For saying your favorite movie is The Karate Kid (1984), you get a huge like. Also, I concur with doing drills over and over at home without a ball. Doing it over and over again. Starting slow when you eventually address a ball. Most golfers tend to want to rush a swing change when in fact drills, patience and discipline are vital. Also, a swing change gets ugly before it gets better.
I’ve taken so many lessons and no instructor has broken down the swing as well as you did in this video. Now I have something to work on to improve consistency in my swing. Thanks for the instructions.
Golf is so hard because when you are alone at the range and hitting it well and far what you think you are doing right is most likely not what you are actually doing. It's all just feel. Had a great range session last night but today I just couldn't replicate the results. Felt I did the same as last night but I couldn't replicate the contact. I also couldn't replicate the distance when my contact was ok and it just didn't feel the same coming down as last night. I blamed my backswing, blamed my club face and hands and basically struggled the whole session. Anyway I just got home and saw this and popped outside and boom it was like I was swinging last night. Same backswing but such a different feel coming down than I had at the range today and much more like last night. Really appreciate this tip. It's simple but its so fundamental to a successful result. No matter how many tips are out there about proper hand and arm motion if the body doesn't start the transition it just isn't going to be as great as it could be.
I’ve spent too much time trying to improve my swing, without knowing what I’m supposed to be trying to do. Years actually. I quit golfing completely this fall. Pretty much ready to give it up for good. But maybe I’ll work on these moves. This video sure clears up what I’m supposed to try to do. Yup, one more shot at this crazy game! And I meet such decent people on the course Thanks for posting Now let’s see first shift weight on to left heel.....🏌🏼
Always return back to fundamentals when in a funk like that! Grip and stance....pushes you towards good swing mechanics. Best of luck...and let me know if I can help!
scott steibel Scott for goodness sakes man golf is not for quitters! Misery loves company. Stay the course before you know it you’ll have a single digit handicap and be buying new clubs. Good luck, mate. No I’m not an Aussie, a Brit by birth.
Hi Steve what I see you are prescribing is the advancement of the hips to the finish of the swing and then a whipping motion of the hands and wrist to get the head of the club to catch up to the hips at the finish of the swing. Correct?? At least this is what I see you are teaching in this video that makes amateur golfers as myself screw up our swing way to often then we would like to admit. The last moment of whipping the club with my hands at the most shallow point of the club head is fundamentally impossible for me and other amateur golfers as well. Cheers. I personally have improved through a different method. This is to say that swinging the weight of the club head with my arms allows my shoulders and hips to turn/pivot naturally in response to feeling the weight of the club head travel it's circular path. So as I hold my grip lightly and swing my arms; my arms; my hands; hips; and club head meets in my middle at Impact to the ball. This collective action on my part allows my hips; arms; shoulders and the club head to finish at the exact same time. Now whenever I swing I like to think of 3 sprinters starting their run around a circular path and finishing in a dead heat at the exact same time. The club head; hands and hips are the three sprinters in this analogy.Cheers!
I like your analogy and understand what you're feeling. I promote the free release of the clubhead from near the top of the swing...but the correct sequence must stay intact.
Nokia 53 Take a look at David Duval, Anika Sorenstam, Henrik Stenson and Zack Johnson’s swings. They all release their head and or neck; meaning right ear faces the ground and left ear faces the sky at impact and slightly past it. Keegan Bradley too, one of the best. He’s also usually number 1 in total driving. Google Zach Johnson golf and head on a pillow; great golf digest article. Releasing your head keeps it still and maintains all the power in your swing, helps prevent early extension too. Hit balls and watch the ball with your head sideways until it lands, you’ll see! Austin and Dunaway spoke of this too. No one teaches it. It also keeps your right shoulder down a bit.
@@lesliewoodcock5880 THANK YOU LESLIE. Definitely looking into it. I used to do this too and found it make turning the upper body easier. But the caddies kept telling me to stop doing it because my head swayed as I tried to watch where the ball is going. Now I keep my eyes fix on the ball but the turn sometimes stalled and I ended up with a chicken wing. Anyway much thank for a quick and detailed reply.
Nokia 53 Sure. Remember, left ear stays behind the ball as it rotates skyward. Then your torso won’t sway or lunge forward. That’s the key to preventing a torso lunge and over the top; left ear stays behind the ball. Cheers
Steve...where is the throwing out and back of the arms from the top of downswing? I believe you advocated that on the Cogrona video. Am I missing something here?
Steve, I watched the video of mike Austen teaching and on the downswing, he initiates the swing with the pivot and move to the left, and then it seems that his body and chest stop turning and the club continues into impact and then the force of the club pulls the body around. How does this concept of letting the club pull you around compare to actively turning the chest? You seem to say you have to keep turning instead of letting the club pull you through> I watched the Steve Austen video several times and his chest seems to stop while the club goes through impact and then the club pulls the chest around.
Microphone is low, can hardly hear you. Anyway, you say to throw the club from the top in your other videos for increased speed. So do you throw the clubhead while you transfer your weight to the left and externally rotate your right shoulder? Or do you throw it a fraction after the moves you stated in this video? Thanks
Interesting sequence compared to what Mike Austin taught. He said that he pushed the hips forward, even in direction of the ball and he said that his ulnar deviation impulse was from the top. When I do that ulnar impulse I hit it higher and not farther. It seems that you teach different here and more up to date with all that sequencing moves you just explained here very well.
Is the external rotation of arm a clockwise motion of forearm and wrist or is it more a shoulder rotation move ? I seem to be very limited if it is a shoulder move. For the people that are limited with shoulder mobility should we just take it back steeper so there is room for a flattening motion at the beginning of downswing?
Great question. Yes I believe the motion is initiated at the external rotator which assists the supination move of the forearm. It is a very small move.
Steve, is the release happening automatically while all this lower body stuff is going on? I know you don’t promote holding off the release so this is what I assume.
How does this square with your advice on “throwing the clubhead “ from the top teaching? I understood you to say you couldn’t possibly throw it out too fast if you rotate properly, but here you say it’s not the first downward move
The first move is step down and return the left cheek to the wall. That only advances the handle about 8-10 inches. After that, throw like crazy. Sequence!
That still using the Mike Austin pivot on the follow thru? I hear him talking more about moving the hips more lateral on the down swing ? I’ve got a problem swinging my hips lateral while keeping my left butt cheek on the chair, do you / did you struggle with that while implementing the Austin hip pivot in your swing ? Or is that more of a ‘feel’ for him ? Please explain ....
I, too, got sucked into the 4-10 Dunaway idea that so many golfers misinterpreted. But after many hours of practice, I can now swing faster than ever with the correct Austin pivot that stays on (or can even break through) the wall. If you move off forward, just keep practicing. First with no club, then club but no ball, then small shots.
If you have managed to keep the face square in the backswing to the top, doesn't the external rotation of the humerus you describe result in fanning the face making it wide open as you are nearing the delivery posiiion? Do you actively rotate it back so that it is square by the time the left arm gets back to horizontal in the downswing, as it is was in the corresponding position in the backswing?
Actually it makes it go from super closed to square. Position the right arm at the top, then without changing it, bring it back down to the ball....and you'll see.
@@Inmotion70That is interesting I will have to figure this out. I feel like if from the 3 o'clock swing I just turn and take the club up the face stays square, right palm is on the plane, and the external rotation of humerus opens up the face as I have described. But if I spin the pizza box at the top and make the right palm face to 3 oclock, then the face is definitely shut and the external rotation of the humerus does then make the face square again.
At 6:17 you show last parallel - it looks like the face has rotated, it was on the plane when you were spinning the pizza box but now it looks like it is parallel to your spine, perpendicular to the plane and square to the arc. But you do not describe any motion to square the club in the second set of three moves. So my question - is there a fourth move in the second set of three moves, a rotation of the left arm to square the club by the time it gets to the delivery zone? Or do you keep the face on the plane all the way to last parallel and then do the 90 degree left arm rotation, combined with flapping, between last parallel and impact?
I looked at 10:50 frame by frame, and it looks to me like the clubhead is vertical at about shoulder level and rotates to parallel to your spine on the next frame, so I am thinking that there is a fourth move in the second set of three, the rotation of the left arm, to square the face by the time it gets to last parallel.
I thought it's not good to lift the heel on your target side foot. How do you get the same feeling of lowering that heal if you do not lift your target side heel?
Thanks for an important video on one of the most critical and overlooked part of the golf swing, Steve! Then there is the problem with the sound. In parts of the video the sound is simply to low to make it possible to hear what you say in a clear way, not at least since there is a road with rather noisy traffic near that range. It seems that there is a need for a good microphone and adjustment of the sound for these videos, recorded at that place, for people to really hear all your important messages regarding a good, powerful, golf swing.
I have been following your page but have one question. I do all the things you state in this video but still can't speed up my swing. I am 74 years old...was a 6 hdcp 10 years ago but now sitting at 9 and want to get it lower. I hit the ball about 210-220 on average off the tee...on a flat surface. I am very straight...play with a slight fade. How can I swing faster? Is weight training...I don't do this...the answer? I practice on the range daily, trying to maintain or improve my swing and speed for more distance, but nothing is helping. I am fairly flexible for my age, and not afraid to 'rip at it' when I need to in certain situations.........Thanks for any info you can supply.
Hi Keith! You're asking really good questions that affect a lot of golfers. Do you have access to a Trackman near you? I would love to take a look at your data. Between that and seeing a video of your swing, it is hard for me to assess where you might be leaking distance. Consider purchasing the analysis at my shop. www.hititlonger.com/pro-shop
When I do the right arm only swing I feel much more external rotation in the right humerus with the right palm facing the sky and can turn much better (more open at impact). However, my one arm swings are lousy hitting balls. ;-)
@Mike Reuter My therapist said if it is a new move about 3 to 5 thousand repetitions. If it is a change to long ingrained motion maybe 10 to 15 thousands. I gave up upon hearing this for mine would probably take 20 or 30. 16 years is a longtime habit to undo. Sighhh... I wish you luck and perseverance.
...forget the slide...stay centered...use you left hand lever to keep the club on plane going back....at the top karate chop the back left quadrant with the clubhead down and out simultaneously...and keep the left hip rotating thru....momentum & rotation will take care of the weight shift...that bump move screwed me up for 3 years...stay centered....and you'lll hit better golf shots my friend :)
I think the problem is here - in this video : th-cam.com/video/FsSqjXa906A/w-d-xo.html at 4:19 you clearly show the club square to the arc at the delivery position, but you also say that from here the left arm must make a 90 degree rotation into impact. I have just been flapping from this position, believing that by getting the face from on the plane when spinning the pizza box to the square to this position at the delivery zone was the 90 degree rotation, and therefore I could just flap from here. This may be the cause of my blocks.
![TEEDEE TADA - DIAMOND NARAKORN X LEGO LYKN [Special Dance Performance]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QgtZedFeumA/mqdefault.jpg)
The best explanation of the transition & downswing on the internet. Thank you for posting!
Thanks so much Tom. Cheers!
For saying your favorite movie is The Karate Kid (1984), you get a huge like. Also, I concur with doing drills over and over at home without a ball. Doing it over and over again. Starting slow when you eventually address a ball. Most golfers tend to want to rush a swing change when in fact drills, patience and discipline are vital. Also, a swing change gets ugly before it gets better.
Cheers CD!
I have never seen the down swing dissected like this. Great video to learn from. Thanks.
Cheers Tom!
I’ve taken so many lessons and no instructor has broken down the swing as well as you did in this video. Now I have something to work on to improve consistency in my swing. Thanks for the instructions.
You're very kind sir. Cheers!
Golf is so hard because when you are alone at the range and hitting it well and far what you think you are doing right is most likely not what you are actually doing. It's all just feel.
Had a great range session last night but today I just couldn't replicate the results. Felt I did the same as last night but I couldn't replicate the contact. I also couldn't replicate the distance when my contact was ok and it just didn't feel the same coming down as last night. I blamed my backswing, blamed my club face and hands and basically struggled the whole session.
Anyway I just got home and saw this and popped outside and boom it was like I was swinging last night. Same backswing but such a different feel coming down than I had at the range today and much more like last night. Really appreciate this tip. It's simple but its so fundamental to a successful result. No matter how many tips are out there about proper hand and arm motion if the body doesn't start the transition it just isn't going to be as great as it could be.
Great comment! Yes the downswing is over so fast that you better get it started right. Cheers!
Can’t thank you enough for making this video. This is exactly what I have been looking for .
Views from the range and backside add a lot of clarity.Thx Steve
Will definitely put the time in to get this right... thanks for the detail. I have seen the “powerful” results. Now is about consistency!
Thanks for a great video Steve. Best downswing explanation I've ever seen! Also thanks for the tips at the end on how to practice these moves/feels.
Glad it was helpful!
I’ve spent too much time trying to improve my swing, without knowing what I’m supposed to be trying to do. Years actually. I quit golfing completely this fall. Pretty much ready to give it up for good. But maybe I’ll work on these moves. This video sure clears up what I’m supposed to try to do.
Yup, one more shot at this crazy game! And I meet such decent people on the course
Thanks for posting
Now let’s see first shift weight on to left heel.....🏌🏼
Always return back to fundamentals when in a funk like that! Grip and stance....pushes you towards good swing mechanics. Best of luck...and let me know if I can help!
scott steibel Scott for goodness sakes man golf is not for quitters! Misery loves company. Stay the course before you know it you’ll have a single digit handicap and be buying new clubs. Good luck, mate. No I’m not an Aussie, a Brit by birth.
Great information,stopped me from topping and hitting behind the ground before ball, keep the videos coming!
Glad it helped!
Hi Steve what I see you are prescribing is the advancement of the hips to the finish of the swing and then a whipping motion of the hands and wrist to get the head of the club to catch up to the hips at the finish of the swing. Correct?? At least this is what I see you are teaching in this video that makes amateur golfers as myself screw up our swing way to often then we would like to admit. The last moment of whipping the club with my hands at the most shallow point of the club head is fundamentally impossible for me and other amateur golfers as well. Cheers.
I personally have improved through a different method. This is to say that swinging the weight of the club head with my arms allows my shoulders and hips to turn/pivot naturally in response to feeling the weight of the club head travel it's circular path. So as I hold my grip lightly and swing my arms; my arms; my hands; hips; and club head meets in my middle at Impact to the ball. This collective action on my part allows my hips; arms; shoulders and the club head to finish at the exact same time. Now whenever I swing I like to think of 3 sprinters starting their run around a circular path and finishing in a dead heat at the exact same time. The club head; hands and hips are the three sprinters in this analogy.Cheers!
I like your analogy and understand what you're feeling. I promote the free release of the clubhead from near the top of the swing...but the correct sequence must stay intact.
Well done; modified, clearer Austin with Kelvin. Great, best I’ve seen. Right lateral bend and neck release slings them out next.
That's high Praise - thank you Leslie.
Neck releasing? This is the first time I hear such a thing. Will you spare a few minutes to explain? I am all ears. Thank you.
Nokia 53 Take a look at David Duval, Anika Sorenstam, Henrik Stenson and Zack Johnson’s swings. They all release their head and or neck; meaning right ear faces the ground and left ear faces the sky at impact and slightly past it. Keegan Bradley too, one of the best. He’s also usually number 1 in total driving. Google Zach Johnson golf and head on a pillow; great golf digest article. Releasing your head keeps it still and maintains all the power in your swing, helps prevent early extension too. Hit balls and watch the ball with your head sideways until it lands, you’ll see! Austin and Dunaway spoke of this too. No one teaches it. It also keeps your right shoulder down a bit.
@@lesliewoodcock5880 THANK YOU LESLIE. Definitely looking into it. I used to do this too and found it make turning the upper body easier. But the caddies kept telling me to stop doing it because my head swayed as I tried to watch where the ball is going. Now I keep my eyes fix on the ball but the turn sometimes stalled and I ended up with a chicken wing. Anyway much thank for a quick and detailed reply.
Nokia 53 Sure. Remember, left ear stays behind the ball as it rotates skyward. Then your torso won’t sway or lunge forward. That’s the key to preventing a torso lunge and over the top; left ear stays behind the ball. Cheers
Great video Steve! Thank you. Can you elaborate on the movements in the wrist especially in the lower part of the swing from final parallel. Thank you
Will do. Although there are several videos on this topic if you can search the channel.
Excellent video!
Wow this has been the best explanation I’ve seen online.
Thanks Eric!
Great Video Steve ... thanks for taking the time to put this together!!
Thank you!
Hi Mike. Can you do this same sequence using the left arm positions ? Great video
Nice video. Will check out more of your stuff.
Steve...where is the throwing out and back of the arms from the top of downswing? I believe you advocated that on the Cogrona video.
Am I missing something here?
My opinion too
Yes how does this compare to the throwing out swing where the momentum of the club pulls your body around
Steve, I watched the video of mike Austen teaching and on the downswing, he initiates the swing with the pivot and move to the left, and then it seems that his body and chest stop turning and the club continues into impact and then the force of the club pulls the body around. How does this concept of letting the club pull you around compare to actively turning the chest? You seem to say you have to keep turning instead of letting the club pull you through> I watched the Steve Austen video several times and his chest seems to stop while the club goes through impact and then the club pulls the chest around.
Microphone is low, can hardly hear you. Anyway, you say to throw the club from the top in your other videos for increased speed. So do you throw the clubhead while you transfer your weight to the left and externally rotate your right shoulder? Or do you throw it a fraction after the moves you stated in this video? Thanks
This explains a lot. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Interesting sequence compared to what Mike Austin taught. He said that he pushed the hips forward, even in direction of the ball and he said that his ulnar deviation impulse was from the top. When I do that ulnar impulse I hit it higher and not farther. It seems that you teach different here and more up to date with all that sequencing moves you just explained here very well.
Study the video 'Young Mike Austin' by Metaphor Golf. You'll see that he doesn't push his hips towards the ball. Do that and you're doomed.
Is the external rotation of arm a clockwise motion of forearm and wrist or is it more a shoulder rotation move ? I seem to be very limited if it is a shoulder move. For the people that are limited with shoulder mobility should we just take it back steeper so there is room for a flattening motion at the beginning of downswing?
Great question. Yes I believe the motion is initiated at the external rotator which assists the supination move of the forearm. It is a very small move.
Steve, is the release happening automatically while all this lower body stuff is going on? I know you don’t promote holding off the release so this is what I assume.
How does this square with your advice on “throwing the clubhead “ from the top teaching? I understood you to say you couldn’t possibly throw it out too fast if you rotate properly, but here you say it’s not the first downward move
The first move is step down and return the left cheek to the wall. That only advances the handle about 8-10 inches. After that, throw like crazy. Sequence!
Steve Pratt Golf 10-4 , thanks!
That still using the Mike Austin pivot on the follow thru? I hear him talking more about moving the hips more lateral on the down swing ? I’ve got a problem swinging my hips lateral while keeping my left butt cheek on the chair, do you / did you struggle with that while implementing the Austin hip pivot in your swing ? Or is that more of a ‘feel’ for him ? Please explain ....
I, too, got sucked into the 4-10 Dunaway idea that so many golfers misinterpreted. But after many hours of practice, I can now swing faster than ever with the correct Austin pivot that stays on (or can even break through) the wall. If you move off forward, just keep practicing. First with no club, then club but no ball, then small shots.
@@Inmotion70 what is the 4-10 dunaway idea.
Steve what are you saying in your response above. What are you adding or taking away from the Austin Advice and pivot?
If you have managed to keep the face square in the backswing to the top, doesn't the external rotation of the humerus you describe result in fanning the face making it wide open as you are nearing the delivery posiiion? Do you actively rotate it back so that it is square by the time the left arm gets back to horizontal in the downswing, as it is was in the corresponding position in the backswing?
Actually it makes it go from super closed to square. Position the right arm at the top, then without changing it, bring it back down to the ball....and you'll see.
@@Inmotion70That is interesting I will have to figure this out. I feel like if from the 3 o'clock swing I just turn and take the club up the face stays square, right palm is on the plane, and the external rotation of humerus opens up the face as I have described. But if I spin the pizza box at the top and make the right palm face to 3 oclock, then the face is definitely shut and the external rotation of the humerus does then make the face square again.
At 6:17 you show last parallel - it looks like the face has rotated, it was on the plane when you were spinning the pizza box but now it looks like it is parallel to your spine, perpendicular to the plane and square to the arc. But you do not describe any motion to square the club in the second set of three moves. So my question - is there a fourth move in the second set of three moves, a rotation of the left arm to square the club by the time it gets to the delivery zone? Or do you keep the face on the plane all the way to last parallel and then do the 90 degree left arm rotation, combined with flapping, between last parallel and impact?
I looked at 10:50 frame by frame, and it looks to me like the clubhead is vertical at about shoulder level and rotates to parallel to your spine on the next frame, so I am thinking that there is a fourth move in the second set of three, the rotation of the left arm, to square the face by the time it gets to last parallel.
When does the throwing of the club start?
I thought it's not good to lift the heel on your target side foot. How do you get the same feeling of lowering that heal if you do not lift your target side heel?
There should still be a pressure shift where the lead foot is unweighted to some extent. Maybe even a little inside roll?
The rolling inward of the right foot has stopped me from early extension,thanks
Thanks for an important video on one of the most critical and overlooked part of the golf swing, Steve! Then there is the problem with the sound. In parts of the video the sound is simply to low to make it possible to hear what you say in a clear way, not at least since there is a road with rather noisy traffic near that range. It seems that there is a need for a good microphone and adjustment of the sound for these videos, recorded at that place, for people to really hear all your important messages regarding a good, powerful, golf swing.
Thanks for the feedback...and for your kind words.
@@Inmotion70 You are welcome, sir!
I have been following your page but have one question. I do all the things you state in this video but still can't speed up my swing.
I am 74 years old...was a 6 hdcp 10 years ago but now sitting at 9 and want to get it lower. I hit the ball about 210-220 on average off the tee...on a flat surface. I am very straight...play with a slight fade. How can I swing faster? Is weight training...I don't do this...the answer? I practice on the range daily, trying to maintain or improve my swing and speed for more distance, but nothing is helping. I am
fairly flexible for my age, and not afraid to 'rip at it' when I need to in certain situations.........Thanks for any info you can supply.
Hi Keith! You're asking really good questions that affect a lot of golfers. Do you have access to a Trackman near you? I would love to take a look at your data. Between that and seeing a video of your swing, it is hard for me to assess where you might be leaking distance. Consider purchasing the analysis at my shop. www.hititlonger.com/pro-shop
Isn't this initial hand/wrist move just the opposite of whats necessary for a release from the top?
No.
When I do the right arm only swing I feel much more external rotation in the right humerus with the right palm facing the sky and can turn much better (more open at impact). However, my one arm swings are lousy hitting balls. ;-)
Gotta build the coordination! Cool that you got a new feel.
How many repetitions will it take to ingrain this into the brain?
@Mike Reuter
My therapist said if it is a new move about 3 to 5 thousand repetitions. If it is a change to long ingrained motion maybe 10 to 15 thousands. I gave up upon hearing this for mine would probably take 20 or 30. 16 years is a longtime habit to undo. Sighhh...
I wish you luck and perseverance.
Just maybe my 20 year slump will end. We’ll see. But, at least I know why I’ve been so bad. A person really needs to start this game at 5 y/a.
6:28, 7:55
Is that traffic or wind noise. Can hardly hear the voice
Sorry about the audio at the beginning...I'm not sure what happened there...maybe the mic slipped. If you stick with the video it gets much clearer.
...forget the slide...stay centered...use you left hand lever to keep the club on plane going back....at the top karate chop the back left quadrant with the clubhead down and out simultaneously...and keep the left hip rotating thru....momentum & rotation will take care of the weight shift...that bump move screwed me up for 3 years...stay centered....and you'lll hit better golf shots my friend :)
I think the problem is here - in this video :
th-cam.com/video/FsSqjXa906A/w-d-xo.html
at 4:19 you clearly show the club square to the arc at the delivery position, but you also say that from here the left arm must make a 90 degree rotation into impact. I have just been flapping from this position, believing that by getting the face from on the plane when spinning the pizza box to the square to this position at the delivery zone was the 90 degree rotation, and therefore I could just flap from here. This may be the cause of my blocks.
Work on your audio.
Will do...I think it's a lot better lately.