Instruction
Do What the Best Do! The First Move
There is as much bad information and untested theories about the golf swing as there are different clubs and balls. That’s why I have a saying that I use with my students,
“If you want to be the best, do what the best do!”
What I’m trying to get across to my students is that if they hope to play to the level of a tour pro, they likely need to emulate certain things that the tour pros do.
There are many teaching pros that concentrate on impact; they try to get their students to control the clubface at the bottom of the swing arc. However, the truth of the matter is that having a great impact position is the product of great positions throughout the entire swing.
After getting in a good athletic posture, the first thing golfers need to concentrate on is the first move of their backswing. For years, many instructors have been telling students to roll the face of the club open in the backswing until the toe of the club is pointing up when the shaft is parallel with the ground (thus the term “toe up.” See Figure 1).
Figure 1: The “old school approach.”
For many golfers, this information could not be any more incorrect! There was a time when “toe up” made sense, but equipment has evolved and so has the way we teach golf. When teaching pros use this outdated information, it makes their student roll the club head too far inside, which gets the club head behind their back (See Figure 2).
Figure 2: Too far inside and behind back.
If you have this problem, I have a fix for you. The next time you are at the range working on your swing, place a tee on the target line about eight inches directly behind the ball (See Figure 3).
Figure 3: Tee behind ball.
Now take your club head straight back over that tee (See Figure 4).
Figure 4: Take the club straight back over the tee.
As you take the club back, make sure you do not roll your wrist in your backswing. You will notice that once your club is parallel to the ground, the clubface has not rolled inside and the face matches your spine angle (see fig 5).
Figure 5: Club face matches spine angle
For longer and straighter shots, it is essential that golfers get their club head in this position. Look at tour players on the Internet or TV and notice that just about all the guys making money do this.
Stay tuned, as I will continue to dispel bad tips from the past with fresh information for today’s game.
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Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?
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This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.
For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.
Setup
You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.
While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.
Get a Better Shoulder Turn
Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.
In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.
Stay Better Connected in the Backswing
When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.
Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.
Conclusion
I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.
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You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!
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Devin
Nov 10, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Great tip! The last time I took a lesson the instructor made mention of this very thing. He pulled up a video of Adam Scott and compared the face angle and spine angle.
[email protected]
Oct 5, 2013 at 12:41 pm
The takeaway as described has been a remedy that has worked for me many times. I also believe it prevents creating a short backswing ( another problem I face now and then).
Anna M
Oct 3, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Bob:
I’ve incorporated this tip into my practice and game and I am making much better contact and consistent shots. I shot the best round of my short golf career this week. Great Article!
Duane G
Jul 27, 2013 at 9:03 am
I was taught this years ago and got away from it…can’t wait to get back on the range and burn it in.
Eric
Jul 25, 2013 at 2:19 pm
When moving the club head over the tee, is this done by pushing the arms away from your body, or by turning your shoulders steeper (compared with the rolling outside takeaway)?
Matt
Jul 28, 2013 at 11:59 am
That is a great question Eric. Both approaches have profoundly different impacts on the swing. I myself prefer to use more left tilt which helps the club acsend instead of just pushing my arms which could lead to me losing connection and lifting my arms in the backswing
Wayne
Aug 20, 2013 at 6:03 am
Matt can you explain what you mean by “more left tilt”? thanks
Shelby
Jul 25, 2013 at 12:17 pm
I find when I do this I get stuck. I’m not sure if my chest and hands are a bit out of sync near the top of the backswing, but this is what I feel. I also feel that my right elbow wants to disconnect and sometimes I chicken wing. Lastly, sometimes I also feel like my shoulder plane gets really steep. Any suggestions?
andrew
Jul 25, 2013 at 10:14 am
I’ve started doing the same drill with a golf ball instead of a tee recently and has helped me become more consistent with my ball striking. Will give the tee a go instead of the ball now though as I want have to rake the ball bake into position. LOL!
joe Aslam
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:29 am
I am a big believer in lessons and have just had one with my local pro
he tells me to close the gap between my left thumb and finger so as the fleshy bits touch.
How important is this minor tip on a scale of 1-10?
yo!
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:38 pm
this is good advice … it may not work for everyone, but one can commit to it and experiment with it and see if it works for them. I think its a rather fundamental principle. an athletic person can adapt to a nonfundamental swing and still do well
HHGC
Jul 24, 2013 at 2:49 pm
This seems to be along the same lines as initially take the club back in the line of the ball and have the club shaft be parallel to the line when the club is parallel to the ground. My question is, once the rotation of the body stops, do you think about setting/hinging the wrists as a golfer normally would, or should there be another thought in setting the club at the top? Thanks and appreciate the swing thought. B
Steve Connolly
Jul 24, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Nice article Bob!
Jack
Jul 24, 2013 at 1:04 am
This is a great tip! I’ve been trying to figure out how to keep my clubface returning to square at and through impact. I think forearm rotation, or lack thereof, is going to help it!
WM
Jul 23, 2013 at 11:02 pm
This is the most confusing part of the swing. Since the club is hooded, where the right arm is above the left, how do you get it to the top?
Stu
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Bob. I have to agree with you. The way I was taught 30 years ago when I was a kid was to roll it toe up. As I got bigger and stronger I had to cup the wrist to avoid getting it hugely shut at the top. I’m in a process of reengineerimg at ten moment and this move that you highlight is key. All the really consistent $$$ earners on the tours do this as it reduces the amount of hand manipulation you need to do on the way down. You can get the club in a neutral slot which enaes you to fully release through the ball.
I used to think this made the club look ‘closed’ on the way back, but actually fanning it toe-up makes it easier to get it in a nasty face-to-sky position at the top, leading to have to hold it off through impact an stopping a full release.
On the right lines??
JB
Jul 24, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Phil doesn’t. He is a classic roll release old school feel turn in a barrel player. Ball striking is over rated, and so is this tip.
Little Lefty
Jul 25, 2013 at 7:19 am
Actually, Phil does hit this position on the takeaway. Virtually every single Tour player, from the best to the worst, hits this position. This tip is beautiful in that it’s simple, yet incredibly effective. The misconception about this tip is that you are hooding the golf club. Actually, keeping the clubface “closed” is keeping it square. That’s why everybody does this.
As for your second comment, ballstriking is overrated, but this tip is essential for at least maintaining a baseline of competency.
Jason
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:10 pm
There are many ways to swing a club and hit high quality golf shots. The BEST way for any individual to swing is whatever way allows them to achieve consistent impact conditions. Golf swings are like fingerprints, no two are alike. I happen to agree with Mr. Palmer, find your fundamentals ans swing your swing.
Bob Krause
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Jason, I too like Palmers approach. However, if you are finding yourself too far inside and behind, this is a quick way to get on plane. There will always be exceptions however, the bottom line is the more the club head is on plane, the further and longer you will hit the ball.
Jack
Jul 24, 2013 at 12:32 am
If you’re on plane and hitting the ball straight every single time, then go ahead and swing however you like. I guess I am not so lucky.
I get what you are saying though, but how do you give advice to the ones with unconventional swings if they are not hitting it straight? Just square your clubface at impact?
mark
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:00 pm
What about Ray Floyd or Doug sanders
snowman0157
Jul 23, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Do you recommend this move/position with Driver also or just the irons?
Bob Krause
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:28 pm
Snowman, Thanks for your question. Yes, I recommend this move with Irons and Woods.