Lightbulb moment! So many videos talk about the path the club should move back on that the assumption is that you need to use your arms to control that path and thus initiate the backswing. There's even that drill where you try to knock another ball lined up behind your ball straight backwards; well to achieve that I'd use only my arms, at least in my head. This stuff is gold Chris, you're rewiring a lifetime of misconception.
I actually did that sweep the ball drill wayyyyyyyy back in the day. I used to set up my bag on the ground so the ball I was brushing back wouldn't hit anyone walking behind me on the range. I scrapped that drill pretty quickly. Thank you for the kindest of words. I appreciate it and I hope you join us for more in the future.
So, in case you didn't hear.. There was a tear in the space-time continuum and it's "next week" and im going to need that video now...and a wedge game video because after working on your release videos my clubhead is moving so fast through the impact area i couldn't hit a 50-80 to yard if my life depended on it (probably putt it with the release)..my clubhead speed was already not bad..(up to 117 with driver) but in ALL the wrong ways). Ive been meaning to say thank you. It took a lot of tearing the yard up but.. I've started to get it going as it's not easy committing to change...but I'm in... You're the best kept secret in golf instruction imho and I've looked at them all..(and don't like most of them).. between you, AMG, and Eric cogorno...top three. But your explanation on not opening the shoulders through impact and the hips checking the release is PERFECT. Ive been thinking for awhile on what in the hell EXACTLY checks the motion without disturbing it to release..and i haven't found that answer anywhere...and the hips..i wasn't sure about because everyone says turn them faster or not at all actively..and fast doesn't seem to check the motion until you stop.. but everyone screams "more open"..and that can take more time up from checking it..si thank you.. that's HUGE. Ive still got a lot of work to do and many questions.. Especially pitching with this..(i might just need confirmation of thoughts).. But anyways.. Thank you... After 25+ years...im getting some real answers.
Hahahah this is one of the best comments ever!!! Thank for the kind words. It means a great deal to me really. The good stuff is coming and I have been working through a wedge series for quite a while that should be ready to rock and roll very soon. The wife moved me back out to tear up the yard so I wouldn’t keep hurting the precious, yet semi ugly rugs we have in the house that I like to practice on. Onwards and upwards. Thank you again for the great post.
I have so many thought in my head before I take the club back I have always felt where to I begin. I like the repetitive drills to work on. I look forward to working on my back swing in the office between clients.
Hopefully this will clear out the clutter and get you focused on checking things off the list. Good luck and let me know if you need any help along the way.
Chris - so, as I understand it, these static position drills are there to give you muscle memory of what it feels like to be in the correct position at the top. But, in the actual back swing, the arms will be much less involved and relaxed (relative to the drill). Instead, the body will "sling" the relaxed arms into this position. Is that about right?
My sincerest apologies for missing this question/comment! You're semi correct. The arms have function in the golf swing. We just don't want to be where the main force of movement comes from and the subtle functions they do have, shouldn't feel like a work out program. In this drill, I want you to feel the simplicity of the arm movements and then start ramping up the pace quickly to start moving into the downswing from the new position at the top. Ideally, less tension in the hands and arms, feel the new position, think what felt in the arms getting them set and then start making practice swings. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need anything further at all. Ct
Chris, the alignment stick to your right in posture that bisects your foot. Is this a visual for you to keep hands and arms on the ‘outside’ of that line in your turn?
Yep, good catch. I edited the video way down for the YT community and took the part about the depth line out of the mix. I’m going to be talking about that line in an upcoming video.
Chris, can you comment (or do a video) on the backswing being on the shoulder path vs being on the club path. I was recently told by a professional that swinging on the club path is better. However, everything I've ever been taught, or seen online, says that the take away should place the club across the toes/arches when it's parallel to the ground. To demonstrate this, he put an alignment rod from the heel of my front foot to the toe of my tail foot. This put the rod sticking out quite a bit on my trail side. The "theory" is that on the backswing, the club should hit that angle once going up and once coming down. Ergo, up the club path and back down on the club path. As you can imagine, this puts the club going back nowhere near my toes/arches. It's a bit (maybe more that a "bit") outside going back. Perhaps you have a video that illustrates the pros/cons of the this. By the way, you're doing a great job!
There is a video being released tomorrow on this topic if I’m understanding the question properly. Let’s see if that answers the questions first and if it doesn’t, then let’s revisit this comment and I’ll ask some questions to make sure we are on the same page before I try to produce something. Does that work?
If you find that adding in the complexity of the arm function is a little too much to handle at this point, then wait for video 2 coming out this week and add that in to video 1 from last week. I really try hard to keep the confusion down.
I'm eighty, a retired pro and listen to your stuff often with good results for a senior.
Hi Jay! Nothing makes me happier to hear stuff like this. Always happy to help, so please let me know if you have any questions in the future.
I’m 62, former PGA and just started taking online lessons with Chris!
Lightbulb moment! So many videos talk about the path the club should move back on that the assumption is that you need to use your arms to control that path and thus initiate the backswing. There's even that drill where you try to knock another ball lined up behind your ball straight backwards; well to achieve that I'd use only my arms, at least in my head.
This stuff is gold Chris, you're rewiring a lifetime of misconception.
I actually did that sweep the ball drill wayyyyyyyy back in the day. I used to set up my bag on the ground so the ball I was brushing back wouldn't hit anyone walking behind me on the range. I scrapped that drill pretty quickly. Thank you for the kindest of words. I appreciate it and I hope you join us for more in the future.
Timestamps for those with "youtube shorts" attention spans
0:00 Intro
1:33 Step 1
2:30 Step 2
6:44 Step 3
8:39 Final Thoughts
This is the most informative golf video that I have ever watched! Thanks Chris for taking the time to to do what you do.
Kevin Stout
Thank you Kevin for the acknowledgment. Hope you join me for more in the future.
Thank you very much Chris ❤. I was struggling with the inside take away error but after watching this video I seem to have fixed it
So, in case you didn't hear.. There was a tear in the space-time continuum and it's "next week" and im going to need that video now...and a wedge game video because after working on your release videos my clubhead is moving so fast through the impact area i couldn't hit a 50-80 to yard if my life depended on it (probably putt it with the release)..my clubhead speed was already not bad..(up to 117 with driver) but in ALL the wrong ways). Ive been meaning to say thank you. It took a lot of tearing the yard up but.. I've started to get it going as it's not easy committing to change...but I'm in... You're the best kept secret in golf instruction imho and I've looked at them all..(and don't like most of them).. between you, AMG, and Eric cogorno...top three. But your explanation on not opening the shoulders through impact and the hips checking the release is PERFECT. Ive been thinking for awhile on what in the hell EXACTLY checks the motion without disturbing it to release..and i haven't found that answer anywhere...and the hips..i wasn't sure about because everyone says turn them faster or not at all actively..and fast doesn't seem to check the motion until you stop.. but everyone screams "more open"..and that can take more time up from checking it..si thank you.. that's HUGE. Ive still got a lot of work to do and many questions.. Especially pitching with this..(i might just need confirmation of thoughts).. But anyways.. Thank you... After 25+ years...im getting some real answers.
Hahahah this is one of the best comments ever!!! Thank for the kind words. It means a great deal to me really. The good stuff is coming and I have been working through a wedge series for quite a while that should be ready to rock and roll very soon. The wife moved me back out to tear up the yard so I wouldn’t keep hurting the precious, yet semi ugly rugs we have in the house that I like to practice on. Onwards and upwards. Thank you again for the great post.
I have so many thought in my head before I take the club back I have always felt where to I begin. I like the repetitive drills to work on. I look forward to working on my back swing in the office between clients.
Hopefully this will clear out the clutter and get you focused on checking things off the list. Good luck and let me know if you need any help along the way.
Thank you🙂
Thank YOU for watching:)
Chris - so, as I understand it, these static position drills are there to give you muscle memory of what it feels like to be in the correct position at the top. But, in the actual back swing, the arms will be much less involved and relaxed (relative to the drill). Instead, the body will "sling" the relaxed arms into this position. Is that about right?
My sincerest apologies for missing this question/comment! You're semi correct. The arms have function in the golf swing. We just don't want to be where the main force of movement comes from and the subtle functions they do have, shouldn't feel like a work out program. In this drill, I want you to feel the simplicity of the arm movements and then start ramping up the pace quickly to start moving into the downswing from the new position at the top. Ideally, less tension in the hands and arms, feel the new position, think what felt in the arms getting them set and then start making practice swings. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need anything further at all. Ct
Chris, the alignment stick to your right in posture that bisects your foot. Is this a visual for you to keep hands and arms on the ‘outside’ of that line in your turn?
Yep, good catch. I edited the video way down for the YT community and took the part about the depth line out of the mix. I’m going to be talking about that line in an upcoming video.
Chris, can you comment (or do a video) on the backswing being on the shoulder path vs being on the club path. I was recently told by a professional that swinging on the club path is better. However, everything I've ever been taught, or seen online, says that the take away should place the club across the toes/arches when it's parallel to the ground. To demonstrate this, he put an alignment rod from the heel of my front foot to the toe of my tail foot. This put the rod sticking out quite a bit on my trail side. The "theory" is that on the backswing, the club should hit that angle once going up and once coming down. Ergo, up the club path and back down on the club path. As you can imagine, this puts the club going back nowhere near my toes/arches. It's a bit (maybe more that a "bit") outside going back. Perhaps you have a video that illustrates the pros/cons of the this. By the way, you're doing a great job!
There is a video being released tomorrow on this topic if I’m understanding the question properly. Let’s see if that answers the questions first and if it doesn’t, then let’s revisit this comment and I’ll ask some questions to make sure we are on the same page before I try to produce something. Does that work?
Hey, for once I actually already do this pretty well. 😅
Beauty! :)
Too much info I’m confused
If you find that adding in the complexity of the arm function is a little too much to handle at this point, then wait for video 2 coming out this week and add that in to video 1 from last week. I really try hard to keep the confusion down.