can't remember which of your videos but you gave the best instructions I have ever seen about the right forearm and elbow in the downswing. Trying to keep right forearm pointed up to the sky and that improved by contact immediately. Got rid of most shanks and put shaft and hands ahead of clubhead at impact. I have a poor mans FlightScope (skytrak) so my results are real. thanx
This is amazing - your bad handsy swing with the 8 iron carried about 134 yards. That is my "go to" distance with an 8 iron all the time. Out on the driving range in the new year to practice my new golf club shaft lean into the ball.
Hi clay probably the best explanation of forward shaftlean I have seen on RUclips. And the importance of it. Well done. And coming from me as your worst critic. This video took me back brilliant
Great video making much better contact now by turning my wrist and forearm down.Can't believe how long I've been slapping at the ball with my baseball swing.
I'll post one more comment here. It seems to me that most golf videos are focusing on distance, and how to hit farther. But to me, accuracy, hitting the ball straight, is more important for my game. I'd rather hit the green from 100 yards with PW than deloft a 60 degree to 50 (as I can't do that yet) trying to reach the green. I think for me, and you touch on this, at this point in my golf game, I'd rather club down to get the distance and keep the accuracy. But I'm going to keep working on what you talk about here. Thanks
Thanks for another great video, Clay Ballard. I have few questions interm of forward shaft lean: 1. To get forward shaft lean we need to have hands lower at impact. In order to have lower hands, do we need to bend our legs or body more? And how much do we need to bend? 2. Why is hand position at impact different from hand position at set up? why do we not set up hand position with forward shaft lean? 3. Same with the left wrist bowed, why do we not set up with left wrist bowed or back swing with left wrist bowed? I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks again
Use the pause to stop it at his address position then do the same at his impact position, easier when his does a slo-mo, his body position is completely different. His right knee will move forward hips turned 30 deg shoulders open and left leg straight. To set your address position like this would require a lot of movement to get the club back. If you want to feel a good impact position there is a trading club called DST compressor it has a bent shaft and lines on the head which won't line up unless it's set right. If you are in the U.K. I can sell you one
Hi Phuc, see answers below: 1. Yes, you do need to be lower coming into impact. How much will depend on how much forward shaft lean you're looking to get and your body proportions. You'll see Tour players anywhere from 3-6" lower at impact compared to address. 2. It doesn't have to be. You can set up with forward shaft lean. that doesn't mean you'll have forward shaft lean at impact though. 3. Same as 2. You can set up this way but it doesn't mean you'll arrive at impact this way. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
This is the perfect 'lesson' for me!! I do 'cast' a bit. What I noticed is that in past videos you referenced throwing the shot putt (getting hips through) and I actually did this in College. As a result, and I'm not a real big guy, my right wrist (I throw the shot with my right hand) has pulled tendons and my wrist only goes back about 45 degrees - while my left wrist bends back 90 degrees - so, I can't make my right wrist go like you show in the video. I have to work with this situation, but if you had any ideas on how to compensate for this, I'd surely listen. Thanks.
Excellent Video! And I came acrossed iit at just the right time. Wednesday I was adding still shots of Tiger's swing to my Pinterest page. I was particularly interested in his long and mid iron positions. What really stuck out to me was his position at and just before impact. As you pointed out in the video the forward shaft lean helps to transfer maximum power at impact. In the Tiger stills you can really see how powerful of a position he is in just prior to and thru impact. I was comparing it to pics of my own swing and I'm definitely not in a very powerful position. I don't have access to stills of my entire swing at the moment, but I'm pretty certain that I am (as you stated) casting and my power is being released prematurely. I'm definitely going to work on this! I would love to see a good video lesson explaining "lag". Thanks for a Great, Informative Lesson!
Two questions: 1. Do we really try to get shaft lean? Don’t this accure automatically if we shift weight properly, then would the shaft be leaning forward relative to the address position? 2. If we strive to deloft every iron, how are we suppose to get the ball up in the air if we don’t have really fast SS?
Yeah, that would be a really simple answer but there is also a lot more to it than that. This video could have been twice as long very easily. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
You've had this video out for just over a month but I just now ran across it. I am kind of curious that you didn't cover in this video that with having shaft lean it makes it a lot easier to compress the ball. Which is what you want to have happen at impact with every club in the bag to a certain extent (excluding the driver and putter of course). Without the shaft lean compressing the ball is almost impossible and can lead to a lot of lost distance on the shot.
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard I went and played 9 holes this morning and shot +2😃. I honestly shoot in the 90’s (I count every shot and play every lie) so I was beyond excited after today’s round. You are AWESOME CLAY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very recently I saw the somewhat famous 2 minute video wherein Ernie Els talks about "holding the box" through the first half of the downswing (watch?v=nzIRQXMMIG4). Els' video, plus this Ballard video, compliment each other nicely. The technique that each emphasizes are different, but their end goal for the swing is the same.
Hi Corek, it sounds like you're still flipping. If you just clothes the face then this will happen. Bowing the wrist is what squares the face when you get forward shaft lean. If you don't have forward shaft lean then you'll just hook it. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
For the past year, I've been trying to work on my shaft lean at contact. But no matter how hard I try working on various exercises and drills, I can't seem to successfully shaft lean. It's driving me crazy.
OK. Here is my question again. Bob Epstein Hi Clay et al. Could not see my question so I posted it again. Been listening to your videos for a while now and found them very helpful, although I am still a beginner, and still need to follow thru on these techniques. My question on this particular video is this. If forward shaft lean is to be implemented, I trust really on all clubs, although perhaps less emphasized on woods and drivers, then when a player let’s say chooses any particular club to go the distance required let’s say an eight iron as in the above video, then just by definition of how this technique works, would the shot in all cases (if done properly) go much further than the distance required. In addition would this then mean a lesser club would be required to go the required distance then what normally would be used since the forward shaft lean should make the ball go further. Or would staying with the same club be appropriate because distance gained, although further, would not be factor. If true would this not really complicate matters since the player would really have to do a lot more analysis on his shot distance with each club and vary to the proper club on each and every shot instead of just choosing the usual club for the distance needed? Actually when looking at the video again I think about the ball not going that much farther is true, in fact maybe Im thinking about this in the wrong way and you need the forward shaft lean to make sure the ball goes the intended distance with the club you are using. Is that correct?
All things equal, if you hit a ball with more forward shaft lean then it will go further but there is a threshold. If you get too much then the ball won't get in the air but that's not an issue most need to worry about. If you manage to get some more forward shaft lean which will help you be a more consistent player then you'll need to adjust your distances accordingly. Hope that helps. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
@Clay - I have good release of my wrists, bowed and cupped, lead and trail respectively and get a lot of power, but I still struggle with early hip extension. I noticed you mentioned getting lower to the ground forced the handle of the shaft forward. Does it also help with rotation somewhat? Because it looked like it did.
Hi, yes, if you lower more than your leg flexes more and gives you more space to rotate. Imagine trying to jump without bending your knees. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks Quentin, appreciate it. Saw the new video that just came out today with Clay and Jacob French. The alignment stick on the butt line is a great idea, going to put that into my range sessions. Merry Christmas!
I can get that shaft lean but my lead wrist hurts like hell after a while. I need to release the angle a little earlier? Not good as im a full time guitarist 😄😮
Yeah, you may start taking divots which can put some wear and tear on your wrist. If you're taking really deep divots then focus on pushing into the ground with your lead leg through impact to get the lead shoulder moving up. This will level out your divots and allow the club to glide through the turf better. Best of luck! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Now, I'm confused. Shouldn't you already be posted up on your lead side at time of release? Or are you suggesting to swardmusic that he is not posting up?
Hi Eric, I'm assuming you're talking about Clay's hat. I believe it's called a Nike Sun Hat. I think he got it on Amazon. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
The only good info in this video is at 5:40. The real reason you want to hit down with your irons is to hit the center of the club face. Sometimes these guys that are so knowledgeable they aren't able to see what really matters. Don't believe me? Its the same reason why we don't hit down on drivers. Forward shaft lean only matters so we can hit the center of the face because the ball is on the ground. And in reality "center" isn't even center of the face. 3-4 grooves up is the sweet spot but isnt the center.
Hi Clay et al. Could not see my question so I posted it again. Been listening to your videos for a while now and found them very helpful, although I am still a beginner, and still need to follow thru on these techniques. My question on this particular video is this. If forward shaft lean is to be implemented, I trust really on all clubs, although perhaps less emphasized on woods and drivers, then when a player let’s say chooses any particular club to go the distance required let’s say an eight iron as in the above video, then just by definition of how this technique works, would the shot in all cases (if done properly) go much further than the distance required. In addition would this then mean a lesser club would be required to go the required distance then what normally would be used since the forward shaft lean should make the ball go further. Or would staying with the same club be appropriate because distance gained, although further, would not be factor. If true would this not really complicate matters since the player would really have to do a lot more analysis on his shot distance with each club and vary to the proper club on each and every shot instead of just choosing the usual club for the distance needed? Actually when looking at the video again I think about the ball not going that much farther is true, in fact maybe Im thinking about this in the wrong way and you need the forward shaft lean to make sure the ball goes the intended distance with the club you are using. Is that correct?
When look at the different videos, or read different golf book every one say it's style and instructions are the best, and next person has totally 100 percent opposite opinion to the previous one. Hardly you can find. Two people to have same opinion and agree with each others. You get totally confused which one is correct?.
Hi, thanks for the comment. We back all of our suggestions up with the science of what's going on at impact plus looking at the best players in the world. You won't find a Tour player that doesn't' have forward shaft lean. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Hi, it would be all clubs. You won't have the appearance of much forward shaft lean with the driver usually but that is because of the more forward ball position. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
I'm a firm believer but I think it would be better to show a good result from a bad swing. Like at minute four you show a bad swing with a bad result. How about you show a bad swing with a good result? Because that's what most people do. They make compensations to make their bad swing "good".
Hi, thanks for the comment. The same reasons in the video apply to low swing speed players too. You can get too much forward shaft lean and have difficulty getting the ball up in the air. You still want some forward shaft lean though. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Hi Matt, you can do that but that doesn't mean it will be leaning at impact which is the only thing that really matters. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
it's refreshing to see these calm guys talk about golf as opposed to other RUclipsrs trying to be funny and quipping all the time.
Haha...thanks! Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor
can't remember which of your videos but you gave the best instructions I have ever seen about the right forearm and elbow in the downswing. Trying to keep right forearm pointed up to the sky and that improved by contact immediately. Got rid of most shanks and put shaft and hands ahead of clubhead at impact. I have a poor mans FlightScope (skytrak) so my results are real. thanx
Hi, thanks for sharing. We have lots of videos about this because it is pretty important. Keep up the hard work! Quentin | TSG Instructor
This is amazing - your bad handsy swing with the 8 iron carried about 134 yards. That is my "go to" distance with an 8 iron all the time. Out on the driving range in the new year to practice my new golf club shaft lean into the ball.
Thanks! Glad you liked the video. Keep up the hard work! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Hi clay probably the best explanation of forward shaftlean I have seen on RUclips. And the importance of it. Well done. And coming from me as your worst critic. This video took me back brilliant
Wow, thank you
Great video making much better contact now by turning my wrist and forearm down.Can't believe how long I've been slapping at the ball with my baseball swing.
Thanks!
I'll post one more comment here. It seems to me that most golf videos are focusing on distance, and how to hit farther. But to me, accuracy, hitting the ball straight, is more important for my game. I'd rather hit the green from 100 yards with PW than deloft a 60 degree to 50 (as I can't do that yet) trying to reach the green. I think for me, and you touch on this, at this point in my golf game, I'd rather club down to get the distance and keep the accuracy. But I'm going to keep working on what you talk about here. Thanks
Thanks for sharing!
Great vid. You guys change and improve my game so much I might have to give you a percentage of my winnings off my friends.
Great to hear!
Most important...shaft lean help you hit the sweet spot which is 3 or 4 grooves up. Without it you hit 1st and 2nd groove
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for another great video, Clay Ballard. I have few questions interm of forward shaft lean:
1. To get forward shaft lean we need to have hands lower at impact. In order to have lower hands, do we need to bend our legs or body more? And how much do we need to bend?
2. Why is hand position at impact different from hand position at set up? why do we not set up hand position with forward shaft lean?
3. Same with the left wrist bowed, why do we not set up with left wrist bowed or back swing with left wrist bowed?
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks again
At impact your hips and shoulders are no longer square
@@andrewturnbull9304 and? I dont understand what you mean
Use the pause to stop it at his address position then do the same at his impact position, easier when his does a slo-mo, his body position is completely different. His right knee will move forward hips turned 30 deg shoulders open and left leg straight. To set your address position like this would require a lot of movement to get the club back. If you want to feel a good impact position there is a trading club called DST compressor it has a bent shaft and lines on the head which won't line up unless it's set right. If you are in the U.K. I can sell you one
Hi Phuc, see answers below:
1. Yes, you do need to be lower coming into impact. How much will depend on how much forward shaft lean you're looking to get and your body proportions. You'll see Tour players anywhere from 3-6" lower at impact compared to address.
2. It doesn't have to be. You can set up with forward shaft lean. that doesn't mean you'll have forward shaft lean at impact though.
3. Same as 2. You can set up this way but it doesn't mean you'll arrive at impact this way.
Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks. In term of lowering coming into impact, should we bend our back or lower our knee?
Thanks for the content, merry Christmas
Thanks Joe! You too!
Great job with vid. Always enjoy
Thanks Alex! Quentin | TSG Instructor
This is the perfect 'lesson' for me!! I do 'cast' a bit. What I noticed is that in past videos you referenced throwing the shot putt (getting hips through) and I actually did this in College. As a result, and I'm not a real big guy, my right wrist (I throw the shot with my right hand) has pulled tendons and my wrist only goes back about 45 degrees - while my left wrist bends back 90 degrees - so, I can't make my right wrist go like you show in the video. I have to work with this situation, but if you had any ideas on how to compensate for this, I'd surely listen. Thanks.
Hi,, I would recommend using a stronger grip. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
First! Now let’s see if I can get my game better, too!
Best of luck!
Excellent Video! And I came acrossed iit at just the right time. Wednesday I was adding still shots of Tiger's swing to my Pinterest page. I was particularly interested in his long and mid iron positions. What really stuck out to me was his position at and just before impact. As you pointed out in the video the forward shaft lean helps to transfer maximum power at impact. In the Tiger stills you can really see how powerful of a position he is in just prior to and thru impact. I was comparing it to pics of my own swing and I'm definitely not in a very powerful position. I don't have access to stills of my entire swing at the moment, but I'm pretty certain that I am (as you stated) casting and my power is being released prematurely. I'm definitely going to work on this! I would love to see a good video lesson explaining "lag".
Thanks for a Great, Informative Lesson!
Thanks Joseph! Way have many lag videos. Just do a search of our channel. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Looks like forward shaft lean gives you better distance control... cool thanks
For sure!
Two questions:
1. Do we really try to get shaft lean? Don’t this accure automatically if we shift weight properly, then would the shaft be leaning forward relative to the address position?
2. If we strive to deloft every iron, how are we suppose to get the ball up in the air if we don’t have really fast SS?
The simple answer: it makes it easier to hit down on the ball with your irons.
Yeah, that would be a really simple answer but there is also a lot more to it than that. This video could have been twice as long very easily. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
What a hat man, you look like Indiana Jones dad.
Haha...thanks!
You've had this video out for just over a month but I just now ran across it. I am kind of curious that you didn't cover in this video that with having shaft lean it makes it a lot easier to compress the ball. Which is what you want to have happen at impact with every club in the bag to a certain extent (excluding the driver and putter of course). Without the shaft lean compressing the ball is almost impossible and can lead to a lot of lost distance on the shot.
Hi Tim, we did talk about that. Delofting the face is the same thing as compressing. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
In the video, with the 8 iron, it was said that Pro's deloft the iron by about 30%...Is it 30% for all irons or just the 8 iron.
Hi Joseph, it's about 30% with all clubs. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Does this principle apply to woods and driver as well?
Yes
🔥 🔥 🔥🔥
Thanks!
Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard I went and played 9 holes this morning and shot +2😃. I honestly shoot in the 90’s (I count every shot and play every lie) so I was beyond excited after today’s round. You are AWESOME CLAY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very recently I saw the somewhat famous 2 minute video wherein Ernie Els talks about "holding the box" through the first half of the downswing (watch?v=nzIRQXMMIG4). Els' video, plus this Ballard video, compliment each other nicely. The technique that each emphasizes are different, but their end goal for the swing is the same.
Hi Ed, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor
I ask terrible at trying to get shaft lean, I release my wrist around halfway down to impact
Hi, thanks for the comment. Hope the video helps. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
I don’t know I scrolled all the way down to the end with Tigerburningbrighta question and I did not see mine where did you respond!
Hi Bob, I responded but it looks like it's been removed for some reason. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
I practiced that forward shaft and closing the clubface as shown in the video but then I started hooking some shots terribly.
Hi Corek, it sounds like you're still flipping. If you just clothes the face then this will happen. Bowing the wrist is what squares the face when you get forward shaft lean. If you don't have forward shaft lean then you'll just hook it. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
For the past year, I've been trying to work on my shaft lean at contact. But no matter how hard I try working on various exercises and drills, I can't seem to successfully shaft lean. It's driving me crazy.
Keep on working on it and things will work out. Good luck!
OK. Here is my question again.
Bob Epstein
Hi Clay et al.
Could not see my question so I posted it again.
Been listening to your videos for a while now and found them very helpful, although I am still a beginner, and still need to follow thru on these techniques. My question on this particular video is this. If forward shaft lean is to be implemented, I trust really on all clubs, although perhaps less emphasized on woods and drivers, then when a player let’s say chooses any particular club to go the distance required let’s say an eight iron as in the above video, then just by definition of how this technique works, would the shot in all cases (if done properly) go much further than the distance required. In addition would this then mean a lesser club would be required to go the required distance then what normally would be used since the forward shaft lean should make the ball go further. Or would staying with the same club be appropriate because distance gained, although further, would not be factor.
If true would this not really complicate matters since the player would really have to do a lot more analysis on his shot distance with each club and vary to the proper club on each and every shot instead of just choosing the usual club for the distance needed?
Actually when looking at the video again I think about the ball not going that much farther is true, in fact maybe Im thinking about this in the wrong way and you need the forward shaft lean to make sure the ball goes the intended distance with the club you are using. Is that correct?
All things equal, if you hit a ball with more forward shaft lean then it will go further but there is a threshold. If you get too much then the ball won't get in the air but that's not an issue most need to worry about. If you manage to get some more forward shaft lean which will help you be a more consistent player then you'll need to adjust your distances accordingly. Hope that helps. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
@Clay - I have good release of my wrists, bowed and cupped, lead and trail respectively and get a lot of power, but I still struggle with early hip extension. I noticed you mentioned getting lower to the ground forced the handle of the shaft forward. Does it also help with rotation somewhat? Because it looked like it did.
Hi, yes, if you lower more than your leg flexes more and gives you more space to rotate. Imagine trying to jump without bending your knees. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks Quentin, appreciate it. Saw the new video that just came out today with Clay and Jacob French. The alignment stick on the butt line is a great idea, going to put that into my range sessions. Merry Christmas!
I can get that shaft lean but my lead wrist hurts like hell after a while. I need to release the angle a little earlier?
Not good as im a full time guitarist 😄😮
Yeah, you may start taking divots which can put some wear and tear on your wrist. If you're taking really deep divots then focus on pushing into the ground with your lead leg through impact to get the lead shoulder moving up. This will level out your divots and allow the club to glide through the turf better. Best of luck! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Now, I'm confused. Shouldn't you already be posted up on your lead side at time of release? Or are you suggesting to swardmusic that he is not posting up?
whats your hat called ?? where can i get it?
Hi Eric, I'm assuming you're talking about Clay's hat. I believe it's called a Nike Sun Hat. I think he got it on Amazon. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Quentin could not find my previous comment would you please mind repeating it. Thanks
Hi Bob, I did find it and I did answer it. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
how do you not close the face too much with the knuckles down drill
The only good info in this video is at 5:40. The real reason you want to hit down with your irons is to hit the center of the club face. Sometimes these guys that are so knowledgeable they aren't able to see what really matters. Don't believe me? Its the same reason why we don't hit down on drivers. Forward shaft lean only matters so we can hit the center of the face because the ball is on the ground. And in reality "center" isn't even center of the face. 3-4 grooves up is the sweet spot but isnt the center.
i do this and all my shots start hooking....what am i doing wrong? everything's definitely going further with lower trajectory though
Hi Clay et al.
Could not see my question so I posted it again.
Been listening to your videos for a while now and found them very helpful, although I am still a beginner, and still need to follow thru on these techniques. My question on this particular video is this. If forward shaft lean is to be implemented, I trust really on all clubs, although perhaps less emphasized on woods and drivers, then when a player let’s say chooses any particular club to go the distance required let’s say an eight iron as in the above video, then just by definition of how this technique works, would the shot in all cases (if done properly) go much further than the distance required. In addition would this then mean a lesser club would be required to go the required distance then what normally would be used since the forward shaft lean should make the ball go further. Or would staying with the same club be appropriate because distance gained, although further, would not be factor.
If true would this not really complicate matters since the player would really have to do a lot more analysis on his shot distance with each club and vary to the proper club on each and every shot instead of just choosing the usual club for the distance needed?
Actually when looking at the video again I think about the ball not going that much farther is true, in fact maybe Im thinking about this in the wrong way and you need the forward shaft lean to make sure the ball goes the intended distance with the club you are using. Is that correct?
Hi Bob, I actually answered your previous comment. See my response there. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Views on the fact swing was 7 degrees to the right ?
When look at the different videos, or read different golf book every one say it's style and instructions are the best, and next person has totally 100 percent opposite opinion to the previous one. Hardly you can find. Two people to have same opinion and agree with each others. You get totally confused which one is correct?.
Hi, thanks for the comment. We back all of our suggestions up with the science of what's going on at impact plus looking at the best players in the world. You won't find a Tour player that doesn't' have forward shaft lean. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
What clubs would you use for forward shaft lean?
Hi, it would be all clubs. You won't have the appearance of much forward shaft lean with the driver usually but that is because of the more forward ball position. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Would it be too much trouble to respond again?
If the comment is not there then I can't respond again. Feel free to ask your question again and I'll respond. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
I'm a firm believer but I think it would be better to show a good result from a bad swing. Like at minute four you show a bad swing with a bad result. How about you show a bad swing with a good result? Because that's what most people do. They make compensations to make their bad swing "good".
Why would a slow swing player need to lean the shaft?
Hi, thanks for the comment. The same reasons in the video apply to low swing speed players too. You can get too much forward shaft lean and have difficulty getting the ball up in the air. You still want some forward shaft lean though. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Why not go ahead and lean it at address?
Hi Matt, you can do that but that doesn't mean it will be leaning at impact which is the only thing that really matters. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor
Forward shaft leans seems near impossible. I practice everyday for at least 1-2 hours. In China so I don’t have any teachers except you.
Love your videos
You can do it!
What a joke😂😂🤣😅