light lead hand grip and soft wrists? I notice on my 9-3 drills that even as my lead hand grip and wrist firms up slightly as I lengthen the swing, so long as the right hand remains light and passive (along for the ride so to speak) that the club still rotates and releases naturally. I am still focusing on maintaining a light and relaxed lead hand throughout as well. Just curious if what I’m feeling and seeing is accurate overall.
April 22, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. The trail hand needs to be very passive in a lead hand dominated move. Your assessment would be on par with learning how to control the swing with the lead side.
April 22, 2021
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Gary C
After watching several players slow motion swings, paying particular attention to their left hand throughout the swing and particularly at impact it doesn’t seem that the pros are doing anything to actively turn their hands or roll their knuckles under as they approach impact. This obviously plays into your comment that the hands need to remain passive. Where or how does the hand get into the proper position while keeping hands passive? I am noticing that when I focus on keeping my thumb and forefinger light (almost just barely touch the club) and really just grip with my last three fingers that my wrist flattens out almost immediately during the takeaway (from being slightly cupped at address). Is this feel correct? Does the hand get into the proper position more throughout the swing rather than as a result of a conscious effort to turn my hands or roll them over? How does all this work together as far as keeping hands passive while also getting my hands into the proper position at impact?
April 19, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. The hips are pulling the shoulders, arms, then hands. The pull from the lead side help the hands arrive in the correct spot. However, as I mentioned in the reply to the post below. Some players have to train the correct spot. I can't tell you how many students I've had to teach flat lead/bowed lead wrist at impact. From here, once they know the feeling and have corrected the old movement pattern they can start to diminish the control to hit said position. The lead wrist will maintain some cupping from address. It shouldn't push or bow out. When doing lead arm only you may lose a little more of that cupping then generally seen in a two handed normal swing. Take a look at Using the Wrists in the Golf Swing and Left Hand Power Release Drill. You gradually lose cupping throughout the swing. Not a quick burst from cupped to bowed.
April 20, 2021
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Gary C
What are your thoughts on creating a forward press with the hands, at address, that mimics or reinforces the position I want my hands in at impact? Is it possible to simply lean the hands forwards the target slightly and create the flat wrist and shaft lean necessary for a good release at setup? Does doing this remove variables and simplify things either as a practice tool or as a general step? What potential problems arise from doing this and should it be avoided or used only as a practice reference until I gain consistency over the release. Not wanting to become Mathew Wolfe here or anything but curious if a forward press would allow things to be more simplified overall or if it would create other problems.
April 20, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. You would not want to create impact position at address. They are two different animals. One is static and the other is dynamic. In the long run it would actually hurt the chances of proper positioning at impact. It also would tend to put the wrists in a position of roll for the backswing which would diminish how the face should rotate overall from back to front.
April 20, 2021
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Gary C
I am struggling in the first drill from this video to “stuck the club” in the ground in the exact same location and a proper impact location as I practice. I am getting the club face square with the wrist flat/bowed and the top of the glove facing the target but the club hits the ground in a variety of places as I practice. I am practice at home, on carpet, without a ball. Not sure if this is contributing or if it has something to do with grip pressure (I do notice it improves a bit when I keep the thumb and forefinger light and try to swing more in a slow tempo) or the fact that I am preset onto my left side and therefore not moving my lower body to pull the arms. How concerned about this should I be given this drills primary focus seems to be getting the left hand in the proper position. Will things synch up better as I begin to make it more of a fluid dynamic motion and especially once I add the right hand and begin having hip rotation involved as it becomes more the 9-3 drill?
April 19, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
When you start to make it more fluid and dynamic ( 9 to 3) it will help. But, more than likely tension. Release the tension with the Play the Best Golf of Your Life in 6 Weeks Video 2 of 6. Sounds like you are thumb pushing, or forcing said items.
April 19, 2021
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Gary C
Just watched the video you suggested and I think it clarified some things in a big way. It did give me a question or two. 1. Would it be correct to understand that if I am using a light grip pressure that allows the club head to rotate freely that just that one thing synthesizes all the important points from 5 Minutes To The Perfect Release in that it allows the hands to be passive and the proper release to happen automatically without any active manipulation of the hands or arms? 2. If question one is true, would it be equally as fast and effective or more so to focus on say the 9-3 drill slowly and with the proper light and relaxed grip pressure when trying to achieve a proper release technique? In other words, does a light and relaxed grip that allows the club to function as designed actually shortcut or eliminate the need for the drills in the 5 minutes to the perfect release video? Not trying to be lazy but it seems getting out of your own way and allowing the club to work as designed may actually solve multiple problems without developing a mental habit of trying to actively turn my hands over. I find myself thinking about my hands a lot during the release drills when maybe just playing more relaxed is a more efficient and effective focal point. Is this also what makes it seem as though the pros don’t have to actively manipulate their hands when viewed in slow motion? I suppose I am always looking for the most streamlined thought process to the desired goal. Seems relaxation might fit that where the release is concerned...
April 19, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. You still need enough pressure to not lose the club, but the main point is to allow the club to freely rotate and have a passive release. Light grip and 9 to 3 would be great. I would caution going too slow though because you need some of the speed and momentum from the moving components of the body. Some players scoop, flip , etc. and/or trail hand dominant. I had to train proper lead hand usage in order to make it passive/correct. Yes, this can be seen as why it looks like pros don't actively manipulate their hands because in a lead side swing they are just the conduit.
April 20, 2021
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Gary C
So would the most effective approach to really training a proper lead side release be to both focus on the light grip and doing a 9-3 drill with some tempo but also using the drills from the 5 Min to perfect release video as a way to train the feel of the lead hand being dominant and what a proper hand position is? How would you prescribe all of those drills to work together so that I maximize my practice time. Also, would it be possible that my struggles to stick the club into the ground in the same spot each time also be a sign I am trying to do that drill too fast? I have actually done some reps with the thumb and forefinger off the club entirely and I still seem to stick the club in a different spot each time. I don’t suffer this problem when I add the full release and think about the club just brushing the carpet. I don’t want to overthink the 5 Min drills but also don’t want to try to lazily shortcut any drills that may be really helpful to that development by just focus only on a 9-3 with a light grip. How should I approach all these drills in a cohesive way?
April 20, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. I would practice impact only from 5 release, and then move it into 9 to 3 lead arm only with release. Sticking it in the ground usually more a control and push issue. Trying to do too much. Keep it simple a light. Start at an impact position. Get used to free swing from fulcrum. Plug in body motion keeping same tension in arm/hand.
April 20, 2021
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Gary C
When you say start by just drilling impact position with lead hand only, is that drill 1 from the 5 Min release video? Just do that and focus on letting the club fall into position with a light grip so as not to to push with the thumb or otherwise inhibit the natural rotation the club is designed to do? In other words, don’t try so hard to make it to impact rather than getting out of the clubs way and allowing it to fall into impact so I can stop there and feel and see the proper position. Hopefully beginning to develop a proper relaxed mental and physical approach as I do this drill... Thanks for all the clarification and patience with me here.
April 20, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Yes. Nice and relaxed free released club from body impact position. Therefore, you don't interfere with club design. If you get a good feel for impact you can start letting it release once you have it then blend into 9 to 3 with body.
April 20, 2021
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Gary C
Also, since I’m still doing this drill in front of a mirror without hitting balls, what would be the result of a slightly closed club face at impact if the club is travel on an in to out path? Does this still create a draw but bigger? Is this a bad miss or is that preferable to leaving the face open at impact. And is an aggressive crossover part of what creates shift lean at impact/hands in front of club head, in conjunction with make sure the hips pull the arms?
April 15, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
It would create a bigger draw. The aggressive crossover shouldn't be that aggressive. The release will be more passive. The hips leading the way and the lead arm hand/being pulled into impact with flat lead wrist creates the lean.
April 16, 2021
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Gary C
Spent several hours working on the drills in this video today. Very illuminating! I had no idea what I was missing before. Another question comes up from my practice. I was noticing after getting to the right arm staying on the club through impact that from a timing perspective I get a better and more consistent result when I focus on allowing my right hand to help speed up the crossover. This seems to help me reach the proper impact position and gives me a split second to make sure my hips fire first so I don’t end up having arms and hips moving simultaneously or arms outpacing my hips and leading to an closed club face at impact. This is at least the thought that seems to be helping my sync things up properly but am I playing with fire here or can the right hand help out so long as the lead hand is driving the crossover so the hand and forearms rollover each other properly?
April 14, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Sounds like you are playing with fire. You don't want the trail hand having action/control over how the face squares in a lead side move. The trail should be pretty passive. Can it help add a little speed. Maybe a touch, but it will be very easy for it to take over quickly.
April 15, 2021
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Gary C
After watching Left vs Right in the Axiom series and noticing trail side feels more comfortable when swinging club one handed I am curious what, if anything, changes in how the club gets released if I am trying to think about things more from my right side. Noticing that thinking of pulling the club up and back during the backswing feels more comfortable/natural/easier. When doing this, following chuck’s explanation in the AXIOM video the left hand grip is slightly lighter and left hand feels more along for the ride. How does a takeaway/backswing like that square with the release. What should my thought/focus be? This drill seems very lead hand dominant. Also, if thinking about trail side does right hand grip need to be stronger than left or both equal? Chuck mentioned he felt right hand gripped firmer for a trail side swing but not sure if that’s equal to or more than the left. Lastly, if I am wanting to try to drill an impact position/release that would train me to hit a draw or baby draw consistently what should I be looking for in the face angle at impact? I’ve heard a slightly closed face with and in to out club path creates a draw. Also heard that knuckles should roll under as or through impact (which looks like what chuck’s left hand does in this video) but not sure what the face alignment should be or if at first just getting the club face square is preferable. Lots of questions there. Sorry. Thanks for the help amd clarification.
April 13, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Takeaway and backswing don't change regardless of release. The drill above if for a lead side dominant release. For trail side release the trail hand will have more pressure into and through impact. Take a look at the Tape Drill. I would focus on just squaring and free rotation first. Being off a degree can change the ball flight by 15 feet. Would be impossible to guide/place it at perfect angle. Lead side release will tend to be more draw. Shallower AOA, more in to out, and club face squaring with quiet chest. Trail side will tend to lend itself more towards slight cut/fade.
April 13, 2021
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Gary C
I’ve always naturally had a slice or fade and was a very arms dominate swinger. My goal when starting this system was to learn to hit the ball straight or draw it and try to get out of the fade being my natural shot shape. Given that, I wonder if diving into a trail side release might lead to me falling into some old bad habits again... If the release is independent of the takeaway/backswing then I am very likely overthinking it as the mental thoughts/focus that really help me get into a proper backswing position shouldn’t have any bearing on how I execute the downswing, correct? In other words, I could be okay thinking of the right arm pulling the club up to the top in the backswing and then still think of the left hip pulling my arms down and through impact and everything would blend together well?
April 13, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Yes. The backswing won't have any effect on how which side you choose to release it with. You will see lead side swingers may have a more relaxed longer backswing, or trail side pushers more compact. But, in the end the components required stay the same. Weight shift, good rotation and the arms staying in front. Don't think of it as the right arm pulling the club back. The arms are quiet. More the shoulder and core, then hips lead the way coming down.
April 13, 2021
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Gary C
When drilling the release is it equally important to focus on how my left hand is rotating as much as is the club face getting squared at the impact point? Will these two aspects also inform how strong or not my grip needs to be? I know the RST grip video advocates for a slightly stronger grip but I can imagine too strong and the hands would need to flip to square versus being allowed to simply roll over. Right now I notice that my left palm seems to end up more facing out in front of my at 3 o’clock rather than towards the sky (as I understand is more correct). I notice that with my current grip setup when I allow my hands and forearms to rotate over each other that much the club face becomes very shut at impact. This makes me think my current grip is too strong and therefore I need to revisit the release drills and sort those aspects out simultaneously. Also, as the release becomes natural I shouldn’t be focusing on actively doing anything with my hands but letting arms and hands remain soft and passive so the club rotates over on its own, correct?
April 13, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Don't worry so much about the club. Take care of the wrist/forearm. The club will square itself. The grip strength will have more to do with overall swing components - lag plane, etc and how it would affect squaring. Too strong the hands would be more aggressive. At 3 O'Clock the glove logo should be facing behind you (Fix Your Release Video). Yes. The goal is to make the release passive so you aren't over controlling the club through the hitting area.
April 14, 2021
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Gary C
Sorry for so many questions but I have one more. How does the grip taught in the RST grip video align with the crossover release outlined in the release video above? I am confident I have got the grip right as shown in that video with the lines between my thumb and forefinger running parallel and straight up my right arm but I read in the supplemental articles that the crossover release works better with a more neutral or weak grip. I may be way overthinking it but I am now unsure if I defer to my grip or to the release style. Whichever way it seems that the important focus is the hands and wrists and if that’s right then the club face should square on its own. So is it just getting the wrist/hands in a position at impact where the left wrist is slightly bowed and glove logo is facing the target amd this rolls over to the glove logo facing behind me? If I don’t see a square face when achieving that position do I alter my grip strength? Again, sorry if I am going in circles....
April 14, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Same grip. Slightly stronger then neutral. The lead hand "v" should be in-between shoulder and neck. Trail hand "v" to trail shoulder socket. Trying to get wrist flat/bowed and then allowing to roll over logo facing behind you. If you don't see a square club you more than likely have way too much tension and not a grip placement issue.
April 14, 2021
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Donald
My goal has been to eliminate the flip release & chicken wing. But I can't seem to bow the left wrist & rotate the left hand. I played too many yrs without even hearing the words flip Or chkn wng to change now. I would prefer a left hand release, IF POSSIBLE. Im not confident. DON
March 26, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Don. You can shy away from chicken wing with proper trail release. But, no worries wanting to stay lead. Once, you get this Axiom we have to do release drills by the pool .
March 27, 2021
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Stephen
Hello, In '5 min to perfect Release' Chuck uses 2 terms to describe the left wrist at impact, namely, 'straight' and 'arched'. Which one should I aim to achieve? Steve G
March 23, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. Either one. The goal is a flat lead wrist at impact. You may add a little bow if you want to de-loft the club a little more.
March 24, 2021
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Dean
HI, I'm trying to release the club with just the bottom 3 fingers on my left hand, but I feel a lot of pressure with my left thumb. I try hard to tone the pressure down, but it is a struggle. Will this thumb pressure lead to issues? If so, is there any method to reduce the thumb pressure?
March 10, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dean. The key is not to push with the lead thumb. It will help with stability and control. But, it doesn't need to be actively doing much. The more you practice release and letting the club do the job itself the hand will relax and the tension to push will diminish.
March 10, 2021
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Blake
Hi, Chris. I sent you a swing review yesterday, but is it too late to cancel that one and send in some videos I like better?
March 10, 2021
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
You should be able to delete the current pending review and resubmit the new videos. If you cannot find how to do that, let me know and I will figure out a different solution for you.
March 10, 2021
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Ray
Thanks for the review Craig and the explanation i now understand what i'm doing incorrectly with the hands and arms. Will do the impact drill from this video correctly with passive arms and hands and slowly build it up to lightly add the rear hand finger tips. Once i feel i'm doing it correctly will send in another video to make sure i'm heading in the right direction. PS- Hope all is good with your mum cheers
February 4, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ray. Awesome. I'm glad the picture, or details make more sense now. I want you to take advantage of all that hard work. Thank you for the well wishes.
February 4, 2021
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ADRIAN
5 minutes to the perfect release . . . in a 9 minute video hehe
February 1, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Adrian. Maybe back to the drawing board with that title.
February 1, 2021
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Donald
Craig: I can do this drill & understand it perfectly but on a full swing the wrist breaks down & the big chicken wing appears. with a lot of study, I discovered most of the problem is in my tense left upper arm from elbow to shoulder--at impact, I feel as if I'm trying bust down a door with a lunge. thus the left shoulder raises & the big chik wing appears along with the scoop. Solution would seem to be to relax, but cant seem do it.
January 8, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Don. Let me see it . To keep the fulcrum better watching the progression will help me see if it is solely tension, or a function of something else. Like Moving the Fulcrum and Early Extension Videos.
January 8, 2021
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Mark
So I should pull my hands down at the start of transition or it’s a combo of pulling hands with weight shift ?
October 14, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. Weight will the driving force with a blend of pull/gravity. You are trying to shy away from yanking the arm. Take a look at Play the Best Golf Of Your Life in 6 weeks 2 of 6 and Left Hand Power Release Drill.
October 14, 2020
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Kyaw Thet
Hi Craig, When I checked myself in a video, I was not releasing properly losing a lot of distance. I was doing like what Chuck showed here which is cupping the wrist. I thought like if I rolled over my hand the ball would not fly and would roll on the ground.
October 5, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyaw. You want the lead wrist flat, or slightly bowed at impact. You need to shy away from cupping. Take a look at Stop Slicing Start Releasing and Fix Your Release.
October 5, 2020
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Alan
Hi, when I do this with my driver I keep the ball off my left ear - with slightly more spine tilt - but I get a push fade. Can you assist please? Alan
September 22, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Alan. The face is still open. I would work on adjusting the setup to allow some more time for the club to square. Proper Tee Height Video. Also, check to make sure the shoulders aren't opening too soon leaving the face open.
September 22, 2020
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Kyaw Thet
Hi Craig, I could release the iron club pretty well and feel the club rotating through impact, but I can't feel the same with fairway woods. Seems like they don't rotate through impact. Please help!
September 5, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyaw. Take a look at Hit Your Fairway Woods Solid Video. Make sure you setup/swing parameters first aren't allowing it to release.
September 7, 2020
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Gerard
Great drill, problem for me is when I try putting the right hand back on the club, it’s killing my back. Is this a problem with my positioning or the fact that I’ve never been close to a good release position, and as such, it’s stretching “new muscles”?
August 13, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gerard. We may need to check the positions. However, you are more than likely stretching new muscles because you aren't used to letting the club release independently of the body. Take a look at the Vijay Release Drill Video. Good news is you can even let it go if need be,.
August 13, 2020
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Christopher
What a great drill! I never knew what a proper release felt like, always had a follow through with a broken down left wrist, club close to the body. I never understood the mechanics of it until now. Thank you very much for this. I have a bad left shoulder from football and two surgeries, and have limited external rotation, so I feel like I have to stretch and mobilize in order to release properly. But thanks again!
August 4, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Christopher. Thanks. A proper release is vital. Take a look at Left Hand Power Release and Stop Slicing Start Releasing for more information. We have tons of videos on this subject.
August 4, 2020
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Ian
I have been working on the Dead drills for a few months now and feel I am getting the body movements somewhere near. On the course however I have been feeling I am not getting enough energy into the ball. After watching this video again I have realised that I have been starting to release the club when my lead hand is in front of my trail leg. It seems however I need to wait until my hand is in front of my lead leg before the wrist rotates. Am I correct in this assumption.
June 26, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. The release will begin around the trail thigh. However, the vast majority of players release early. Feeling that it doesn't rotate until you get to the lead thigh is perfectly acceptable when training. You can see this in the Golf Swing Transition Drill and Left Hand Release Drill.
June 26, 2020
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Kevin
Thank you guys for all the info you provide here, this is great! Just a quick question about maintaining the arch in the left wrist. I can see that I am squaring the club OK, but my release is "scoopy" as Chuck describes. What is the correct focus to maintain the arch through release? Is this just a bit of palmar flexion to maintain the proper arch?
June 8, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kevin. You're most welcome. Take a look at Fix Your Release and Knuckles Down Videos. Yes, you will add a little bit of palmar flexion flat to slightly bowed.
June 8, 2020
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James
This is probably one of the best golf instructional videos on the planet. So much good content here. Going to work on this today.
June 7, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello James. I concur!
June 7, 2020
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Bill
Quick questions on this release: 1) how much additional speed (mph or % increase in mph) does this release action create; and 2) how much more speed does the right hand add to this release? I'm curious if this release adds more speed over a flip or body turn release, or is it just more distance with low trajectory of ball flight? Thanks, Bill
May 27, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Bill. 6-8 MPH in a properly released club vs body release. Trail hand does add speed, but speed is generated through multiple sources. Take a look at How to Maintain Club Head Speed as Your Get Older to know where power comes from. The proper rotation of the face combined with leverage, rotation and width. Leverage will be 2/3 of your power source.
May 27, 2020
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Bill
I like that answer! Thanks, Bill
May 27, 2020
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Jonathan
Hi Craig, couple things. I am doing pretty awesome at letting the right hand come off the club during the release, and getting good consistency with the shorter irons. However, with the longer irons, I'm having trouble getting consistent contact, and seems that I come in pretty steep. So, how do we know what plane (shallow vs. steep) to swing on with short/long irons and woods/driver? (specifically during the 9-3 drill as well) Moreover, I lose control with the long irons because the club is just heavier and harder to stabilize during impact (shifts when it strikes the ground). With the longer clubs it feels more natural to want to keep both hands on the club too - for stability, speed and power. Plus If I keep width (even if I lose lag) it seems that the longer clubs are way more consistent and go far. Also, do you have any drills to sync up the right and with the left hand during the release? My right wrist tends to be extended through impact (not slightly bent) and most often causes the club to release early and I tend spin the hands thru impact quicker, and my left arm flips over almost immediately after my front thigh (in contrast when I release the right arm, the left arm has nice forward extension where it releases where it should - see pic below). I've tried the reaching over with the right arm drill after impact, and it helps but not perfect. What is the action of the right arm through impact? How do I throw the right arm and still keep wrist supple while still not overpowering with the right (so I can maintain the strong right grip on the club - where the right thumb isn't spinning over the shaft). Also, where and how am I supposed to feel the pressure points on the right hand? That part always confused me. Thank you
May 22, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jonathan. There are a lot of topics in this post. It would be tough to cover and explain all without some visuals, but I will try. Shallow vs Steep. Take a look at How to Fix Plane and Path, and Stop Coming Over the Top and Slicing Videos. The big component is the shaft pitch isn't getting more vertical during the transition and almost like laying down on the plane. Take a look at How Swing Speed Affects Compression for a good way to blend both arms into the release. During the release the trail hand should be passive and not controlling face rotation. Take a look at Right Arm Release for how it works through the strike. If you were throwing a ball you wouldn't have your wrist locked. To let go it would have to be soft. That is the feeling you are looking for. Don't worry so much about the pressure points of right arm right now until the lead side is completely mastered. I haven't needed to teach that, but to about .01% of golfers. Master lead side, and trail hand very light.
May 23, 2020
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Todd
So , it seems as if your saying ,the shoulders are square to the target line at impact and the hips don't fire first on the down swing ? but they are square to target line as well?
March 11, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Todd. At impact the shoulders will be square and hips 35-45 degrees open.
March 12, 2020
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Darryl
2 questions. Is it ok to do the first part of this drill with an impact bag? At impact and through release, does the lead upper arm maintain contact with the chest though out? Thanks.
January 11, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Darryl. You can experiment with an impact bag for the first part of the drill. Lead arm only will tend to come away from the chest. With both arms you will still have a little connection in upper bicep/pectoral region.
January 11, 2020
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Mark
Craig, It appears to me that the perfect release is automatically generated when using the proper dead drill body movement in combination with the Rotary Swing connect training aid (that locks in a narrow elbow separation and forces the right arm folding over the left after impact). Is this observation correct? Based upon observing my swing in a mirror, this appears to be the case.
December 9, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. Yes, it should work that way.
December 9, 2019
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Robert
No matter what I do my 7i will go about 135 yrd and the ball goes about 135 ft into the sky. how can I reduce height and increase distance.
December 6, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Robert. We would really need to see the swing to understand all the movements that are making the shot go off kilter. However, sounds like you have a lot of loft at impact. You need to learn how to get a little more lean and de-loft the face into the strike. Take a look at Fix Your Release, Knuckles Down and How to Get Perfect Shaft Lean.
December 7, 2019
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Albert
When I start my downswing I have been focusing on feeling the lag angle get bigger (forearm and shaft get farther away from each other)...the "feel" is that the angle does get bigger but when I check in the mirror I hit all the correct positions with appropriate amount of lag. Is that a normal "feel" that I should be focusing on? It makes the release more of byproduct than me forcing something when my hands are at my tail thigh. Hopefully I described this well enough for you to understand. Thanks!
November 3, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Albert. Proper lag is a byproduct of body/arm motion. You don't try to hold and float load lag. However, lag is going to be when the wrist angle increases and the spacing between the club/forearm decreases.
November 3, 2019
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David
I am quite a handsy player and when i practice the release i feel my hands start to get active just above the hip. How can i release using my forearms rather than my hands. Thanks.
November 2, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. You need to practice a passive release. Try the tension drill in Play the Best Golf of Your Life in 6 Weeks Video 2 of 6. Feel the weight of the club rotate and you not forcing it.
November 2, 2019
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Albert
when I work on the left hand release I have found that sometimes my left hand rotates/knuckles roll under properly, but my wrist does not fully extend (having that slight arch on top of the wrist bones). Do I just need to focus more on extending the wrist downward? Or should this be happening naturally?
October 31, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Albert. To reach full extension (ulnar deviation) that is a byproduct of a proper release. You shouldn't have to force that position. Sounds like tension to me. Use the Vijay Release Drill and Fix Your Release for further help. Also, you Throw the Club Head at the Golf Ball to see it happens naturally.
October 31, 2019
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Stephen
When doing the swing, not the drill, how much grip pressure on lead hand, since you are indicating very supple , very light pressure on trail hand. On a scale 1-10.
October 14, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. Typically, tour pros start with a 2 at address and end with an 8 at impact (1-10 Scale with 1 being the lightest). This will naturally increase and you don't need to manually make this happen.
October 14, 2019
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Kirkland
How long is the wrist hinge held after posting up?
October 4, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kirkland. From here you start releasing. You shouldn’t be retaining hinge much longer.
October 4, 2019
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Darryl
When I am doing the one handed drills, I feel a lot of pressure with the left thumb pushing down on the shaft. I know that, with the full swing, the pressure is supposed to be in the last 3 fingers of the left hand and not the thumb. Does this mean I'm doing the drill wrong?
October 4, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Darryl. The thumb should be supporting, but not pushing against the shaft to throw the angle. Take a look at the Frisbee Drill.
October 4, 2019
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Paul
On the first drill about sticking the club into the ground how would you perform that drill indoors on a hard surface.also in the other drills is it going to be effective to hit soft foam golf balls
September 23, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Paul. In answer to your first question: VERY CAREFULLY! Especially if you are married. I would try to find a thick piece of carpet. Certainly will help to start with foam ball.
September 23, 2019
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Ardell
When I do the squat to square move referencing the desddrill from our bootcamp club seems to want to release. Is that feeling correct? Thanks in advance for answering my question.
September 23, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ardell. The post up is what triggers the release. The squat to square you should be shifting to create and maintain the lag. Take a look at the Frisbee Drill.
September 23, 2019
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M. (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Craig, I hear Chuck saying in this video to take of loft from the club by having this "flat left wrist" at impact. Is this what you also want for slow swingspeed players. With low loft it is difficult to get enough height in ballflight to get optimal distance. Do I make a mistake in my thinking?
August 27, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello M. Ideally, you should still strive for a flat lead wrist at impact. You can make adjustments later on if you require more height.
August 27, 2019
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David
I understand what Chuck is saying here and since I have been trying to "hold off" the clubface forever because that is what I have been taught it's difficult to change. Am I wrong to think there is a bit off timing to this because I end up getting the clubface shut to much on some swings. It may be because my shoulders are not square at impact but just wondering. When I "time" correctly the power is amazing. Secondly, when does the left elbow fold after impact? Mine seems to want to go skyward straight up, it's easy to fold right elbow on BS but do you physically have to pull the left back to your body after impact to get left to fold?
August 12, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Timing will be related more to a flip, or shoulder spin issue. Remember, the goal for the release is for it to be passive. You need to train initially the components, but newton will be taking care of the squaring of the face (not you). Take a look at Flip vs Release, Power Release Drill and Moving the Fulcrum. The lead arm won't fold until after fully released and extended in the 3 O' Clock Position. You don't need to manually make it do anything after that point.
August 12, 2019
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Stephen
Hi - unsurprisingly I find this the most difficult element of the Rotary Swing programme to master - alongside using the left leg to post up. Probably because I have never done either properly before! I suspect I hold onto the club too hard with my right hand so when it comes to impact the club face is still open and I fade/slice. What is the best 'feeling' to have when it comes to the Release - is it to have the left hand knuckles facing down - or is it more the have the right hand knuckles facing up? Thank you
July 15, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. Lead hand knuckles facing down and rotating over. The most common issue is trust. You need to allow for the release. Let it go!. Take a look at Play the Best Golf of Your Life in 6 Weeks Section Video 2 of 6. Great drill to release tension and proper feel.
July 15, 2019
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Dan
Is there any consideration given to the direction of the club head, at all? What I mean is that it seems possible to have a flat left wrist and a rotating left forearm but to be releasing the club too far inside. Is there any sort of conscious thought to releasing the head toward target or "down the line" or anything like that? Should that hands continue toward target? What is the key to not pulling the club head inside while releasing?
July 9, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dan. Sounds like you may be flipping the elbow. It would be very hard to get inside without flipping. Your feeling will tend to be that the hands and club go straight out towards the target. But, you need to check elbow positioning. Take a look at Left Elbow Position at Impact and Flip vs. Release.
July 10, 2019
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Dan
I reviewed both videos and I still have some confusion. In Flip vs Release, for example, Chuck talks about the two types of flip— but in this video, it’s super confusing that Chuck says to get your hand to the back of the lead thigh and then roll it over. That sounds an awful lot like the second flip from the other video. I also can’t make sense out of how the humerus is supposed to stay internally rotated against an externally rotating forearm. Once the lead forearm rolls to a certain point, the elbow pits seem to begin to face away from me, no matter what I do (though the point of the elbow stays relatively the same.) How do you resist humeral rotation against that rolling forearm?
July 10, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dan. Take a look at the Left Hand Release Drill. You are allowing the club to rotate. Not forcing the rotation. In the beginning, you may have to train yourself out of holding the face. Hence, the drill to correct lead forearm/wrist motion. But, then you need to allow for Newton to be your guide (Play the Best Golf of Your Life in 6 Weeks Video 2 of 6). Depending on flexibility and genetics the lead elbow may point slightly away, but your goal is not to flip the elbow to try and release the club. The forearm motion is what you are trying to hone in on. This is also briefly discussed in the Left Arm Only Downswing Drill (Ladd) Video.
July 10, 2019
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Dan
That makes sense. It's allowing the forearms to rotate (essentially at the wrist, like opening a doorknob) and doing nothing regarding humeral rotation. That's what I do, already (I think.) I don't finish as wide as I should post-impact, I don't believe (maybe that's path and not release?), and I have two-way misses due to face control. Pulls, pull draws, push fades, and push slices. The whole smorgasbord. Just trying to to make sense of why that might be.
July 10, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dan. Yes, more like the door knob. Not having extension I would check the Chicken Wing Video and Side Bend in the Golf Downswing Video. But, as a side. Check to see how ball flights are created. Go to the 9 Days to Amazing Ball Striking Section. Understand how to create the draw, fade, and straight to see if you can find some balance.
July 10, 2019
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Colin
There is video on the site that talks about starting to square the face early in the downswing. This confused me because I always thought that the rotation has to happen, rather than actively manipulating the face which would involve too much timing? So, do I just let it go and let the face do what it does or actively use the wrists to 'make it release'?
June 29, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Colin. The key to remember is the face is always rotating. Some players need to un-train the improper motion of changing the face too early. The goal is to allow the face to rotate freely back and through. Your focus may not need to be squaring the face early, but making sure you allow for the release to happen.
June 29, 2019
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Ardell
I feel as if i have a late release. Should I start to release the club when the club is in the L position in the downswing after the squat move or when the club is parallel to the ground like the takeaway position? I am left-handed by the way... thank you in advance for answering my question.
June 22, 2019
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Mikko-Pekka
Hello Ardell. My understanding. I am not sure what you mean by L position but as you squat that brings the hands to trail thigh. When you post up that triggers the release. As Chuck says in the video you should feel that release happens at the lead thigh. But because everything is at speed the release actually happens later. But feeling is at lead thigh. The 5 min. to perfect release is awesome video and as you go trough the progression you gonna have a world class release! Harderst part is to let go control. Try to let club do its job and not steer or anything that nature. Hope that helps.
June 23, 2019
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Jack
I have an issue with early release and I am not sure if it is a left shoulder bailing out issue or too early post up issue. Making sure I have this correct - the post up initiates the release. Where should the hands be when the squat to square ends, the post up begins and ends?
June 12, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jack. Once, you squat to square the hands will be entering the trail thigh and then you will begin to post up. The post up will trigger the release by the time the hands are in front of the trail thigh. Take a look at Rotary Golf Downswing Overview Video.
June 12, 2019
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Nick
Thanks Craig, I’ve got it now.
June 11, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Nick. No problem. You're welcome.
June 11, 2019
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Nick
Hi Craig, hopefully my last question on this subject: if the left wrist is bowed at impact and bowed/flat at 3 o’clock, wouldn’t the club shaft be pointing right of target at this stage, rather than parallel as it was at 9 o’clock? Wouldn’t you have to cup the wrist to get the shaft parallel? I don’t want to start flipping again!
June 10, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Nick. It should be pointed down the target line. Remember, the forearms are rotating over. If you start holding off the release with a bowed hand and spinning chest. The hands would be left, but the club head still out side and pointed right of target.
June 11, 2019
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Nick
If the left wrist is slightly cupped at address, at what stage does it start getting bowed for impact, both in these drills and in longer swings? Also, wouldn’t it be simpler to pre-set it flat at address?
June 10, 2019
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Nick
Thanks Craig. That’s clear now. I’m finding it challenging to repair many years of flip release but the upside is an immediate improvement in my ball striking.
June 10, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Nick. Great. No flip release!
June 10, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Nick. Take a look at Using the Wrists in the Golf Swing Video. You start cupped and gradually lose it throughout the swing. Cupped at address to flat at the top. And, flat to bowed as you come into impact. The flattening to bowing stage happens as you start entering the trail thigh. If you preset the position at address it actually hurts the chance of having a dynamic impact position and proper takeaway. Take a look at Should You Have Forward Press at Setup Video.
June 10, 2019
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Nick
Should the left wrist still be flat when the club shaft reaches the 3 o’clock position?
May 24, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Nick. Yes. Unless you are doing some type of specialty shot and/or very strong grip.
May 24, 2019
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Robert
I think i have some bad habits to break here. one, i think i might be starting my lead wrist rotation too early which results in a steep shaft on the downswing. does that make sense? presumably i should focus on keeping my lead wrist quiet longer during the downswing and maybe think more delaying the rotation until closer to my lead thigh? two, i'm not sure if quite understand the proper wrist rotation. should the lead hand stay quiet and just let the wrist turnover? (That would seem to encourage a steep shaft). or should i also turn the lead hand from the small fingers for a bit of corkscrew motion? or twist the lead hand from the index/thumb (kind of like revving a motorcycle engine) to encourage a bowed wrist at impact? or all three or something?
May 22, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Robert. The club is always rotating. However, if you start rotating the face down too much too soon it will start to steepen the plane. Trace the Plane Line talks about how players that need to steepen their plane will feel more of that rotation earlier. Yes, you want to focus on allowing weight and gravity to start the club down with little to no action of the arms. Most players tend to overwork the arms initially and trail shoulder which steepens the plane. Feeling very quiet with the arms and hands until the trail thigh and as you post up start allowing for the release to happen. More focus on the last three fingers like revving a motorcycle with rotation. Take a look at the 9 Days to Amazing Ball Striking Section Day 1 Impact Control. Good way to see how the rotation happens and affects the face. The tough part is not making a last second split decision, or save with a flip. Watch the Left Hand Power Release Drill to see the gradual nature and free speed in the release.
May 22, 2019
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PATRICK
I have a quick question on what club to use while doing the club drills, does it make sense to change the club I'm using intermittently or is it better to use the same club? specifically for the 1 hand drills, as I get to the 4 and 5 iron the extra length really starts to work the hand muscles much more than say a pitching wedge, 8 or 9 irons. Just curious what the recommendation is.
May 20, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Patrick. You can change the clubs a little once you get used to the motion. But, most players do the drills with a 8, or 7 iron.
May 20, 2019
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PATRICK
Thank you very much
May 20, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Patrick. No problem. Always here to help.
May 20, 2019
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Jack
I also have a question with respect to the position of the left wrist at the end of follow through. Chuck says the left wrist should still be straight or mildly flexed all the way through until the club is horizontal. This seems to be an unnatural position. The natural position seems as though the left wrist should gradually change from slightly bowed at impact to slightly cupped/extended at the end of the release. Is keeping the left wrist straight/bowed something specifically for this drill or something that should happen on every swing? Could you also please respond to the question below wrt the role of the right wrist. Thank you. So much to learn. Love the site.
May 9, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jack. Depending on the grip strength the 3 O' Clock position the wrist should still be flat, or slightly bowed. From here it will start to re-hinge as you finish. Only cupped if you are trying to manipulate ball flight. Take a look at 9 Days to Amazing Ball Striking Day 1. I apologize Jack. When you responded to your own comment the system believed it to be completed. When you need to add to a question. Either delete, or start a new question.
May 9, 2019
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Jack
Hmmm. I guess I’ve been doing this wrong forever. It feels natural to me to end up with the club horizontal, toe of the club straight up, and wrist minimally extended. When I do it like Chuck it feels like a forced supination of the wrist and holding back the natural extension of the wrist that I have at the top of the swing. I guess I just need to retrain what I feel as natural.
May 9, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jack. Take a look at Fix Your Release and Stop Slicing and Start Releasing. You will see lots of different views. The club should be toe up, or slightly toed in. But, you want to shy away from cupping/flipping.
May 9, 2019
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Jack
I’m not sure exactly where to ask this question, so I guess I’ll ask it here. In the downswing, we want to keep our forearms and wrists relaxed to build up lag. Once the hands get to the back thigh, do we want to activate the forearms and wrists to actively accelerate through to release the club or is it strictly a passive action created by the squat and post up ?
April 25, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jack. The post up will trigger the release. You are allowing for the forearms and wrists to release passively. Not actively. You may need to train the proper motion (drill above) before that will happen correctly though.
May 9, 2019
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Jack
The reason I ask is it seems like there are conflicting statements and videos. Many say it is passive and yet the throw the ball drill and others seem to say the opposite. Below you say the pros have a grip of 2 which increases to 8 at impact. It seems as though you would have to activate the forearm muscles and increase forearm/wrist tension to do so.
April 25, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jack. The Throw the Ball Drill is for players that are too lead side dominant and have excessive under plane/lag issues. The grip pressure naturally increases. Most amateurs start at an 8 and go to a 10 plus. Take a look at You Throw the Club Head at the Golf Ball. You are allowing for the release and not solely relying on muscle strength in the arms to create good distance.
May 9, 2019
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Mikko-Pekka
Hello Jack. When you answered to your question the system doesn't notify instructor that there is a question posted. However this is my understanding. I am in Unlimited Group and have worked with Craig and have dealed with issue like this. Basically if you move your body correctly then in ideal situation the arms would automatically do the correct things. However if you have trained bad movement patterns before RST you now have to indeed train your hands to do what they should. But main focus is on body movements. We don't want active arms in any part of the swing but if they aren't responding correctly they have to be trained. Hope this helps and if not delete your comment and post again.
May 4, 2019
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Christopher
Does this same principle apply to driver and woods? Besides set up, is there anything different I should be doing in my driver swing?
April 17, 2019
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Dean
Yes, you don't need to try and change your swing just for the driver, only the setup. Craig is very clear on this throughout this thread. Craig (Certified RST Instructor) In Reply To Phil Hello Phil. Take a look at the Proper Tee Height Video to understand proper setup adjustments. However, you don't need to try and change your swing just for the driver. Craig (Certified RST Instructor) In Reply To Earl Hello Gregg. The release will stay the same with all clubs.
April 17, 2019
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Lyndon
Question ...so the rotary swing concept is different from the “exit left” concept or can you still perform the perfect release with a “left exit” concept?
April 12, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lyndon. The club will exit more towards the target. But, it is still swinging on an arc/circle. The hands shouldn't go quick left, nor the club. But, as it rotates it will start to match more of the arc. Just not quick left.
April 12, 2019
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Justin
Not sure if i am 100% doing this right .. but it almost feels like the butt of the club is coming alightly up and behind me by my right thigh as i post up.. and then everything rolls over .. is that the right feeling?
April 12, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Justin. Feel is a little subjective. It sounds like the feeling you have is almost the club head passing the hands as you release through. Which is something common I hear.
April 12, 2019
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Werner
If you are already in the impact position, what force do you use to move the arms/club? No weight shift possible anymore. You can’t use the arms/shoulders. Obliques?
March 21, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Werner. This is putting hyper focus on feeling the weight of the club and allowing the forearm to release. These are very small shots. You don't need any movement. Feel like you are just allowing the club to fall on the ball and rotate over. Once, you get the motion correct and plug in weight shift/post up. The post up will trigger the release. Chris talk a little bit about just letting the club "plop" down on the ball in Perfecting Your Golf Impact Position Video 1 of 4.
March 21, 2019
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Werner
Thank you Craig. At the moment I fail to get more speed by releasing the club. I suppose the speed will get better in time when synchronisation gets better?
March 21, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Werner. Exactly. The release will help with some speed due to the toe rotating around the heel. But, when combined with the lag, post, and sequence you will see the increase.
March 21, 2019
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Christopher
Does the wrist position differ with the driver swing? I notice Chuck talks a lot about pointing the logo of the glove down, slightly bowed wrist etc. What is the proper left wrist cue when using a driver? Is it different?
March 15, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Christopher. The wrist position really won't vary much. You don't want excessive bow like the Knuckles Down Video. Anatomically flat which may feel like a slight bow is fine.
March 16, 2019
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user145552
I've been stepping through all the videos and drills quite religiously and its been going well. I just had to say of all the videos so far this one gave me a good laugh. I have always struggled with chicken wing on the follow through. When I got to the last step where you put your right hand back on the club it felt totally alien to me...lol. Can't wait to take this outside. Just saying thanks a bunch to you and Chuck.
February 18, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello User145552. Thanks for the post. You now can feel/see how much the trail hand tries to dominate the swing. Now, get that lead side working properly while the trail behaves itself.
February 19, 2019
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James
Have started on these reps this evening and did 20 reps + on all 5 sets from the printout of 5 minutes to the Perfect Release. Have to say to do all 5 sets of 20 reps takes more than five minutes! However, I feel I can continue now doing just the last set as the back of my left hand is constantly in the flat or slightly bowed position. The 4th drill of lightly holding on with the right hand to impact and letting go; then with the club at 3:00 bringing the right hand under and lightly on to the club does cause me some strain on my left oblique, which I take is normal.I feel confident enough to do just the last set every day as I can see my left hand is remaining slightly bowed through impact; in fact I just did another 50 reps on this and felt that the left hand was controlling the club and the right hand was there just adding speed.
January 6, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello James. Maybe a wee bit more than 5 Minutes . Feeling some new oblique engagement is normal. Great to hear your awareness is lead hand control with trail not over powering, but able to add speed as needed.
January 6, 2019
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Phil
Quick question re release. Without any R hand control I find the I still pull/hook the driver but not the 3 wood off the tee. Is there a momentary delay in rolling the L hand under if you're hitting up on a higher teed ball for the driver?. I think my L wrist is rolling under too soon and closing the face/ should I tee up the driver lower? Only happens with driver
January 1, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Phil. Take a look at the Proper Tee Height Video to understand proper setup adjustments. However, you don't need to try and change your swing just for the driver. I would check to make sure you aren't getting slightly steep, or spinning the shoulders at impact while releasing.
January 2, 2019
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Paul
Now I'm getting confused, I am fairly new to the website and have not really been diligent so far with the training and reps, but I am using bits and pieces in my swing and it is improving. The other day I was jumping around on the website and I watched one of chucks videos where he says to use your right arm towards the bottom of the swing like you are throwing a ball towards the ground, this seems to challenge everything else I have seen chuck is teaching and it really has me confused ?
December 6, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Paul. The throw the ball drill is for players that already pull too hard and tend to get stuck. 99% of golfers need to stay lead side focused. Stick with the lead side motion control first.
December 6, 2018
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Fred
Toward end of this season I finally learned how to "lose the right hand" and man ... what a difference! I spent a lot of years trying to hit the ball with my right hand which amounts to pushing the club face into the ball ... does not work because there is no pushing in golf .... all pulling. So now my right hand barely stays on the handle during my backswing all the way through the follow through. I found this also fosters leading with the hips and pulling everything down and through the ball. I am really looking forward to next season to continue improving on this swing gem ... gives more accuracy and POWER !
November 13, 2018
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Andrew (Certified RST Instructor)
Awesome. Glad to hear that RST has been helpful for you. Keep up the great work!
November 13, 2018
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Christopher
As I watch Chuck's left arm when he releases the club (with two hands on), I notice that it is not connected at all to his left side. When I do this drill or watch one of my full swings, after I release the club, my left arm is connected to my body still. Is this wrong? Could this cause me to hook the ball?
August 28, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Christopher. Sounds like some trail arm takeover. Take a look at Arms vs Body Release and Cure the Chicken Wing. If the trail arm dominates too much it will tend to cause the lead to stay glued to your side and may shut the face down early.
August 28, 2018
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Anders
When you are talking about releasing the Club, i have learned it means to let go. Does it imply that the Club has passed my handsm For instance my hands at impact and the Club has moved to the lead side?
August 17, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Anders. Yes, it will fell like the club is passing hand/chest through impact. A good visual is the Left Hand Release Drill Video. With your swing it is good until impact and then slightly held/steered through.
August 17, 2018
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Jack
I'm actually embarrassed to make this comment. Just came off a Golftec lesson in which I noticed my upper body moving forward with the club as Chuck describes in his opening statements. Pro said I needed to keep my upper body/head back. He also said my release and lag looked good. It was obvious I was not keeping my head/upper body back. My lag was good because my upper body was ahead of my hands. I instinctively felt my arms needed to be more involved in the downswing. Came home to find this email open on my computer from yesterday and after watching it went into the backyard and worked the drills. Amazing and very obvious difference. If any of you are ever in Phoenix your money is no good if I'm in the bar.
August 8, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jack. Better watch out or we might take you up on that bar offer. Remember, we are all golfers here . Great to hear you saw the light.
August 8, 2018
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Stan
I'm committed to Chuck's system but he barely talks about how to increase speed or the use of the right arm/hand except to keep it light. You can't get speed with the left hand and I don't care how many pros use his system when you watch them in slow or normal swing they are using that right arm to muscle thru for power and speed ( i.e. Hogan's comment on wanting 3 right arms). Is Cuck's system just a trade off of speed for control etc.? He never/barely talks about increase speed or the use of the right arm.. thanks.
August 7, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stan. The vast majority of players over use their trail arm. We don't talk about it much because the motor pattern and kinetic sequence are usually ingrained. Hogan wanted 3 right hands because he fought a hook. And, lots of the stuff he mentions in his book he didn't do in his swing. It is sad because if Hogan had today's technology I believe he would've come up with possible the best information for golf that matched more of what is actually and should happen in the golf swing. Nevertheless, players use their trail arm to help add speed, but it can't over dominate the lead side control. Take a look at How Swing Speed Affects Compression for training on both arms how to deliver them properly.
August 7, 2018
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james
Craig - I have played golf at a high level but after 8 hand surgeries and two rotator surgreies I lost the ability to get the flat left hand release and no flip. Your comment about the arms feeling like they are separated from the body (even though it is a forearm release} and the five steps has allowed me to move my efforts in the right direction. thanks Jim
June 22, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jim. Awesome. Sorry to hear about the health issues. I suffered numerous injuries due to golf. Hence, why I am here trying to protect people from those pitfalls.
June 22, 2018
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Ian
Hi Craig, Chuck says that it should feel like the hand stops at the impact position . I simply can't get this feeling . How can I solve this?
June 9, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. There are many factors why someone may struggle to feel this. First items you need to diagnose. Are your shoulders spinning? Lead arm only they must remain square at impact to help you allow the club to release (9 to 3 Video). Are you continuing to pull the lead arm? You need to train impact (How Swing Speed Affects Compression Video). Also, experimenting with different feels especially impact and the draw in the( 9 Days to Amazing Ball Striking Section) will help you slow the body to allow the club to accelerate.
June 9, 2018
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Ian
Hi Craig. Yes shoulders spinning and I am continuing to pull lead arm . You have recommended the 9 to 3 video in this and another post . I can do the move up to release properly but cant get the release right . I have been doing the 5 step program and am up to -add the lead arm . should I now divert to 9 to3 until I get it right or should I move back to the 5 step program.
June 15, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. The 9 to 3 Drill and Left Hand Release Drill will help. Practicing a smaller motion and then blending it back with the full motion from the 5 Step should make it easier for you.
June 15, 2018
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Ian
Hi Craig. Doing what you suggest - definitely improving -thank you. I recall reading somewhere ( I think on your site ) that it is helpful to imagine that the shoulders are attached by bolts to the torso thus preventing any separation from the body only allowing and up and down movement. I can see the pitfalls in taking this to the extreme ie until completion of the backswing and the downswing but regarding only the downswing and more especially the release it seems to help with the left arm release in that it prevents the separation that results from pulling through and forces the roll over of the hands while the shoulders are still square . In my case it appears to work very well but I am cautious and don't want to spend time going down the wrong track. What do you think?
June 17, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. The upper half and lower half will have separation. But, yes you don't want the shoulders spinning ahead of the torso. A good visual for this would be the Arms vs Body Release Video. Glad to hear you are improving and appreciate the thank you.
June 18, 2018
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Lyndon
Light bulb moment!!! Sorry to message again but I’m super excited. This may help someone else. I can properly release the club doing one arm drills. As soon as I add the right arm...my left arm would collapse right after impact which wasn’t allowing me to have full release as well as causing a small chicken wing. I was also seeking the correct release and full extension after contact. Well I watch the level shoulders and 5 min to perfect release for the 5th time. Lol. As it turned out, I was trying to slow my hips down (hip spinners nightmare) BUT I didn’t think about the shoulders. I started to keep my right shoulder back as explain and BOOM THERE WAS THE CORRECT RELEASE AND FULL EXTENTION I been trying to do for the last 6 weeks. Lol. The swing felt a lot smoother and effortless speed. Crazy how one small piece put it all together!!
May 18, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lyndon. Awesome. Spinning shoulders equals death of a proper release. Appreciate the post for our members.
May 18, 2018
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Mark
I was going to post something similar regarding my shoulders being too open... I was thinking more from the perspective of the lead shoulder though and keeping the back more to the target for longer : would that help get that flat /bowed wrist at impact and helping avoid the cupped wrist in the release?
August 9, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. The feeling of the back staying towards the target longer is perfectly acceptable. Still have to make sure though you don't throw with the trail hand too early.
August 10, 2018
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Anders
Is the lead arm/wrist controlling the impact conditions such as clubface etc while the trail arm/ wrist provides speed by rolling the wrist over the lead wrist? So you throw with the trail wrist ?
May 18, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Andres. Take a look at Right Arm Release for details on the trail side. But, you are correct. Lead side doing all the control. Trail adding some power.
May 18, 2018
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Lyndon
Ok so I’m trying to master the correct release. When I’m at the top of my backswing, I shift my weight...it drop my hands but when I work my way down, to and through the impact position...it almost feels like I’m throwing the back of my lead hand at the ball. It almost feels like it’s kinda “bowed” from about half way down my downswing through the ball and it releases. You would say that’s the correct feeling I need to look for vs the feeling of more of a “cupped” feeling during the downswing? I hoped I explained it right to where you understand my question. Lol.
May 17, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lyndon. Makes sense to me. Feeling is subjective, but your notes seem on par. Sounds like Knuckles Down Video.
May 17, 2018
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Lyndon
I did watch that video. I’m about 6 weeks in but work on my swing every single day. I will look at the knuckles down video again bc I always pick up something different as I re-watch the instructional videos. Thanks a bunch.
May 17, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lyndon. Don't overload the brain too much. Work on simple and precise movements. I know the video catalog can get one wanting to work on everything at once.
May 17, 2018
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Lyndon
I may have a grip pressure issue....
May 18, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lyndon. Grip pressure (too tight) easily hurts the release.
May 18, 2018
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Lyndon
I been working on weight shift and club release mostly. Cub release is my biggest flaw. Been at it for 4-5 weeks and still having trouble turning off my right side.
May 17, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lyndon. Training the lead side requires a lot of patience and time. Worth it in the end though.
May 18, 2018
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Niall
In the last part where you release with the left hand then pause and raise the right arm up to join the left hand I the club what actually happens to allow this to happen ie do your shoulders tilt with left shoulder going up and right shoulder going down or is it a combination of tilting and rotating the shoulders? Obviously we are trying to avoid it being pure shoulder rotation but I'm just trying to know which muscles to use in this manoeuvre as this makes it very understandable to me.
May 14, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Niall. Take a look at the Side Bend in the Golf Downswing Video. The shoulder plane will steepen and you want to shy away from a lot of rotation.
May 14, 2018
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Scott
Hi I am currently going thru the 5 step program just completed reps on first 2 steps. The other day I hit one of the purest iron shots ever and my key was to actively rotate my hands with the logo on my left hand rotating down to the ground at impact. Although the result was great, if i understand correctly the rotation of the club and release should happen naturally. I do not want to get side tracked by a good result and stay on course. So should I keep the hands passive and less active to create the rotation and trust the process? I am right handed. Thanks
April 26, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Scott. If you are used to under doing the release you will need to train the proper motion. However, the overall/end goal is to allow the release to happen due to the nature and design of the club.
April 26, 2018
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Hank
I have always felt it difficult to maintain the bow in my left wrist through impact. If I aggressively rotate my forearm (at left thigh) it does. Does that mean that if I do not fully rotate my forearm to release the club, and do not over rotate my body, then the momentum of the club would end with a flip or partial flip ie no where else to allow momentum of club to go?
March 21, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Hank. You don't want to manually flip the club (Flip vs Release). You want the soft arms and the design of the club to help you rotate it. If you did stop the forearm from rotating and still let the club go you would tend to fire the wrists and flip because the momentum has to go somewhere.
March 21, 2018
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Shane
Hi Craig, is it ok for the toe of the club to be pointing slightly behind you at the 3 O'Clock position? So if straight up was 12, when I finish the swing at the 3 O'Clock position (With the right hand barely touching) the toe is probably more like 10.
February 20, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Shane. Finishing with a tad over release or slightly toe down position as you describe is fine when starting to learn the correct movement. Take a look at Fix Your Release for more helpful tips.
February 20, 2018
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Marc
Hi Craig, when I bring my right hand up to reach for the left hand after I released with the left hand only, can you confirm that my right wrist and right forearm are about 30 degree angled to the left when the club is parallel. It is amazing how with soft hands the rotation of the club face seems to move the hands and the forearms. I have always tried to move the club face with the hands whereas the body seems to be doing a much better job. Best, Marc
January 17, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Marc. It would be tough to judge the exact angle depending on how hard the release is and softness. But, it sounds like you are on the right track with the trail side. The club wants to rotate. Don't inhibit the design. Looks like you are starting to be aware of that.
January 17, 2018
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Rich
Is the description or feel of the proper release like this: When the club is in the impact position and your arm and club are momentarily in pretty much a straight line, is the release rotation feel such that the forearms/hand/club rotates counterclockwise around the line of the club shaft? Obviously with all the motion going on this is a microsecond of location/position. But is that the general idea or feeling? My long time release is pretty much what Chuck shows as "a release, but not the right release" or as he calls it a "flip", and I am trying to get the exact motion/feel as to what it should be.
January 15, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Rich. Yes, it could give you that sense of counter clockwise rotation. I would supplement this video with the Vijay Release, Left Hand Release, Stop Slicing Start Releasing and Fix Your Release for more images/info.
January 15, 2018
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Rich
Thanks, I started practicing that move last night. Very slowly only so far, I first felt it while doing weight transfer and post up practice reps with one hand and an upside down club, and have played around with it a little since then. This video got me thinking more closely about it and wanted to get a clarification if it was right. During my practice I compared it to my "normal" release and could easily see the difference after passing the impact position. The difference in my flip vs correct release position of my left hand is very noticeable. Now that I know it is correct, I will continue to build up reps to full speed. Thanks. I think I see how that will make a big difference for me and I can work towards that correct release. Thanks also for the other video recommendations. I'll go through them tonight.
January 16, 2018
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MICHAEL
With the release of the club at the 9 o clock position (follow through) should the right hand be cupped at all? I understand until this point you want the left wrist flat or slightly bowed. However in the follow through (after 9 o clock) does this continue, I.e the right hand becomes cupped again?
December 11, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. The trail wrist at the 9 O'Clock position will be flat. As you continue up from the the lead wrist will start to re-hinge a little.
December 11, 2017
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Alan
Been working hard at the 3 finger left hand drill and this left hand release drills. I'm doing ok swinging where take right hand off at impact and getting release. Now when I try to put my right hand at follow thru my left elbow still chicken wings. I think I'm not rotating enough for both arms to extend fully. Or should right shoulder dip slightly (after impact in folliw thru) so you can extend the right arm out to meet the fully extended left arm? Looks so easy on the video and not sure if I lack flexibility or am in the wrong position/bad posture. Probably need send in this exercise for review.
November 19, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Alan. A review should definitely clear things up. In the meantime, I would check your shoulder plane. The trail shoulder will be slightly lower and the shoulder plane a little steep to help you fully extend.
November 20, 2017
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sambhu
Is it contradictory (with other statements) when the instructor says right hand adds speed? The other times he says right hand holds the speed down! Confusing .
October 24, 2017
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Chuck
The right arm adds speed and then must release the club through the hitting area. Most golfers hold on tight at impact with the right hand and that is what slows the club down.
October 25, 2017
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Bryon
I'm having troubles getting a feel for the timing of the uncocking, rotation, and bowing of the lead wrist. Should the release feel more like unhinging on plane with a twist to square the face, or a swinging door with more rotation and less unhinging feeling?
October 13, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Bryon. I rarely need to tell a student to unhinge during the release. More of a natural occurrence with the rotation, bowing and posting of the lead leg. More like swinging a door gradually through impact.
October 13, 2017
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arthur john
i will be sending for another review now that i have my lap top repaired. thank you, your system is still the best. john
September 19, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Thanks John. Happy you are enjoying the site.
September 19, 2017
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arthur john
i have taken on board chris tyler's advice from my review. it was great. i see from recent videos of my swing i think i am getting too much secondary axis tilt at impact causing me to hit an odd one fat and blocking my release. perhaps i am allowing my right shoulder to go too low. regards john
September 19, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Arthur John. That may be a cause. Take a look at the Level Shoulders Drill.
September 19, 2017
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Peter
Just to ensure I'm doing these 5 steps correctly, are you ok with me taking a video of me doing these 5 steps and then sending the video in for your comments? My concern is going pass the max time allowed on the video submission. Best Wishes Peter Myrtle Beach, SC
September 5, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Peter. Yes, you need to be careful on max time. But, completely a good use of a swing review.
September 19, 2017
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Andrew
I have been working on this drill with the left hand only. When I make contact with the ball it always goes hard left. I've done this really slow and the only way i can get my hand to roll over causes the face to be very closed at impact. How do I roll the left hand without having the face so closed at impact?
September 1, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Andrew. Sounds like something is ajar. You may not have the proper bowing or flipping at the last second. Take look at Flip vs. Release and Fix Your Release.
September 1, 2017
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Jim
The first few steps of this drill can be done with an impact bag?
August 30, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jim. You can start with an impact bag to try and feel the proper motion. Ideally, though you wouldn't need it. Because the goal is the position and not whacking into the bag too hard for speed (at this point).
August 30, 2017
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William
Hi Craig, Around my home all of the ranges use mats, similar to what you were using in this video. Obviously I can't take a divot. A few ranges also have bunkers that can be used as a fairway bunker. A local highly regarded teaching pro recommended to my friend/his student that at the range he hit practice hitting balls out of a fairway type bunker rather than mats. I tried this and it really highlighted how much I was using my right hand/arm, much to my surprise. I must have been hitting 8 feet behind the ball at first. I found that the only way I could consistently make good contact was a feeling that my swing was almost entirely left arm and hand oriented, with my right hand feeling like it was almost falling off the club on the downswing, while also taking a sand divot in front of the ball. The right arm probably wasn't really falling off the club because I was still chunking 1 out of 2 or so. But the improvement was significant. Do you think this is a good way to practice full shots, or are there things that can easily sneak into my swing hitting a lot of range balls out of a fairway bunker that I really don't want in my swing? Thx very much.
August 29, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello William. My only reservation is the lower half. When hitting out of a fairway bunker the lower half needs to be really stable. You want to shy away from a lot of hips or leverage pull from the ground. On occasion using your method is fine to help turn off the trail hand throw. But, eventually you will start to want a good lower body motion to trigger the release which will be harder in the bunker.
August 29, 2017
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tim
I have a tendency for my lead elbow to hyper-extend at impact causing the fold of the elbow under the bicep to face forward as opposed to away from the target. Is this bad? Should the lead elbow be slightly flexed at impact? If so, any thoughts on how to achieve this? Thanks.
August 27, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Tim. Take a look at Left Elbow Impact Alignments and Curing Elbow Pain. It should clear up your thinking.
August 28, 2017
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Dave
When adding the right hand what should I be feeling that it's role is? Is there a good video on the role of the right arm and hand in downswing please? Thanks
August 26, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dave. For the vast majority of players you will not need to train a big trail arm motion. It will show up regardless. For more information, take a look at Right Arm Release or the Sledgehammer Video.
August 28, 2017
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David
I hit the most vicious snap hooks when releasing as you instructed. Moving my hips, torso (the big muscles) AND releasing as you instructed lets me hit the ball the most accurately and furthest. Please tell me why I'm wrong. David
August 22, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. I'm slightly confused, but happy to help you figure out the issue. I agree we want to use the big muscles to sequence down and then allow the release to happen. The video above is merely hyper focused on what the lead arm/wrist do during the release. If you are hooking it while drilling you might be flipping or not having the proper impact. Use Fix Your Release to help.
August 22, 2017
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Hector
in the follow up, the club should follow the target line ? the toe line? inside the toe line?
August 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Hector. The club will feel like it is following down the target line. But, will be slightly inside because it is rotating on an arc.
August 9, 2017
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Hector
until when in the downswing the left elbow should see to the target line? because in this video the left elbow it is externally rotated all the time . when should I feel the left arm release ? there is another video says is in the right pocket, this video says left thigh ? help me
August 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Hector. The release will begin about the trail thigh. Some players need to feel it later or earlier depending on how well they pull in the downswing and maintain angle. If you take a look at How to Keep the Left Arm Straight and the LADD Video. You will see the lead arm has to rotate from the shoulder socket to reach the top and have a little rotation to help get the elbow lined up in the downswing.
August 9, 2017
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Hector
ok this is my problem. I know the forearm rotation should be gradual during the downswing, but when I do the downswing gradually rotating my left forearm my left elbow is not looking to the target, it is externally rotated. so my question is , or please give me a hint for doing the release , how I do it without moving my left elbow? when I should start starting the release of the club? when I start the release in my right pocket , I come over the top and the club face it is closed and the shoot is always an straight line to the left.
August 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Hector. Take a look at the Left Hand Power Release Drill to get the proper sensation of release. The club is always rotating, but at a different rate into impact. Unless you were over using the trail hand or flipping it would be hard to start coming over the top at the trail thigh if you shifted correctly in the transition to help set the plane.
August 9, 2017
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Amaury
Hi, I have noticed that my trajectory and distance will tend to be better when I release the right hand on impact. When I do it with both hands all types of issues come up. Does this happen with amateurs regularly?
August 2, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Amaury. Yes, the trail hand usually messes up the proper dynamics at impact. It will help with speed, but the lead side has to be in control first. Most people overuse the trail hand so much that even when trying to turn it off they still are using it too much.
August 2, 2017
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Amaury
So in essence continually doing the right hand release drill should help me with the sensation when I have both hands on the club and train my body to move correctly with both hand on...
August 2, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Amaury. It will, but make sure the lead is completely mastered first.
August 2, 2017
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Amaury
Ok, thank you.
August 2, 2017
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Mark
I notice/feel that my clubhead does most of its rotation near the bottom of the swing (at least in the drill). I think it feels like a quicker swing; like the fast rotation adds speed or something. Should I be trying to make the clubhead rotate at a more constant rate from some point further back in the downswing through to the release? Thanks.
July 31, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. Take a look at Flip vs. Release. The club head will be moving faster or rotating at a different rate. But, you don't want to start speeding up the hands.
July 31, 2017
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Mark
Thanks Craig. I found Squaring the club face early video has a good explanation too. Still gotta nail my takeaway and backswing first though
August 15, 2017
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Craig
Hello I have just hit 100 balls practising the rotary swing technique however, the last 20 balls i hit i tried to fade and hit 19/20 straight down fairway. i thought i was always a natural drawer of the ball but find fading seems to be more consistent / natural for my type of release. Does the RTS technique teach ore for a draw? or does it apply to fade shots to? Thanks
July 26, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Craig. Proper releasing the club with RST typically equals a straight shot. However, other variables may lend a player to have a slight fade or draw. You can still release and get both results.
July 26, 2017
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GC
Does the club lag start releasing when the hand feels like it is moving up?
July 13, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello GC. You will start losing lag as you start to release.
July 13, 2017
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Vahe
Hi, I'm one of those golfers that swing my body around as you said to strike the ball how do I stop that to release the club properly. Thanks, Vahe
July 12, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Vahe. You need to practice in smaller portions to beat. I would take a look at Arms vs. Body Release, Fix Your Release and Start working on the Perfecting Your Golf Impact Series.
July 13, 2017
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john
Hi: I'm very frustrated with my game. In a word, it's a disaster. Even if I fix my takeaway (which I believe I have) I still suffer from an overly inside-out swing, and an incomplete weight shift (hanging back), resulting in pushes and hooks. I hook it when I flip my hands to try to save the shot. I cannot focus on posting up on the front leg and trying to release the club at the same time. In fact, I'm not sure how to release the club; to feel like I'm throwing the club at the ball. And shaft lean is a mystery. I don't think I've ever accomplished it, although most of the time my divots are in front of the ball. Where do I begin?
June 15, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello John. I would work on smaller drills and motions. Then, build yourself back up. Make sure you can perform weight, post and release in a smaller motion before trying it in a full version. Start with Perfecting Your Golf Impact 1 of 4 and work your way through the series (located in the Video Menu - Bonus Series).
June 15, 2017
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john
Okay thanks, Craig. Can you tell me where I find the information on recording reps??
June 15, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello John. We have printable workout sheets for certain drills in the Swing Reviews - Checkpoints for Practice Section. Also, the 5 Step System Drill Only Videos have an online tracker.
June 15, 2017
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Benjamin
I have been working hard on my downswing as I am a serial over the topper. Now that I am utilizing the squat to square move, my hands are coming through the 'slot' properly, but my club face comes inside its initial starting point with an open face. I'm assuming this is due to the release? I'm going to work on the drill in this video, but wanted to make sure I'm in the right place.
June 15, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Benjamin. Sounds like you are in the proper place. I would add in addition to the video above the Left Hand Release Drill and Fix Your Release.
June 15, 2017
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Clive
How tight should I be gripping the club with both the left and right hand during a normal swing. I have had mixed messages on this all my life
May 17, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Clive. It varies a little from player to player. When monitoring tour pros and grip pressure. The typical pro starts at a 2 at address and ends up around an 8 at impact (1-10 Scale 1 begin weakest). Grip pressure will increase in the swing the key is not to increase the trail hand more than the lead hand which would cause it to over dominate the downswing.
May 17, 2017
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mark
Hi I have been constantly thinning the ball while working on the weight shift drill,it feels as if i am lifting my arms at impact or maybe i am raising at impact,could this also be due to a poor release also?it is very frustrating.
May 14, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. Could be poor release and lack staying down with proper post up. Work on your release as in the video above and take a look at You Hit the Golf Ball with Your Legs to see how you will stay down and through the shot with good leg usage.
May 15, 2017
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mark
thanks Craig
May 16, 2017
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Shane
Does the release square the club face?
April 16, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Shane. Yes, the club face will square during the release.
April 17, 2017
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Shane
Ok i must be releasing with more of a flip then. Does the wrist in the release go downward or feel like pure rotation. When i get proper lag on video i cant get the club face to square.
April 17, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Shane. When you have proper lag do you feel over plane, off plane or under? It feels more rotational with slight bowing turning down (Knuckles Down Video).
April 17, 2017
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Shane
Well on video id say under plane my hands stuck behind me so i relase early and hit a pull if i try to wait its usually a push slice.
April 19, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Shane. If you are under plane. I would take a look at the Trace the Plane Line Video to help with the stuck feeling. Also, Level Shoulders Video to keep push from dropping you under.
April 20, 2017
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Bradley
I'm having a hard time understanding keeping lag in the downswing with doing gradual rotation. It feels like to maintain lag the wrists are hinged up and doesn't allow for rotating (at least naturally). But if I wait as long as possible to release the lag than I end up flipping trying to get rotation to keep up by impact time. Hard to get that timing right and be consistent. If I leave everything relaxed and loose it doesn't feel like I'm maintaining lag in the downswing. How does maintaining lag and rotation interplay with each other? Thanks!
April 11, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Bradley. The rotation is gradual as you mentioned. The key is allowing yourself to create good lag, preserve it and deliver it at the proper time. If you pull too much you will tend to get under plane and have to flip (Trace the Plane Line). You need to work on having a good sync and using the lower half as your trigger to let it go. Combine the work with Step 3 and 4 with a proper release. Then, start to use "You hit the Golf Ball With Your Legs" as a trigger to know when to let it go.
April 12, 2017
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Antonio
Have been struggling quite a bit with my release lately as I come from a "rotary hitter" type of swing and was not used to this concept of letting the club go. The thing is when I try to feel I hit the ball with my left hand it is quite difficult to rotate the hand/wrist at my thigh, however when I do it with my right hand it feels more natural. I know this is wrong, could you give me any tips to correct this? Besides I'm hitting my irons (especially shorter ones) a bit on the toe, I tend to come a bit from the inside and then get a bit handsy to correct the path, could this be the cause? How can I get a path that feels more from the outside without getting over the top? Thanks
April 4, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Antonio. The Trace the Plane Line Video will help if you are tending to come too far from the inside. It sounds like you aren't allowing for a gradual release. Trying to focus on speeding up the hand versus a natural letting go of the club. Work more on feeling a bowed impact and then release a little tension and let the face gradually rotate instead of feeling a steer. Take a look at Day 4 in the 9 Days to Amazing Ball Striking Section. Practice getting a bowed and low straight shot. Then, take the same feeling and start allowing for a gradual release feeling the same impact (Flip vs Release).
April 5, 2017
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Corby
How is a flat/bowed left wrist achieved at impact with a strong grip? The face would be extremely shut. I have to be, at most, neutral in my grip to avoid a shut face. Am I missing something?
March 23, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Corby. The grip in RST is only slightly stronger than neutral. Take a look at the Golf Grip Tips Video for perfect placement and the Using the Wrist Effectively and Efficiently Video to understand how the wrists will reach the proper position.
March 23, 2017
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Michael
I am having trouble with my left wrist breaking down. The only way I can get my left wrist firm is to increase the flexion as I am supinating at impact.....snap hook. Any suggestions?
March 2, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. Is the lead wrist breaking down because the trail hand is taking over too much? Take a look at the Knuckles Down, Flip vs. Release, and the Using Your Wrist Effectively and Efficiently to understand how better to reach the proper position.
March 3, 2017
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Steve
This one video changed my game. Never hit the ball straighter. Thanks!
February 11, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Great Steve. Keep up the good swinging.
February 11, 2017
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Hector
I had the orange whip and I practice with my left hand the lag and release and everything is perfect , like the release video but when I take the club in my hands , the slap hinge release comes again !!! I can crossover my hands , my left hand flips !!! Any help
February 10, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Hector. You need to work in smaller pieces first if you are experiencing the flip. Work on smaller 9 to 3 lead wrist release shots first. Then, build into the longer motion. I would work through the Perfecting Your Golf Impact Series.
February 10, 2017
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Corby
Making much progress...one final wrinkle. An old swing habit I can't shake. Working hard on left hand release drills. Love the feel at impact! But I hook the ball. I examined my swing - all positions were good. Noticed something on slow mo. At impact, left arm isn't straight. Actually bend elbow slightly at impact (causes me to lose a bit of lag too). From old footage, I see this is a relic of an old flip release to square club. Note - this happens even when I rest right hand on club - so not even gripping w/right hand. Need direction on how to fix this - what drills to do.
February 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Corby. Is the arm bent at setup? Is it straight at the top? And, if it is straight at the top you notice the bend increasing coming down?
February 9, 2017
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Corby
Subtly bent at set up. Not straight at the top. But...straightens out when left arm is about 45 degrees down (with good lag maintained). And there after, I begin to "pull it" in to my left side (a habit I developed to square club) - so that I get the impact I described. Very much like a hockey slap shot move. Very frustrating.
February 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Corby. Take a look at the Golf Grip and Being Out of the Box Video. Try to adjust to keep the lead arm straighter in setup and straighter to the top. You can have a soft lead elbow at the top. But, it sounds like you are making a lot of compensations from the start.
February 9, 2017
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Corby
Grip and Box video not really applicable. I don't role my shoulders out and slouch. Any other ideas?
February 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Corby. You need to get the lead elbow pit pointed away from the body. It's going to be hard to have a bent elbow with it pointed away. Have you uploaded a swing for review? I would be interested in seeing swing/setup.
February 9, 2017
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Corby
Jackpot. Right on about the left elbow. Found the "Left Elbow Position at Impact" video.
February 9, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Corby. Yes and correcting that will keep you away from elbow pain.
February 9, 2017
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Corby
Nothing since Oct...very early stages. I will try to get one up tomorrow! Will reply back to you when it is up. Thanks.
February 9, 2017
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Roger
I'm practicing the perfect release, weight is already on the left side. If I pull my arm down it seams that it is more difficult to release the club. If I let gravity drop the club the release is much easier. So in a full swing should one let more of gravity vs left arm pull bring the club to the ball. Thanks for your help. Roger
February 2, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Roger. The downswing is a blend of pull and gravity. You pull the arm down with the weight shift, core and gravity. You don't want to yank down the arm. If you feel weight/lead side pull/gravity (which it sounds like you are now), then you are on the right track.
February 3, 2017
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Roger
Roger I found that if I power up my left arm in the downswing its more difficult to release the club. As in the release drills if I let gravity just drop the club the release is much easier. As you said the downswing is a pull with the left arm. Thanks for your help!
February 2, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Roger. The downswing is a blend of pull and gravity. You pull the arm down with the weight shift, core and gravity. You don't want to yank down the arm. If you feel weight/lead side pull/gravity (which it sounds like you are now), then you are on the right track.
February 2, 2017
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Ross
Hi, I think this video used to be in the downswing menu but it doesn't seem to be there any more. Stephen Maes recommended it to me. Is the menu reorganisation complete yet?
February 1, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ross. The video above is on my toolbar. Click "Show More" on your left. It will be video 18.
February 2, 2017
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Ross
I stand corrected. It is under the "add the lead arm" menu in the 5 stage system.
February 2, 2017
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Stephen
Hi, am one of those golfers that has never released (or felt the release of) the club properly and never used my left arm/hand in the golf swing in the way instructed here. Have been trying these exercises and found, on the range, that a lot of shots are pulled or pulled hooks. I am a typical golfer who has been using his right side for years to not only perform the backswing but also 'effect' a release through (what I thought!) was a powerful rotation back through the ball. I suspect this is now wrong - so are my pulls/hooks coming from the fact that I am trying to release using my left hand but my body is still trying to rotate aggressively from the downswing through? Steve
January 23, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Steve. A combination of aggressive body with a proper lead arm release could be the culprit. A few checks though in the meantime. Make sure the release is gradual (Flip vs. Release). Also, that your lead elbow isn't flipping over (Left Elbow Position at Impact).
January 23, 2017
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Stephen
Thanks Craig, will do. Just for clarity though should I stop trying to rotate my body hard through the downswing and rely more on the left hand release? Chuck talks about 'pausing' the body turn while the lead arm gets into position and the lead hand 'releases'? Thanks
January 24, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. Yes. RST is more of an arms/hands release vs body rotational release. You still use the legs (You Hit the Golf Ball with Your Legs), but you need to allow for the club to release (Arms vs. Body Release).
January 24, 2017
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sambhu
Chuck says , the right hand adds speed at 6:0.. but I was told here and saw in many other videos posted here, that the role of right arm is to support the club at the top of the swing...help..confused!
January 21, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Sambhu. The trail arm does support the club at the top of the swing. And, it can add a little speed in the downswing. The issue is when the trail hand starts over dominating the lead hand. Once, the lead side is in full control a little of trail hand can add an extra boost from time to time.
January 22, 2017
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sambhu
Thank you!
January 22, 2017
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Joel
Regarding wrist release. Since the rest joint does not permit rotational motion (i.e. the hand does not rotate about the joint with the forearm), should club rotation occur via rotation of the forearm about the elbow joint (with the hand/wrist just following the rotating forearm) or should the proper rotation movement include rotation of the upper arm about the shoulder joint?, Or both? hope I'm not making a simple process too complicated. You line thanks. Joel
January 20, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Joel. It should be below the elbow with the forearm. If you go to high up the arm you will have the tendency to flip the elbow. Take a look at Left Elbow Position at Impact Video.
January 20, 2017
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sambhu
I shot a79 the other day at a fairly tight course. First time I broke 80. I attribute this to rotary swing. That being said,,my release is non existent especially with longer clubs. I was not happy with my 79. I came home and for the last few days went back to focusing only on this video. My goodness, what a night and day difference it makes. I applaud Chuck and team on making golf instruction practical.
January 17, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Congrats on breaking 80!!! Keep working at it and lower scores are in your future for sure.
January 19, 2017
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Barry
Hi Chuck, When I do this release and aim for the back of my hand facing the target at impact my club face is about 30 to 45 degrees closed. What am I doing wrong, my grip is a neutral grip as detailed on the site, thoughts!
January 17, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hi Barry, when hitting an impact bag and seeing your lead wrist flat, do you have forward shaft lean or is the shaft ore vertical???? If you do not have any forward shaft lean, the clubface will appear to be shut.
January 19, 2017
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Barry
Hi Chris, thank you for the reply. Yes I have forward shaft lean but to have a square club face I need a huge amount of forward shaft lean, my hands need to be well outside my left leg and this pulls me off balance?
January 20, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hmmm are you by chance trying to take your lead wrist from a static address position and then moving it into an impact position? Or are you seeing the clubface 30-45 degrees shut at impact when making swings and moving through hitting area???
January 20, 2017
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Barry
Hi Chris, I'm trying to set myself up in a good impact position with the back of my left hand facing the target, my hips open and weight on my left foot but my hands are way ahead of my left leg. When I try it on the range I have a massive hook
January 20, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
If you are 100% sure that you are spot on with your grip, you have enough secondary axis tilt at impact AND you're wrist is anatomically flat (NOT bowed), when trying to achieve this position, and you are still seeing it shut, then we will need to look at your issue in the swing review system.
January 20, 2017
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Hector
I read the ball striker article but what about the release of the club and the ball striker training ais are associated? this training aid does not help in the release of the club also keeping the shoulders parallel in the downswing to the target, I have a little of confusion ?? can you explain me , thanks
January 15, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hi Hector, can you point me to which article you are speaking of and what training aid you are talking about for me to look into this??
January 19, 2017
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Hector
Ben hogan - pure ball striker for the rotary hitter
January 19, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Thanks Hector. We do not sell that training aid in our store any longer nor and we tend to try and move students away from the "rotary hitter" style of swing as RST evolved passed it. Hitter was more focused on the mechanics of the plane, face, rotation etc that the club is on, where RST as it is now, wants you to focus on primarily on the body movements that make the club move properly through the swing. Hope that helps.
January 19, 2017
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Ray
I am working through the Winter Series videos and would like to incorporate the release drill into the training. Can this be done at the same time. If so, where is the proper place to incorporate this drill.
January 15, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ray. I would wait until you start the Winter Downswing Video. Spilt up working on the transition and release drills. Make sure you devote a proper amount of time to both.
January 15, 2017
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Sebastian
I was thinking to buy this divice: ImpactSnap (www.impactsnap.com). Do you guys recommend it for practising? Or is it useless?
January 15, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Sebastian. I haven't use the device personally. But, I have heard some positive notes from other players.
January 15, 2017
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Stephen
Is this release video, and drill, appropriate for a golfer that throws with the right hand, rather than pulls and leverages with the left hand (for a right handed golfer?
January 14, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephen. This is a very vital video for the right handed player that doesn't use their left hand enough to release.
January 15, 2017
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David
In the Left Elbow video, Chuck talks about how important it is to have the left elbow externally rotated at impact, for safety and directional control. The wrist in this position is only able to rotate 45 degrees to get to its flat position at impact, which Chuck mentions is great because it eliminates hooks to the left. So my question is, at what point does the elbow internally rotate to allow a full release, which from the video appears to be immediately as the butt of the club reaches the middle of the left thigh. To avoid a flip (fast rotation through contact) which would have to be timed, how do you determine when exactly to release the club, if you are working to maintain an externally rotated elbow and flat left wrist at impact? Do you wait for impact and then rollover the wrist, or are you concentrating on a slow rotation and release to be timed through impact? Any help would be appreciated and how to practice this move. Thanks.
December 18, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. The release will be gradual. You don't want to try and create a fast timed motion. Take a look at a few videos for me. They will help with your questions. Left Hand Golf Club Release Drill, Flip vs. Release, Vijay Release and Fix Your Release. The club is always rotating. You don't need to speed it up or try to steer the positioning.
December 18, 2016
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claudio
This lesson looks confusing to me. In this video Chuck is promoting to power the club by just using the arms and rotating the wrists. I have always thougth that the arms and wrists have to be passive and be powered by the core rotation and pushing the ground creating a snap at impact. Can you plase clarify? Thanks
November 3, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Claudio. You are correct. However, a lot of players have been trained to steer or hold onto the face. Therefore, needing to correct the motor patter of releasing or letting the forearms/wrists rotate. Once, you train the proper motion. The goal would be to turn the motion over to the sub-conscience and allow the snap to happen through good leg/core work.
November 3, 2016
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David
Hi Craig, can you tell me what are the videos talking about snapping the club with your legs and core? I really struggle with adding speed to my club. I really changed my swing for the better but though my technique as improve my distance didn't improve do much. I'm much more consistent but I'd like to add some distance and I really have a hard time understanding how to do so. If I try to force my way I ended hitting fat. Thanks
January 15, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Take a look at You Hit the Golf Ball with your Legs, Throw the Club Head at the Ball, and Lag and Speed Drills Video.
January 15, 2017
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David
Thanks, I'll watch these videos.
January 15, 2017
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Randall
Christina, I do have one more question that is confusing to me. In the RST "release" videos does Chuck want us to consciously role the left and/or right hand over? Or are we supposed to keep the clubhead square to the arc after impact like this Rickie Fowler video? https://youtu.be/VeNcZncmyYc The reason I ask is because in Chucks golf swing he looks a lot like Ricky, however, in his RST "release" videos he's consciously rolling his hand down instead of letting it cup after impact and keeping the club head "square to the arc". Please advise.
October 18, 2016
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Randall, Chris here, when training the releases, you will want to be conscious of the rotation in the lead wrist if you struggle with not letting the club rotate. When training a new body movement of any nature, you want to make sure you are completely aware of what your body is doing and how you are performing it. After training the movements and ingraining them, you will not have to be conscious of the movements providing they are fully ingrained. Hope that helps.
October 19, 2016
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Randall
Chris, thanks for the respond I understand where you're coming from and fortunately I've practiced a lot of rolling the hand down the left hand that is and I've practiced a lot about keeping the clubface square throughout the ark. I'm just trying to figure out in rst which type of release is Chuck trying to explain. Is there anyway you could give me a quick phone call at your earliest convenience? I promise I won't hold you long. 404-663-9988 Thanks, Randall
October 19, 2016
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Randall, we do not advocate anyone trying to hold the clubface square through the hitting area. Golf clubs are designed to rotate as well as be swung on an inclined plane. With that said, if you are trying to hit and hold a certain position with the lead wrist, then you are getting in the way of what the club is designed to do. The toe of the club is travelling nearly 7-8 mph faster than the center of the club at impact, if you are allowing the club to rotate. So, Chuck is teaching a release by allowing the lead wrist to rotate at a constant rate through the hitting area. Phone calls are extremely hard for us instructors to handle due to the size of our membership. Hope this helps you understand and if not, there are other videos on the website that discuss the release. Check out the vijay release drill, perfecting your impact series etc.
October 20, 2016
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Conor
Hello. I was just wondering, if you continue to rotate the left wrist (into the bowed position) after impact why is it that your right wrist will be cupped in the follow through? (looking from the down the line position) But when you look at all the pros their right wrists are flat in the follow through. Thanks!
October 11, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Conor. The trail wrist won't be flat until after impact. If you are maintaining too cupped of a trail wrist coming through you might be bowing too much. Try releasing the trail wrist with the Vijay Release Drill. And, allowing for a good lead wrist snap.
October 11, 2016
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Lynn
OMG this is soon different than Leadbetter where he teaches that the rotation controls the release(supposedly with a more stable club face through impact). I prefer a more passive approach with the left elbow pointing down the target line and just letting rotation release the club. Sean and I were a bit at odds over this. I'm excited to use this approach and will not get down if I lose a couple to the right. I'm in Florida all winter training so I should come and work with you guys directly.
September 16, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lynn. We would welcome the opportunity to help you in-person. One of the major reasons why I left Leadbetter's principles. I lacked distance and it wore me out trying to keep the club face stable with body rotation. If you watch the guys on tour. They release the heck out of it. You should check a couple of our Youtube Videos and you will see Chuck discuss Sean's philosophy and why it effected Tiger so much. If you like this video above. Take a look at Throw the Club Head at the Ball, Left Hand Release Drill, Arms vs. Body Release, Release - Part 3 of 7, and Using Your Wrists for Speed.
September 16, 2016
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Lynn
Ok thanks Craig, I will. I'm rather enjoying the fact that my surgery on my right knee is "keeping" this time, that I'm not in pain from pushing instead of pulling and that I can release the hell out of it. Shaping a cut is easier too. I could never cut before. I'll check out those videos. Thanks!
September 20, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lynn. Nothing like a released cut. Great. Happy to hear less pain. The more you own the proper bio-mechanics. Less pain to be had.
September 20, 2016
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David
should you be using your left arm and your left hand to release the club? or just your left hand? thanks.
September 6, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Wrist and Forearm. Take a look at the LADD Video (Left Arm in Golf Downswing) and Curing Elbow Pain.
September 7, 2016
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Greg
I forgot to mention that I am using left arm only, so there is no pushing with the right hand to break the wrist down. Thanks!
August 25, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Greg. Try focusing on the Knuckles Down Drill and the Fix Your Release to help cure.
August 25, 2016
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Greg
When I do these drills slowly, I can retain the bowed wrist. When I speed it up I start to get some cupping on the follow through. Any suggestions?
August 25, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Greg. Depends where on the follow through. After belt height the wrist will start to re-hinge some. But, before is where you would be in a little trouble.
August 25, 2016
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Christian
Hi, I am a natural left handed players and i played 15 years right side. 4 years ago I decided to change to left side cause i was reading a book that i should use my left hand in my swing. Now as i can understand from this video i may be better move to my 15 years of right side ? My release from my left hand is better from my right side... iam confuse now should i move to my right side again ? THX
August 23, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Christian. I can't determine which would be your best side because it is hard to keep flip flopping. However, I would think that if your dominant arm was your lead arm (switching back) it might be easier for you to swing efficiently.
August 23, 2016
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Michael
I am trying to work on my release, and hit short shots as suggested. I can get the club to stick the ground fine, but a lot of shorts are squirting out to the right - a straight block. Is there any way to tell if I am performing the release correctly?
August 6, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. Straight right sounds like tension. Take a look at the Left Hand Release Video and the Fix Your Release. Make sure you are allowing the face to have a good constant rotation through.
August 6, 2016
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Ronald
I have the same question as Kyle..............what does Hogan mean when he says that he wishes he had three right hands?
August 5, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ronald. I answered below.
August 5, 2016
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Kyle
I assume Chuck agrees with Ben Hogan re: supination of the left wrist as shown on pg 102 in Hogan's 5 Lessons book...what I don't understand is why does Hogan say on pg 101 that he wishes that he had three right hands? Thx
August 3, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyle. Yes, we agree that the lead wrist will be supinating at impact (a little bow). Hogan pushed hard from his trail side and always fought a hook. He wanted 3 right hands because he used the right to help hold the face open at impact.
August 5, 2016
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johnny
I've just started on this drill and at least half my shots are going left because I believe my face is closed at impact because i'm trying to make sure that i rotate rather than flip. i may be over rotating because i'm afraid to flip the club, Is it common when you start doing this drill to close the face and hit it left or could I be doing something wrong.
June 10, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Johnny. You could be pulling your lead elbow around too much and not getting a consistent pace. Work on the Curing Elbow Pain Video and the Fix Your Release. Focus on lead elbow alignment and hit some impact shots.
June 11, 2016
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Ashar
Hi Craig i am also facing the same problem. Please let me know which video you recommended for "curing elbow pain"
July 29, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ashar. Take a look at the video Curing Golf Swing Elbow Pain as well as the LADD Video. Both in this section.
July 29, 2016
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Robert
What really helped me get this down (with the left hand only part ... still working on incorporating the right hand) was to feel the handle in fingers of my left hand. Making sure I have consistent, soft and constant contact with the ring and middle fingers of my left hand all the way to follow through makes the drill tons easier. Of course it's one more thing to think about until it's ingrained but you can really feel the whip. Is this feeling mechanically sound?
May 26, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Rob. Maybe not the Ring Finger (Vijay Release Drill). But, your pressure points and logic seem correct.
May 26, 2016
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Edmund
You did it again. This release drill has helped put more zip in the shots. I like it, however, it is easy to get to mechanical with it. So what I have been doing is take a 7 iron, hit 80 yards using the perfect release, then up to 120 yards trying to use perfect technique, then a full shot. This has helped me repeat the exact movements. My game is coming around. I am looking forward to the competition this summer.
May 19, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Edmund. Happy to hear the game is coming around. I would also advise if you like this video the Left Hand Release Drill, Vijay Release Drill and the Fix Your Release Video.
May 20, 2016
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Todd
Sorry , I know this is just a drill, I was talking about when you have drilled this feeling for a while and then put it to use.
May 9, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Todd. I answered below. No worries.
May 9, 2016
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Todd
Hi guys , I love this drill , I did not have a hard time with it ," but" your right the contact is really good , I have one problem , the ball draws hard to the left , it goes out straight for about half of the shot i.e, 21 degree hybrid, and then turns left, hard ? Now if I back off of the feel of letting my left hand turn down and under and just think about squaring the left hand at impact and holding it more square thru the release , the ball goes straighter but the ball flight is higher than I would like. If you could tell me how to find the equal medium , I would appreciate it . thanks
May 9, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Todd. Take a look at the Fix Your Release, Left Hand Release, and the Curing Elbow Pain Video. Practice some impact shots, work on a more consistent face rotation and make sure the lead elbow isn't flipping through impact too much. Those videos should allow you to still let the release go without over rotating the face to a closed position at impact.
May 9, 2016
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David
Hi Craig, I am still hung up on distinguishing between lag and bent left wrist which look can look like the same thing at impact e.g. if I see proper shaft lean at impact it could come from retained lag and/or a bent left wrist. I can see that lag is the variable that will increase club head speed as long as it retained and released correctly into the hitting area whereas shaft lean is a result of the action of the left wrist from this position i.e. if it is pronated the hand's will stay in front of the shaft at impact. Therefore if you had a swing where the lag was lost early, the shaft would still have forward lean as long as the lead wrist was pronated at impact. I think my confusion has arisen because on some of the video's when the club is passing the hand's at impact reference is made to 'loosing the lag' whereas in fact the left wrist has lost being flat or bent and may be cupped (flipping). Really I am saying that forward lean at impact is only influenced by the left wrist and not as a result of loosing lag? Any thought's to unravel me appreciated.
May 5, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. It is hard to have forward lean at impact when casting. However, you can do it by maintaining a forward or bowed wrist at impact. You can lose lag and end up without any lean. Also, you can cast and have lean. The problem that would arise from that would be lack of power. The vast majority of golfers when they cast will not have shaft lean. Typically, due to trail side push and not using the lead hand correctly. But, you still can attain some lean even if you cast from the top.
May 5, 2016
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David
Hi Craig, OK, getting there. Developing this one more step - let's assume I can retain lag into the hitting area with a flat left wrist i.e. hand's in front of right thigh with shaft horizontal. From there the club releases into impact with the left wrist either staying flat or pronating depending on the trajectory of shot required e.g. for the shot to be low, the wrist would start to be pronated as the lag was released from the delivery position. Clearly, this setting of the wrist should not interfere with the release or speed of release of the club.
May 6, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Yes. That sounds correct to me.
May 6, 2016
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Alasdair
Hi. I am still very confused about the release of the club. I have been told i flip my wrists but when i watch this drill it looks very similar to what i do. I am probably trying to rotate my wrists through impact, when I have been told i need to feel like i 'trap' the ball with my hands/club and then they will naturally rotate after this. I havent seen you guys use the term 'trap' - is this right?
April 28, 2016
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Chuck
The club should rotate and release naturally, sounds like you may be actively doing with your wrists which is impossible to time consistently.
April 28, 2016
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Terry
WHen I took a lesson with Chuck back in Sept, he said that the clubface should be no further left than 12:00 after release. This is showing clearly more than that...what do you advocate as a proper clubface angle after release?
March 30, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Terry. Take a look at Perfect Impact Part 1. The club will rotate from a square position at impact to a toe up position at 3 O' Clock or roughly belt high in the release. Some players that lack release though need to exaggerate slightly to get out of overly steering the club too much.
March 30, 2016
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Roderick
Right now this is my primary practice routine, drilling in the flat left wrist from a stacked impact position. My question is: how long do you keep the left wrist flat (or even bowed out slightly) into the through swing? I swing through to about the 3:00 position. when I add the trail hand, at impact if the lead hand is bowed then the trail hand is bent back (Phil Ritson says this is his primary feeling through the ball). In a full swing, does the momentum of the clubhead move the wrists back into a neutral alignment at some point after the release? I'm trying to determine how long I should try to maintain the flat/bowed lead wrist into the release and follow through. I hope I've been clear. Thanks
March 14, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Roderick. The lead wrist will be flat or bowed out slightly till just after the 3 O'Clock position. The trail hand/wrist won't be straight until after impact. The momentum carried through the release after the 3 O'Clock position will cause some natural re-hinging of the lead wrist.
March 15, 2016
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Roderick
Ty. Now I don't have to develop my left wrist till it can withstand 'G' force without giving way!
March 15, 2016
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Dan
What creates the "flip"? Is it the stopping of the hands/arms?
March 10, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dan. There can be numerous sources to the cause of a flip/scoop into the ball. Stopping of the arms/hands, lack of weight transfer, spinning shoulders, over the top, trail arm dominance, etc..
March 11, 2016
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charles
I am confused about the function and feel of the right hand in the full swing. In your video "5 minutes to the perfect golf club release", it seems the right hand is greatly deemphaized and is just along for the ride. In your 'throw the ball with your right hand' video, it stresses the power provided by the right hand when done properly. Ben Hogan said "As far as applying power goes, I wish that I had three right hands!" It seems to me that the timing of the right hand in the downswing is the critical part of delivering power (like swinging a baseball bat). I struggle a lot with that. Please explain how the right hand should be applied, and how it should feel during the downswing.
March 9, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Charles. Ben Hogan also fought a massive hook . To help clarify, the trail hand does add speed in the swing. However, it is most often way over used. Because the vast majority of right handed golfers are right hand dominant. The "Throw the Ball" drill is geared more for people that pull too much with their left and have a hard time getting rid of lag. It is much more pertinent that a player masters the left hand and usage, than worrying about apply more force from the right. Take a look at the Golf Swing Release Drill to understand more about the right, but also the Vijay Release Drill and Fix Your Release to know why the left is so important. Hogan would say "3 right hands". I would say "I would cut it off if I didn't need to make a backswing."
March 9, 2016
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charles
Thanks for your prompt reply. I will take your advice.
March 9, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Charles. No problem. Happy to help. In addition to the last notes. Take a look at The Big Picture Video.
March 9, 2016
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Tom
Hi Craig, When I do this drill I still have a tendency to pull or hit the ball a little bit left. I was a pull-hooker (swinging too much fron the inside) before I started RST. I am just using my arms and think I have a proper grip. What should I do? Also, with my new RST stance I am finding that when I sole my club the tip of my club is 1/4 - 1/2 inch off the ground. Should I get them adjusted so that the lie is correct? Also, Chuck has mentioned that most clubs are fitted too long for most players. I bought my Nike irons from Golf Galaxy almost 10 years ago that they measured for my lie angle and proper length. If I take them to say Golfsmith how will I know they a measuring correctly? Thanks again!
March 8, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Tom. Check the path and face. If you are straight pulling the ball it might be a little steep with a shut face. Try some Long Arms Drills to turn off push. Not exaggerated too much inside though due to past problems. Make sure the face is square at impact (Fix Your Release). Hard to say what your exact measurements would be. Most people do miss their clubs too long. It is okay for the toe to be up a little. You don't want it perfectly flat at setup. You need to find an experienced fitter to rectify if the clubs are setup incorrectly.
March 8, 2016
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Anthony
My biggest problem is releasing the wrists (club) too early in the downswing and this is leading to no power and fat and thin shots. I'm not sure of the cause or how to fix it. Can you provide some of the reasons why this is happening and a good video or drill to help correct this early release. Thanks
March 2, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Anthony. Make sure you aren't loading the tension in the wrist too soon. Part 5 Using the Wrist for Speed and Part 7 Keeping Speed as You Get Older (to stay wide). Also, The Frisbee Drill and Throw the Ball Drill to teach both arms to release at the proper time.
March 2, 2016
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David
Hi, I am a new premium member for about a week now and am really impressed with the quality of information you have made available and even in this short time have experienced a greater understanding of the golf swing. This is starting to show on the course but it is early day's yet although I am expecting greater improvement's to follow as I assimilate more of the information. If you could help me with a couple of issues I would greatly appreciate it. Just to explain, I have been down a few road's including square to square body release and casting from the top. My issues are that my grip pressure increases during the downswing to inhibit release and I loose the lag so the club will pass the hand's before impact. I look forward to getting to grip's with your video's but any pointer's on these fundamental issues would be greatly appreciated.
February 29, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Welcome to the site and thank you for the compliments. I would suggest a swing review from one of our instructors to give you a good overall look at your golf swing. In the meantime, take a look at a few videos for me that deal directly with your issues. Golf Grip Tips, Frisbee, Rotating Body versus Releasing and the Vijay Release Drill. The typical pro increases grip pressure from a 2 to 8 (address to impact with 10 being the strongest). It is okay for grip pressure to increase, but you need to watch out for wrist pressure increasing too much.
February 29, 2016
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David
Thank's Craig, From the video's I have seen I am sure the majority of problems I attribute to grip pressure arise due to unconscious use of my normally dominant right hand. I am leaving this very loose and concentrating on just using the left arm as per the drill's. This is a feeling I am not used to so it will take a while to learn but I am confident this will sort out the bulk of my problems. I must add that I have been playing golf for around 12 year's but genuinely feel I have learned more in the week I have been with RSG than in all those previous year's. Thank's for that and I will send a video ASAP.
March 1, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Looking forward to the video and happy to hear you are learning! Yes, it will take some time to get lead arm dominant. But, thats why it is the glove hand.
March 1, 2016
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bryan
Around the 4:25/4:30 mark of this video Chuck shows the exaggerated look of the release and mentions that it won't look like that when you keep the right hand on. I get in this position even when I keep the right hand on. I think this has been the issue with my release for a long time. I understand how the release is suppose to happen but when I turn my left wrist over the club face gets shut and my body/right side reacts to the it to save the shot by joining in on the release to avoid hitting a big snap hook. When I get the toe facing up, it definitely feels like my body is more in play because I'm not turning over my left wrist as much which from my feel is releasing the club. Any advice here? When there is no ball, I have no problem because there is nothing going on in my brain to tell the right side that I need to save this shot or a big snap hook is coming. Once the ball is there, I would have to do less with my lead wrist but my body feels more active.
February 23, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Bryan. Work on the Perfecting Impact Part 1 Drill. You will focus more on the toe up. Also, work on keeping a good constant rate with the lead hand. Curing Elbow Pain Video and the Fix Your Release. I think you are trying to speed it up too much and leaving the trail wanting to help out.
February 23, 2016
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So Chul
Hi Craig, thanks for wonderful instruction. Would this release drill work for driver and wood as well?
February 22, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello So Chul. Thanks for the compliments. Absolutely it will work. Make sure you adjust the setup with the driver though. Take a look at the Driver Launch Angle Video and Driver Setup Adjustments Video.
February 22, 2016
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Lance
Hi Craig I been reviewing all my swing reviews and recommended videos tonight. My question is about the position of the head relative to ball position as the weight is shifted to the left side (squat to square / down-cock drill). Should the head move toward the target before the club is released? Most videos I have looked at don't show the head moving toward the target. My ball position is about 4 inches down the line from the center of my sternum (logo/left ear). Should my upper body/head be translated the 4 inches to be directly above the ball as I squat into the left side? Thanks
February 20, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lance. You still want the head behind the ball at impact. You don't want to sway or get the head pushing ahead. The head will move in the golf swing due to weight shift. But, for optimal performance at impact. The head will be just behind the ball so you can maintain good secondary tilt into the strike.
February 21, 2016
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Lance
is the secondary axis tilt a conscience move or does it just happen by keeping the head as still as possible behind the ball?
February 21, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Lance. Don't force a static head. You don't want to lock movement. It will move a little back and through naturally. Secondary tilt is more a by product of proper ground up swinging and release.
February 21, 2016
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Roderick
hey guys...I'm a new premium member and I've yet to upload a swing for review. I've been working with the free videos and learning to reshape my swing...primarily the release which is new to me. I've been a Phil Ritson student which means I have ingrained a body release through the years...passive hands with the club facing the belly button and turning through the ball. I started with the RST because you taught me how to shift my weight without lunging and sliding...(I started golf in the 70's). So Iv'e been practicing releasing the club past the body...not hitting balls yet. Then I read an article onsite called Arms vs Body Release in the Golf Swing. Now I'm thoroughly confused! Here I find that my body release is actually advocated (ABT) and the arm released is disparaged noting that it takes extraordinary timing and coordination to perfect. That's the problem with conventional teaching...listen to one guy and he teaches this...the other teaches that...each contradicting the other! What gives? Is there an argument among the instructors? As I say I'm a newbie to the site but not to golf...What am I missing? By the way, having just worked my way through the intro vids, the set up, and weight shift...other than this rather large discrepancy, this is the most comprehensive, knowledgeable, and effective teaching I've EVER encountered. Please advise as to what I've missed.
February 15, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Roderick. Thanks for the compliments of our site. Golf instruction has definitely danced around this topic for awhile now. The all body release or using the body to square the club face is a very common method. It is easy to teach and can produce consistency. The problem lies in is it efficient for the body and for speed. Sadly it is not. I would like you to take a look at the Rotating Body versus Releasing Video. It does take time to learn the proper motion, but is actually easier and more forgiving once the move is trained.
February 16, 2016
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Roderick
thanks Craig...I'll take a look at the video...I know the release I've been taught hits a straight ball. I've always worked on keeping the dish angle on my left wrist/hand constant through the swing. I used to hit it acceptable distances...9 iron from 150...but I've lost nearly two clubs in the last few years...very aggravating! the release you advocate seems like it would get some distance back but would be tough to time...I'm working on it...thanks
February 16, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Roderick. After some quality practice time you will see it isn't that tough to time. I actually hit it much straighter now because I am not fighting physics. Yes, you should definitely get the speed back.
February 16, 2016
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Justin
I am so confused. At my club the instructor says the body should turn through impact and hands are passive. In seeing this video, he argues we are simply flipping or using the hands too much to square the club. If you hit a million balls like Michelson it works, he said, but for someone like me who plays once or twice a month learning to use body with quiet hands is best. This is where golf gets tough. So many conflicting styles. I would like to find one and just implement. More confused than ever.
February 15, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Justin. I want you to take a look at the Rotating Body Versus Release Video and the Frisbee Drill. The release we teach isn't a flip. It's a true release to allow for proper face rotation. I only play about once a month if I am lucky and can tell you I don't have to practice with a million balls to hit it well. It actually is easier and more natural. If you were to throw a ball, shoot a basketball, etc. You would have to release. You wouldn't throw a football trying to heave it at a target just using body rotation. You would have finesse and touch of the finger tips. Same deal here.
February 15, 2016
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Dan
Doesn't this video conflict with the "Right Arm Only Downswing Drill" that teaches you to use your right arm to release and get power into the swing. When you have only 3 feet to generate power it has to come from somewhere to achieve 90 to 100 mph at impact.
February 10, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dan. Both arms/hands have a job to do in the swing. The trail hand does add power, but the vast majority of golfers over use it. You want the lead hand to be in control during the release. Master the lead hand movements first and then you can slowly start adding the trail add for additional speed.
February 10, 2016
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Michael
Can you tell what is the preferred club to use for this drill?
February 4, 2016
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Steven (Certified RST Instructor)
Michael- Use a short iron at first. Personally I have students use 8 iron or less 8-pw works great for this drill at first and then you can add longer clubs the better you get and the more comfortable you become.
February 5, 2016
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Steven
This may be my favorite golf video of all time.
February 1, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Thanks Steven.
February 1, 2016
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Robert
Something interesting occurred to me yesterday during a round. RST talks about releasing past the body. When you look at great tour swings (Scott, Immelman, Rose) their arms appear to remain in front of their chest the entire time (setup -> follow through). This gives the illusion of the body releasing the club sometimes. Of course this isn't happening ... but it's caused me to release the club in a way that traps my left arm behind my body, much like a poor take away would trap my right arm behind my body. Once it clicked that the arms swing past the body but should always remain in front of the chest, I realized the key to the release is open hips and the oblique pull ... this gets the body out of the way so the club can release properly. Golf is hard ha ... it's a crazy physical puzzle even if all of the puzzle pieces are numbered and you can look at the cover.
January 31, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Rob. Sounds like you are on the proper path. Golf is hard, but your knowledge is getting sharper.