I've got a lesson with long time (10+years) student whom I respectfully call 'Doc.' He is a dentist. Doc is a real committed golfer who practices regularly, many times during his lunch break and/or after work. It seems I see him just about every time I am giving a lesson. He called to set up this lesson, saying he needed to talk to me about release because he's is having some problems.
When I get to the range, I know Doc is here because I park beside his car. As I walk up to the range looking for him, I see him in the far left corner under the trees, hitting in the shade, which I really am glad he is doing because it's sunny and hot. I stop and watch him hit around 5 balls and his swing looks great from here. He is keeping his knees wide, the backswing is a limited turn and 3/4's, and his finish is pop tart and square to his target, in perfect balance. Doc is a pure example of the PPGS, and a model Surge Student. So, as I walk toward him, I am wondering what and why he needs to talk about release.
Once I arrive and we greet, my first question is, 'What's up Doc?' He says, 'Surge, I am just confused about releasing the club. I feel the swing is really good, but I have been hitting a fair amount of pulls, and, too often, a push or block. ' I watch him hit a few more good shots and listen to his comments, especially when he pulls one around 10 yards that likely would have caught the left greenside bunker, relative to his target. He then says he feels like he has to swing inside out to stop the pull. I say, 'Excuse me? What happened to swinging on-on and on the aiming line to hit it relatively straight.' He replies, 'You're right, that's what's causing the release dilemma.' I then ask him to walk me through his swing thoughts regarding release.
'I take the club back into the mitt toe up and up the tree. On the downswing, approaching release, I let the forearms release the club to square up at impact. Because of the blocks, I have started turning my left wrist over more so the palm is facing skyward after impact, then swing up to the finish.' Voila, getting the student to tell me what he is thinking and doing solves the problem better than video.
I begin telling Doc that I am sure his problem started with the swinging out or right of the target, causing the push or blocked right shots. His answer was to over release his hands into and through impact, causing the clubface to over release past square, and be shut or aiming left of his target. Thus he hits a pull. I then give him a refresher course on 'SECRET #2, ' (Palms perpendicular to the ground throughout the swing) and I demo, swinging my arms in front of my body, showing how the hands rotate to square dead in front of me at 6:00 o'clock, every time, never fails. He remembers and concurs with the concept.
Now, I need to demonstrate to Doc the evils of his over releasing through impact ,where he gets his left palm facing skyward. Focusing on his left hand, I ask him to extend it like he was holding a club and to swing it back and through, freely and smoothly, toe up and left thumb up in the backswing to toe and left thumb up in the follow through, from 3 to 9 0'clock. I tell him watch his forearm, hand and the clubface, but more importantly, to feel the muscles in his left forearm, specifically the lower muscles extending from the pad of his left hand up to the elbow. (Note: try this yourself right now and feel the muscles.) He says they feel fine, free, relaxed and balanced. I ask him if they are staying the same length and he responds with a yes. I note that is why they feel free, and balanced.
Now, I ask him to 'freely and smoothly' swing toe up, thumb up in the backswing, but in the forward upswing to over release his left wrist to palm up, which has his left thumb now pointing toward the target. (Note: try this right now, feel the muscles and answer the questions.) I ask if they are as free and balanced and stay the same length, to which he replies, 'Not even close.' I ask what is happening and he says the muscles are tightening up. I respond that if they are tightening up, they are shortening and the arm is now out of balance. The shortening muscles are pulling his arm and hand inside and left before impact, and around to the side of his body after impact into the follow through, causing the pull. This is why he has to work over hard to swing his arms up to a good T ' Finish to try and save the swing.
The key here is you must have dynamic balance, starting from setup and throughout the entire swing, to a balanced T ' Finish. Dr. Armstrong describes Dynamic Balance as 'muscles are at their optimum length to produce work.' Optimum length means their longest length, and never changing length while in motion. Muscles staying the same length throughout the swing are why they feel fine or natural, free, relaxed, yet powerful and smooth in motion and most importantly balanced.
A 'Palms Perpendicular Release' of secret #2 is the key to a dynamically balanced release.
The Surge!
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