Lack of wrist roll and release

[braveheart]

Could I please have some advice on how to overcome this problem.I have taken some lessons and have hit balls at an indoor range consistently into a screen (modulator) and into nets at least twice a week over this winter. I have difficulty releasing my wrists in time to avoid an open clubface at impact. It results in a severe slice or push. It does not come into play with irons. Must I always have to concentrate on "turning over" my forearms on the downswing. This does work but it is hard to lock in the timing. My swing speed is 103-105 with a quick tempo and I am a little steep on an inside path. The stiff shaft I had put in the driver I use has helped a little but Im still struggling. Im very strong and actually have been told to lighten up my grip tension which used to be too tight. What drills or advice could I use to make it more natural? Should I use closed face driver like a Cobra? I appreciate any thoughts or advice. Thanks.

[gord962]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

A stiff shaft should not have helped - actually should make it more difficult. The shaft iss too stiff for your swing speed. A firm flex would be best for your speed (in between a regular and a firm).

As for release, gripping too hard makes release extremely difficult. On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 being lightest and 10 benig a death grip, you should be aiming to have about 3 for pressure. A good example is grip with about as much pressure as you would hold a baby's hand - just enough to hold on.

You can also work on GregJWillis's impact position drill: http://members.cox.net/gregjwillis/LESSON3.htm

[braveheart]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

Thanks, Gord for your response and the link to that drill. Take care.

[pnearn]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

Braveheart

I dont think you should be trying to conciously roll your forearms over at release. That very difficult to time consistently. Too early and you hook, too
late and you slice

I use to feel I had to square the clubface with my arms and hands and came to the conclusion that the reason was I was stood far too close to the ball. When you stood further away and your hands are in front of your feet as you look down your arms have much more to room to swing in front of your body and square themselves. All I think about now is keeping my head behind the ball through impact and swinging to a good high finish around myself

HTH

[braveheart]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

pnearn,
That is interesting because I do get a lot of near the heel hits too along with the open clubface.Yes, it is tough to consciously have to roll arms over to get the ball to go straight on a consistent basis with the driver. Ill check it out on Friday night in the simulator. Hopefully, I can get out and play this Sunday. Take care, and thanks.

[pnearn]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

A good checkpoint is when you are halfway down. The club shaft should be parallel to the ground along the target line ( same line as your feet) and your arms/elbows should be in front of your right hip. You need to be a good distance from the ball to make sure you can get to this position and the club doesnt get stuck behind you

To get to this halfway down position the left hip bumps to the left and the shoulders stay back and you should keep your right foot anchored to stop your body outracing your arms. When you get in that position half way down your arms/shoulders are then free to whip through the ball and around yourself to a good high finish, in which its the shoulders turning your arms/hands, not you doing it conciously

Clearly for guys like us this is difficult to time and get right but you need to practice these positions again and again and then start trying to belnd the movements together

I dont know if any of the pro's here would agree? Or am I talking noggins ( as usual )

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

It sound to me like a classic case of over analysis, trying to think about any more than one thing during the swing is maddness never mind on the downswing.

I think a good exercise for you would be:........ go the the range and buy 50 balls....hit every ball with a clear mind and then analysis what you did in the swing after you have hit the ball.........this may sound difficult but is very easy, your body is very capable of hitting a golf ball without you trying to teach it at the same time.


Hit the ball then think what you did after.....


Hope this helps


Ian.

[braveheart]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

Ian,
Trust me, I have limited my thoughts to only closing the face of the driver and the only way that I been instructed to get this more often is to roll the forearms at some point in the downswing. I have found this difficult to replicate and I have hit a lot of buckets of balls over this winter with limited success so far. The golf lessons have taught me a lot and have made me feel confident of a lot of things without cluttering my mind but my first spring as a golfer approaches and this remains as the one glaring problem not totally fixed yet, despite my efforts. So any tips or something I might be missing might be pointed out by you guys. I appreciate your input, thanks.

[Mr_Change]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

try swinging your club from hip high to hip high. on the backswing make sure your club face is open, you can tell this buy your left hand facing 90 degrees from your target and in front of you, swing through impact and when you finish your same wrist needs to be 90 from the target line facing behind you.

[Mr_Change]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

after reading you post again, I don't think it is your wrist roll and releash that is your problem. if it was you wouldn't be getting pushes, I think your hips are outracing your shoulders and you club is getting caught behind you.

If the club is to far behind it will still come through slightly more from the inside and at impact the clubface will be square to the swing path making you push your ball. the other thing that will happen from this is shanks. (heel shots)

What you need to concerntrate on is when you start your downswing, is that you are pulling the left arm down back to impact position. using your left arm muscles and your whole left side. make it feel like you are pulling it down the same path you took it up on. don't forget that just before impact to swap side and use everything your right side has to push the club through impact.

[braveheart]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

Mr. Change,
Thank you for your input and interest. I will give these thoughts and actions a go in my Friday practice. Take care.

[pnearn]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

Getting the club stuck behind you is another sympton of being stood too close to the ball and not getting your right arm in front of your right hip halfway down

Hopefully the advice youve got in this thread will help, so let us know how you got on at the range

[Big Sheesh]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

I know exactly how you feel about the lack of wrist roll and release. Tonight I experiemented with an interlock grip and placed my right hand a little lower on the grip.

When you swing, you'll definately feel that the right hand has to release and flip over in order to close the clubface without much effort.

I tried this tonight and was able to draw every single ball shot with my irons. The 4 iron was a little tougher as I had to make sure I came from an inside approach.

Let me know if this works for you.

[braveheart]

Re: Lack of wrist roll and release

Thank you all for your tips and advice. I had the grip changed to a thinner Lampkin midsize grip and got rid of the Golf Pride (thick)softie that was on the club on Tues night. Results of Friday night range practice(Simulator 18 holes and hitting range balls). I tried setting up further away from ball (pnearn) with a slower and longer takeaway and kept one thought, "let my hands start down just a hair before right hip turn" (Mr.Change) and I did much better. I still am a little steep at times but I had much more consistent and straighter drives without thinking about wrist roll for one night. If I got sloppy though the ball went right. And (Ian)you are correct that by hitting with less thoughts it became easier to analyze swing after.
Sheesh, I use an overlap and see you had results with an interlock. I used to use that one when I began but I seemed to strangle the club. I wonder if it would be helpful now as I have lightened up quite a bit since then. I will experiment a little but so far the little bits you guys have given me have helped.