Forward press

[Neil18]

Re: Forward press

I think, in general, when people speak of a forward press, they are referring to a move of the hands forward infront of the ball. It seems most peple here agree. It's as if some golfers are trying to simulate impact so the brain has something to feel it can get back to, as a lot of us amateurs have a hard time hitting the ball with the irons with hands ahead at impact for a crisp strike. Other body movements could be referred to as presses, or kicks (see Vijay) or triggers. Whatever.

A forward pres with the hands can work to a limited extent. I used to set up already in the forward press. I took the move out and just set up with all clubs with my hands ahead of the ball in a desperate attempt to get my hands ahead of the ball at impact. My experience? Doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Swinging the club properly gets hands ahead at impact with the minimum of fuss.

All I would say is be careful with a forward press. If you practice it enough it could work fairly consistently, but it can lead easily to a greatly pronounced inside takeaway, coupled with open shoulders at address. Not a pretty mixture. Can lead to all types of poor shots because hands and body are starting from crooked positions in relation to each other. Keep things geometrically sound, and we greatly enhance the chances of a free flowing swing.

[kbp]

Re: Forward press

A forward press, especially one involving some body movement, can also set a rhythm and a smoothness to the backswing. Similarly, I’ve thought that it would be so much better for rhythm and proper backswing position and smoother transition at the top if you could start the golf swing from the follow through/finish position, then down past the ball and back up to the top. Then reverse direction and come back down to hit the ball with the same total rhythm as this "fuller" backswing ....like the old timing drill where you swing back and through and back and through several times. Yes, of course, not practical for other reasons.

Starting the golf swing dead stationary at the ball would seem to be the worst place from a rhythmic standpoint, since at address the club head has no speed, but when it returns it’s going 100 miles per hour. IMO, the forward press is an attempt to minimize the affects of this situation.

[Neil18]

Re: Forward press

Understand your thoughts, but what if you did start in the follow through and started THAT bit wrong??!

Where does it end?! It's all gotta start from a stationary position somewhere.

[kbp]

Re: Forward press

Again, related strictly to rhythm and tempo advantages and obviously impractical for other reasons.

The particulars of starting position and the very first movements would not be as critical because you are not trying to mimic a dynamic position, the most important moment in the swing (impact) with a stationary position (address). Most importantly, if you COULD start at the follow through, you’d basically have a "backwards" practice swing to feel the speed, the balance, the "weight" of the club at the bottom, etc. immediately before you hit the ball. The rhythm of the backswing would be almost exactly the same as the downswing. Plus the full momentum really sets the club nicely at the top and slows the transition to a crawl.

[Neil18]

Re: Forward press

Cool. As you say, shame it's a bit impractical! Someone should try it in a round ad see wat happens!

[Scragger63]

Re: Forward press

Am unaware of anything in the rule book that says you must start at the "generally accepted" address position,.

That said, I see only one problem with starting at the follow through position, the ball on the tee peg...

Hitting it backwards certainly won't help reduce your handicap.

Might take out a few pesky spectators and playing partners though...