This was an excellent explanation of how to make cleaner contact with the ball. As I have been trying to develop a better swing (I previously used my arms too much to create swing speed - this does not work for a golfer in their upper 60's!) I have been struggling with making good ball contact. Thank you JKM for another great video. You are the best online instructor that I have seen.
Went to the driving range today to work on my irons, I can honestly say I have never hit the ball more consistently straight since watching your videos. Thanks so much!
I'm a 60 year old mid handicap golfer that's struggled with early extension and flipping the club that's watched 100's of videos with the hope to improve my ball striking. Your demonstration of how to attain shaft lean is the best I've seen. Thank you! Now a new subscriber looking forward to your content!
Amazing explanation!! It’s the first time I realized what I’m doing wrong and how to fix it and I’ve watched 100 videos on this topic. I hope your video gets over 1 million likes. It is well deserved. You are a great teacher.
First time I see your videos... The way you explain things make it really easy to understand. I have struggled with shaft lean for sometime already, but I was never able to figure out right from wrong, even after seen other videos or talking to another golf coach. I will start working on this drills right away!
This is something I really need to work on. Every time I focus on moving my hands ahead of the ball / shaft-lean it brings in a bunch of hosel hits / shanks. I’m going to try this drill and report back! Really like how you explain it here with smaller swings to get the feel.
I had exact issue as Jonathan described - holding the club too long and topping the ball, and lately tried to lower my right shoulder to solve the problem. Just tried to hit a few balls by pushing the handle and let the club head to drop naturally. Seemed working well with irons but still missing with hybrids and woods. Will try some more the next few days.
Great video! Love the 1/4 to Half swing info. Can you explain the best way to practice with that motion but add, the release and follow through movement. Would love to see everything combined with the 1/4 to half swing.
_Some Key Pointers that could assist_ _At Address_ it helps to "Collapse (Cup) the right (rear) wrist... (personal choice) ... -- This gets the pre- "feeling" of the impact position ... -- This assists tremendously with getting shaft "In the Slot" & "On Plane" _Stance_ If you add stand say 1 to 2 inches _Away_ from the ball - the dynamics improve _Stance_ If you *stand too close* to the ball --- It's almost *impossible to lean the shaft forward* - at impact. _Balance_ A "Stacked" (vertical) body - {- with no sway -} is critical ... -- Even starting off with "Zero weight" on rear knee ... -- Even a drill of balancing on your rear (weightless) toe until transition _Waist Turn_ Sharp (Upward) waist turn - during & after impact completes the dynamics of the move _Leave Club Behind_ The swing feel should be that "You've left the club behind" & "Still waiting for" delayed impact" _Left Heel_ The {handle past left knee} & rapid waist turn should force your weight into the outside of the left heel _-_-_-_- _Last Thought_ It helps _before take-away_ that your "Last Thought" is "Get the handle past the Left Knee" {feeling} _-_-_-_- --- *Johnathan* Could Comment on which of these "Pointers" are useful
You should only lean the shaft to control the trajectory. Anything contrived is just slow and powerless. Most people dump the clubhead because they have the face too open and they react by dumping the face and adding loft to square the face. Conversely, shaft lean also results in an open face. The turn down twist of the shaft needs to be learned to hit a true soft draw until the player starts hooking. Then you can pursue the proper amount of shaft lean to counter the face closure and hopefully result in a neutral flight that can most importantly also hold a green.
Great explanation! However, once I address the ball and focus on hitting the ball ("ball bound"), the (simple) mechanics of your explanation falls apart and lose the shaft lean instantly. How do you eliminate the default mind thought of "hitting the golf ball with the club head which completely destroys what I can do given your instruction without the ball?
Could you make a video on if you were a beginner, the order you would learn all the various skills/aspects of the swing. When I'm practicing I like to work on one of these aspects and deliberately drill it into my swing rather than trying to implement everything at once. So having an order like, make sure you're getting a good shaft lean at impact, once you've done that you can focus on this after, would help a lot.
To be honest, it's much simpler than most people think. If you have a correct sequence from transition to release, you WILL have shaft lean. In short, your arms should follow your body and never the other way around.
This is a great video and you made it so easy for us to understand! However this brings a question, how do you compare this with driver swing? I assume we don’t need such a shaft lean on driver swing.
Don't use the wrist, use the forearms. Rotate the forearm down. Sometimes this is a good swing thought. Think about when you are hammering a nail, we always hammer with an "L" shape between our hand/wrist with the hammer. True is same for the golf club. We are not only trying to generate mph in our swing, but a "pushed" force. If force = mass * acceleration, we can increase mass or weight of the head by pushing it down properly. You can actually generate great compression without extremely fast swing speeds. This is better for consistency.
Great video! Question- do you maintain the cup in the right wrist/ flat left wrist through impact and into the followthrough? With this drill you seem to be losing the cup in the right wrist.
Wow! I just got back from the range and hit the irons very well! but I was a little erratic with the driver, so I'm wondering if this move applies to all the clubs?
Jonathan, great explanation, I was taught your iron shafts should have a slight forward lean at address when you set up to the ball, is this a correct step at set up?
Hey Jonathan, thanks for the Video. I tried this on the range today but hitted fat shots only. Can you explan the movement with a full swing? It felt like a bite lose control over the clubface and hacking into the ground 😖🙈
I was practicing this drill today and noticed most of my balls were push 5-10yards right, sometimes straight, sometimes with a fade. What would this indicate?
It is interesting that you say that you don't want to lower your body. People say the opposite, as you mention, and state that this is what the pros do. I'm confused. Thanks
You do lower yourself as you start the downswing but you don’t want to intentionally lower yourself while trying to hold on to your wrist angles for too long
Thanks so much. That makes total sense. You do a phenomenal job. You not only know what you're talking about, you do a fantastic job explaining it clearly.
Hey Jonathan, i didn't quite understand the last 10s of the video, what is the correct way? U mean keep the trail wrist angle, release it when hands Pass the ball? So the head will follow after, is that what u mean, instead of wrong way is holding that trail wrist drag it so top it.
Great video, JKM. Two questions: I see a lot of pros dropping height to hit the ball these days. Like Fleetwood, Hovland, Morikawa. But you recommend against that, yes? And I find the exercise you recommend really helpful on a short swing, but hard to manage with a full swing: any suggestions? Thanks.
I am not against dropping the trail shoulder. I was trying to explain to people that the more you lean the shaft forward it will shorten out the length of the club which can cause you to also thin the golf ball unless you lower your trail shoulder. For a bigger swing I will be releasing in PART 2!
When you say not to drop your trailing shoulder at impact, I'm a little confused as I was always under the impression your trail shoulder goes down and your lead shoulder goes up to keep the club on plane. Are you saying not to do this in a way that feels artificial or dropping your shoulder too much to compensate for improperly keeping extension in your trail wrist?
If you hold onto the forward shaft lean at impact for too long, it will shorten out the length of the club so it will be difficult to touch the ground which is why a lot of people tend to top the ball when they try to lean the shaft really far forward. If you are someone that does this, then it usually requires the player to excessively drop the trail shoulder down. Your trail shoulder definitely needs to be lower than the lead shoulder but depending on how much you lean the shaft forward it will require you to lower it more or less.
I have used both Trackman and GC Quad and I would say they are both quite similar but Trackman has even more data points than GC Quad and a better data base. But GC Quad can be more accurate indoors since they use stickers
most people close the club face by leaning the shaft backwards at impact or adding too much "cupping" in the lead wrist. If you lean the shaft forward at impact it will require a different movement to close the club face
This is the best video on shaft lean on the entire internet, and I've viewed just about everything.
This was an excellent explanation of how to make cleaner contact with the ball. As I have been trying to develop a better swing (I previously used my arms too much to create swing speed - this does not work for a golfer in their upper 60's!) I have been struggling with making good ball contact. Thank you JKM for another great video. You are the best online instructor that I have seen.
Went to the driving range today to work on my irons, I can honestly say I have never hit the ball more consistently straight since watching your videos. Thanks so much!
Awsome!
I'm a 60 year old mid handicap golfer that's struggled with early extension and flipping the club that's watched 100's of videos with the hope to improve my ball striking. Your demonstration of how to attain shaft lean is the best I've seen. Thank you! Now a new subscriber looking forward to your content!
This is fantastic. I really appreciated "don't try to hold the angle" or dragging, which is exactly what I'm doing.
Surely the best golf vidéo ever seen explaining the fundamental golf principle. Thks JM
Thanks a lot!
amazing. im working on it. need to see part 2 bro
Amazing explanation!! It’s the first time I realized what I’m doing wrong and how to fix it and I’ve watched 100 videos on this topic. I hope your video gets over 1 million likes. It is well deserved. You are a great teacher.
Thank you 🙏
Thank you! Keep up the good work! Your teaching skills are very well appreciated, I am 75 and learning the game. Enjoy it very much.
First time I see your videos... The way you explain things make it really easy to understand. I have struggled with shaft lean for sometime already, but I was never able to figure out right from wrong, even after seen other videos or talking to another golf coach. I will start working on this drills right away!
Been watching videos on this subject for years. Best explanation and demo I have ever seen. GREAT job!
This is something I really need to work on. Every time I focus on moving my hands ahead of the ball / shaft-lean it brings in a bunch of hosel hits / shanks. I’m going to try this drill and report back! Really like how you explain it here with smaller swings to get the feel.
That is the first time I've ever seen or heard that explanation. Thank you I'm going to practice this right now.
Hey Jonathan,
This was a mind-blowing video for me, along with the hip rotation video. Thank you again.
Herman
Fantastic video! Can’t wait to try this as it makes perfect sense.
wow that is a great explanation, cant believe this is free!! great content dude
Wow really nice. Thanks for explaining the mechanics of the shaft lean in detail. Like getting a personalized lesson!
great explanation! you have a way with simplicity!
I had exact issue as Jonathan described - holding the club too long and topping the ball, and lately tried to lower my right shoulder to solve the problem. Just tried to hit a few balls by pushing the handle and let the club head to drop naturally. Seemed working well with irons but still missing with hybrids and woods. Will try some more the next few days.
Jonathan at his best 🥰
Found this video amazing. Is part 2 out yet? Couldn’t find it with a TH-cam search. Thanks JKM!
On the way
Great video! Love the 1/4 to Half swing info. Can you explain the best way to practice with that motion but add, the release and follow through movement. Would love to see everything combined with the 1/4 to half swing.
Coming up !
I've got a lot of work to do.Thanks for this discussion.
Yea most people are not told about this concept so hope it helps!
Excellent video explaining shaft lean
I don't get why the best YT coach doesn't have 1M subs already.
Haha maybe in time but just focusing on making good content for everyone 👍
In tennis we called it wrist lag, it can be achieved if you have a relaxed but firm grip
Excellent explanation!
a very good explanation..thanks
_Some Key Pointers that could assist_
_At Address_ it helps to "Collapse (Cup) the right (rear) wrist... (personal choice)
... -- This gets the pre- "feeling" of the impact position
... -- This assists tremendously with getting shaft "In the Slot" & "On Plane"
_Stance_ If you add stand say 1 to 2 inches _Away_ from the ball - the dynamics improve
_Stance_ If you *stand too close* to the ball --- It's almost *impossible to lean the shaft forward* - at impact.
_Balance_ A "Stacked" (vertical) body - {- with no sway -} is critical
... -- Even starting off with "Zero weight" on rear knee
... -- Even a drill of balancing on your rear (weightless) toe until transition
_Waist Turn_ Sharp (Upward) waist turn - during & after impact completes the dynamics of the move
_Leave Club Behind_ The swing feel should be that "You've left the club behind" & "Still waiting for" delayed impact"
_Left Heel_ The {handle past left knee} & rapid waist turn should force your weight into the outside of the left heel
_-_-_-_-
_Last Thought_ It helps _before take-away_ that your "Last Thought" is "Get the handle past the Left Knee" {feeling}
_-_-_-_- --- *Johnathan* Could Comment on which of these "Pointers" are useful
Excellent explanation. Nice video.
Glad it helped
You should only lean the shaft to control the trajectory. Anything contrived is just slow and powerless. Most people dump the clubhead because they have the face too open and they react by dumping the face and adding loft to square the face. Conversely, shaft lean also results in an open face. The turn down twist of the shaft needs to be learned to hit a true soft draw until the player starts hooking. Then you can pursue the proper amount of shaft lean to counter the face closure and hopefully result in a neutral flight that can most importantly also hold a green.
Great explanation! However, once I address the ball and focus on hitting the ball ("ball bound"), the (simple) mechanics of your explanation falls apart and lose the shaft lean instantly. How do you eliminate the default mind thought of "hitting the golf ball with the club head which completely destroys what I can do given your instruction without the ball?
Many thanks. Will do as you advice.
Could you make a video on if you were a beginner, the order you would learn all the various skills/aspects of the swing.
When I'm practicing I like to work on one of these aspects and deliberately drill it into my swing rather than trying to implement everything at once. So having an order like, make sure you're getting a good shaft lean at impact, once you've done that you can focus on this after, would help a lot.
very good idea.
To be honest, it's much simpler than most people think. If you have a correct sequence from transition to release, you WILL have shaft lean. In short, your arms should follow your body and never the other way around.
really good, thanks
This is a great video and you made it so easy for us to understand! However this brings a question, how do you compare this with driver swing? I assume we don’t need such a shaft lean on driver swing.
you are correct you dont need much shaft lean at impact with driver because you are not trying to hit down on it
Thanks J. Could you also explain the mvt holding the club with the lead side, or it doesn’t make sense?
Hey Jon do you mind talking about shaft lean/compression with hybrid/wood/driver? Thanks!
can definitely be a video topic
That is one of the best explanations on shaft lean that I have ever seen! Well done Jon! PS--Are you still with Golftec?
Thank you! and I am no longer with golftec
great video
Great video, never seen shaft lean broken down this way, does this method mirror or differ with the driver? Thanks
It would be similar but because of set up changes and differences with the head position relative to the ball it changes the dynamics of impact
Hi is this shaft moving feeling same as pitching? LIke the The distance change
yes these movements can be applied to a standard pitch shot if you struggle to lean the shaft forward
Don't use the wrist, use the forearms. Rotate the forearm down. Sometimes this is a good swing thought. Think about when you are hammering a nail, we always hammer with an "L" shape between our hand/wrist with the hammer. True is same for the golf club. We are not only trying to generate mph in our swing, but a "pushed" force. If force = mass * acceleration, we can increase mass or weight of the head by pushing it down properly. You can actually generate great compression without extremely fast swing speeds. This is better for consistency.
Great video! Question- do you maintain the cup in the right wrist/ flat left wrist through impact and into the followthrough? With this drill you seem to be losing the cup in the right wrist.
At impact your lead wrist should go into more flex and post impact the trail wrist will lose extension
Wow! I just got back from the range and hit the irons very well! but I was a little erratic with the driver, so I'm wondering if this move applies to all the clubs?
Yes 👍
Jonathan, great explanation, I was taught your iron shafts should have a slight forward lean at address when you set up to the ball, is this a correct step at set up?
This is correct. Just be sure to do it a bit only. Shaft lean forward and back can influence set and swing path
Hey Jonathan, thanks for the Video. I tried this on the range today but hitted fat shots only. Can you explan the movement with a full swing? It felt like a bite lose control over the clubface and hacking into the ground 😖🙈
I’d work on weight shift forward. If no weight shift then you’re more likely to hit fat shots. But maybe JKM can weigh in.
wait for part 2! but I will honestly need to see your swing to know what your issue is specifically
I was practicing this drill today and noticed most of my balls were push 5-10yards right, sometimes straight, sometimes with a fade. What would this indicate?
It is interesting that you say that you don't want to lower your body. People say the opposite, as you mention, and state that this is what the pros do. I'm confused. Thanks
You do lower yourself as you start the downswing but you don’t want to intentionally lower yourself while trying to hold on to your wrist angles for too long
Thanks so much. That makes total sense. You do a phenomenal job. You not only know what you're talking about, you do a fantastic job explaining it clearly.
Just set up with extra forward shaft lean at address if this is a problem !!, i.e. similar to the ideal impact position, Not mentioned here once....
when is part 2 arriving?
On the way
Hey Jonathan, i didn't quite understand the last 10s of the video, what is the correct way? U mean keep the trail wrist angle, release it when hands Pass the ball? So the head will follow after, is that what u mean, instead of wrong way is holding that trail wrist drag it so top it.
Yes release the club head after the hands get just past the ball
Great video, JKM. Two questions: I see a lot of pros dropping height to hit the ball these days. Like Fleetwood, Hovland, Morikawa. But you recommend against that, yes? And I find the exercise you recommend really helpful on a short swing, but hard to manage with a full swing: any suggestions? Thanks.
I am not against dropping the trail shoulder. I was trying to explain to people that the more you lean the shaft forward it will shorten out the length of the club which can cause you to also thin the golf ball unless you lower your trail shoulder. For a bigger swing I will be releasing in PART 2!
Would the thought of getting the handle down and forward apply to driver as well?
not as much since you are not trying to hit downwards on the golf ball
When you say not to drop your trailing shoulder at impact, I'm a little confused as I was always under the impression your trail shoulder goes down and your lead shoulder goes up to keep the club on plane. Are you saying not to do this in a way that feels artificial or dropping your shoulder too much to compensate for improperly keeping extension in your trail wrist?
If you hold onto the forward shaft lean at impact for too long, it will shorten out the length of the club so it will be difficult to touch the ground which is why a lot of people tend to top the ball when they try to lean the shaft really far forward. If you are someone that does this, then it usually requires the player to excessively drop the trail shoulder down. Your trail shoulder definitely needs to be lower than the lead shoulder but depending on how much you lean the shaft forward it will require you to lower it more or less.
Helpful
JKM - what flight tracker are you using? I've heard the GC Hawk/Quad is more accurate than Trackman, so just wondering.
I have used both Trackman and GC Quad and I would say they are both quite similar but Trackman has even more data points than GC Quad and a better data base. But GC Quad can be more accurate indoors since they use stickers
@@JKMGolf thanks!
You will guess my question 😊 whats the case of driver?
good video topic!
Where's part 2?
coming up!
if the wrist not close in time, it will cause slice.
most people close the club face by leaning the shaft backwards at impact or adding too much "cupping" in the lead wrist. If you lean the shaft forward at impact it will require a different movement to close the club face
Way too long! What happened to your great simple explanations?….what happened to all your other guys?
some topics need to be explained fully for people to have the best chance of understanding this feel
In my opinion, this was a great simple explanation and not too long! Thanks 👍